Introduction
The Ruth Lake property,
like the Bluff Lake property, is favourably situated in the “Quesnel
Trough”, a north-westerly trending geologic belt hosting numerous
copper-gold-molybdenum “porphyry” and “skarn” occurrences as well as
several past and presently producing mines (Figure 1). Some recent
exploration highlights in the Quesnel Trough include the alkalic
copper-gold discoveries at GWR Resources Inc.’s (“GWR Resources”)
property west of the Ruth Lake property and at Serengeti Resources
Inc.’s (“Serengeti”) Kwanika property north of the Mount Milligan
deposit. Deep drilling has discovered higher-grade copper
mineralization at Imperial Metals Corporation’s (“Imperial Metals”)
Mount Polley mine and Northgate Minerals Corporation’s (“Northgate”)
Kemess North deposit.
Location and Access
The Ruth Lake property
is located in the Cariboo region of south-central British Columbia,
within 8 km of the Ruth Lake property, approximately 25 km northeast of
Lac La Hache and 60 km north-east of 100 Mile House (Figure 1). Both
communities are situated along Highway 97 the main transportation route
through the Cariboo. Access is via Weldwood Of Canada Limited’s (“Weldwood”)
500 and 100 roads, the former originating the community of Forest
Grove. Several private land holdings and small ranches are found along
the Bradley Creek valley in the east-central part of the property. The
Bradley Creek ranch is found in the northernmost claims.
Physiography
The property is
characterized by broad, rolling, forested terrain of the Interior
Plateau. Glaciation resulted in the deposition of extensive till cover
that is relatively thin to non-existent on hills and ridge tops to
several tens of metres thick in valley bottoms. Glacial ice movement is
interpreted as having come form the west-northwest.
Topographic relief is
650 metres ranging from 900 metres near Timothy Mountain along the
western boundary of the property (Figure 2). Clear cut logging has
taken place for many years over a large part of the property. In 2007
active logging was taking place in the west-central part of the property
along Westman road.
Climate and Vegetation
In British Columbia the
Coast Mountains provide an effective barrier to the moist westerly air
flow. East of this mountain chain on the Interior Plateau the climate
is much drier and more continental. Summers tend to be warm and dry
with cooler but less moist winters. The average annual precipitation at
100 Mile House is reportedly 45 cm. The property is generally free of
snow from mid May until October.
As with most of the
Cariboo district, the Ruth Lake property is well forested. Vegetation
consists mostly of pine, fir and spruce. Due to infestation by the
Mountain Pine Beetle, most of the pine is dead or dying.
Claims
The Ruth Lake property
consists of 19 contiguous mining claims totaling 9,213.9 hectares
(approximately 92 sq km). Two previously existing claims are found
within the Ruth Lake claim block (Figure 2).
Table 1
– Ruth Lake Property Claims
Tenure
No. Claim Name
Expiry Date Area (ha)
|
533405
540503
540506
540507
540508
540510
540511
540512
540513
540514
540515
540516
540517
540518
540519
540520
540521
540522
540523 |
LUCKY STRIKE
CDO
CDO 1
CDO 3
CDO 3
CDO 4
CDO 5
CDO 6
CDO 7
CDO 8
CDO 9
CDO 10
CDO 11
CDO 12
CDO 13
CDO 14
CDO 15
CDO 16
CDO 17
|
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov 30
2008/Nov 30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008 Sep/06
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
2008/Nov/30
Total |
498.5
458.0
498.0
498.1
498.2
498.3
498.4
478.5
478.7
498.6
478.8
498.7
479.0
478.8
459.0
479.0
479.1
479.1
479.1
9213.9
|
History
The region first
witnessed significant exploration during the search for bulk tonnage
porphyry copper deposits after the discovery of Cariboo-Bell (Imperial
Metals) in the mid 1960s. Exploration on the Ruth Lake property dates
back to the 1970s and consists of “grassroots” geochemical and
geophysical programs. Table 2 summarizes the historical exploration
activity on the property.
Table 2
– Historical Work on the Ruth Lake Property
|
Year |
Work By |
Areas |
Type and Scope of
Work |
Results over
property |
Reference |
|
1973 |
Pickands Mather |
5 km south of Bedingfield Lake |
81.5 mile grid + 3882 soils and
mag survey. Test Pit. |
600 x 900 m alteration and silica
breccia with strongest Mo response. |
AR 04647 |
|
1974 |
Pickands Mather |
5 km south of Bedingfield Lake |
Line cutting (11.5 mi) as
preparation for IP survey |
Follow up on anomalous Mo values
from 1972 lake sediment survey |
AR 04822 |
|
1974 |
Exploram Minerals |
7 mi N of Forest Grove |
14 mile grid, Magnetometer (13
mi), IP surveys (5 mi) |
N-S mag high cut by linear mag
lows (faults). IP anomaly over mag low |
AR 05398 |
|
1975 |
Exploram Minerals |
51° 48’N; 121° 10’W |
Magnetometer – IP surveys (12mi) |
IP chargeability anomalies infer
possible mineralization. |
AR 05530 |
|
1976 |
Exploram Minerals |
North of Bedingfield Lake |
Percussion drilling – 2 holes
totaling 100 ft. |
Holes failed to reach bedrock |
AR 06110 |
|
1980 |
Denison Mines |
SE corner of property |
Soil and biogeochemical sampling
over Mo min’l |
Confirmed area of mineralization |
AR 08648 |
|
1984 |
Del Explorers |
SE corner of property in area of
Math showing |
12 km line cutting, 411 soil,
silt, rocks, mapping, prospecting |
350 x 450m zone of intense
sericite, silica, kaolin and 5-15% pyrite, Grad sample of 0.14%,
0.024%Mo |
AR 13254 |
|
1996 |
Guardian
Enterprises |
Math showing
area |
Soil sampling
and prospecting |
Weakly
anomalous Cu, Mo in several rock chip samples |
AR 24463 |
GEOLOGY
Regional Geology
The Ruth lake property
is situated along the “Quesnel Trough”, an approximately 1,000 km long,
northwesterly trending belt of volcanic and intrusive rocks that extend
from the USA border to well north of Prince George, BC (Figure 1). In
the property region a variety of lithologies are represented comprising
sediments, volcanics and several intrusive bodies ranging from Paleozoic
to Tertiary age (Figure 3).
BC Geological Survey (“BCGS”)
mapping indicates the property region is largely underlain by the early
Jurassic Takomkane Batholith, a large multiphase intrusion consisting of
syenodiorite, granodiorite and porphyritic biotite granodiorite phases
(Figure3). These rocks intrude Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanic
rocks that are believed to be coeval and represent the sub-volcanic
equivalents of the Nicola volcanism. The Murphy Lake stock, a 10x15 km
body of monzonitic and syenitic rocks, occurs at the northwest corner of
the Takomkane Batholith. The youngest rocks in the region are Tertiary
age Kamloops Group volcanic flows and minor sediments.
Local Geology
The Ruth Lake property
is underlain by intrusive rocks along the southwest margin of the
Takomkane Batholith (Figure 3). These rocks occur as stocks and dikes
of syenite, monzonite, diorite and gabbro. Feldspar porphyritic
textures are locally well developed. The intrusive rocks are cut by
narrow (<1 m) granite and rhyolite dikes. The rocks in the area are
primarily greyish to pinkish-brown, massive, medium-grained, hornblende-biotite
granodiorite to quartz monzonite. Outcroppings are often rounded due to
glaciation and weathering (Photo 1). Most rocks are often weakly to
moderately magnetic due to the presence of disseminated magnetite.
Photo
1-M17 Grid Outcrop
For the most part the
intrusive rocks are fresh or display weak, chloritic alteration of the
mafic minerals. In on area (M-19 Grid) a “borrow pit” exposed pinkish
weathered, very fractured, medium-grained granodiorite. Distinct quartz
grains up to 0.5 cm are common. Mafic mineral are completely altered.
The fractured nature and oxidation of this rock suggests a possible
structural zone. No orientation however is evident.
One small wedge of
Nicola rocks is mapped in the central part of the property. Several
northerly to north-easterly faults are mapped along the west edge of the
claim block (Figure 3).
MINERALIZATION
The “Quesnel Trough”
hosts numerous copper-gold-molybdenum “porphyry” (bulk tonnage) and
copper-gold “skarn” deposits that include former and current mines.
Well known examples include the Copper Mountain, Hedley (Skarn-Au),
Afton, Mount Milligan, Mount Polley and Kemess mines. The Cariboo
Bell-Mount Polley deposits and the Boss Mountain molybdenum deposits are
hosted by granitic rocks of the Thuya and Takomkane Batholiths.
Recent exploration in
the Quesnel Trough resulted in the discovery of alkalic porphyry
copper-gold at GWR Resources property, approximately 5 km to the west of
the Ruth Lake property, and Serengeti’s Kwanika property north of Mount
Milligan. Deep drilling discovered higher-grade copper mineralization
at New Gold Inc.’s (“New Gold”) Afton deposit (Kamloops), Imperial
Metals’ Mount Polley mine (Likely) and Northgate’s Kemess North
deposit.
The only documented
mineral occurrence on the Ruth Lake property is the Math showing
(Minfile 092P 133) near the southeast corner of the property.
Molybdenum mineralization associated with pyrite occurs in quartz veins
and on fracture surfaces (Assessment Report 4647). The full Minfile
report on this particular mineral occurrence is accessible by going
online to:
http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092P++133
Another mineral
occurrence, the Tim showing (Minfile 092P 122), is found just to
the west of the central portion of the property. The Minfile report
state that:
“Mineralization
on the property (Assessment Reports 8831,12192, 25670) consists of
fracture-controlled and disseminated malachite, chalcopyrite and minor
bornite and native copper associated with magnetite and pyrite in
intensely altered Nicola Group andesite and in dykes and small intrusive
bodies of monzonite, syenite and syenite breccia of the Spout Lake
Intrusions. Alteration and associated accessory minerals includes
quartz, epidote, K-feldspar and calcite. Three showings, Tim#1, #2 and
#3, have been trenched over a northwest-trending zone for a distance of
approximately 500 metres on the property. In 1983, Stallion Resources
Ltd. drilled six short diamond drill holes (Assessment Report 12192)
totaling 312 metres on the Tim#1 showing. Drill hole #1 intersected
42.7 metres grading 2.76 % Cu, 25.4 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au from surface
to 42.7 metres. None of the other holes showed near as much
encouragement.”
During the 2007 program
one occurrence of copper mineralization was discovered in one of the
grids (M-19). Chalcopyrite was found as blebs and disseminations in
thin (<0.5 cm) quartz veinlet fracture fillings. The mineralized
fracture veinlets have a very low density (<1/metre). This
mineralization was selectively sampled as RLW07-03.
EXPLORATION PROGRAM – 2007
Geochemical Program
Fieldwork on the Ruth
Lake property took place between August 2nd and October 14th,
2007. The major part of the exploration program consisted of grid
establishment and soil sample collection, followed by prospecting and
rock sampling as well as cursory examination of several of the grids on
the property. Soil sampling was conducted on five separate grids
consisting of 35 chain and compass lines that totaled 40.9 km.
Soils were collected
from the “B” horizon zone (15-30 cm depth) whenever available and placed
in soil bags for shipment to a laboratory. When a “B” horizon was not
present a glacial till or decomposed bedrock sample was collected.
Prospecting and minor rock sampling was conducted on several of the soil
grids.
Soil and rock samples
were analyzed for gold (30 gm FA-AA) and 34 elements by Inductively
Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (ICP). Gold is reported in parts per
billion (ppb) while other elements are stated in parts per million (ppm)
or percent. Of the samples collected, 625 soils and 3 rocks were
submitted to Assayers Canada (Vancouver) and 222 soils were submitted to
Acme Analytical Labs (Vancouver) for gold and ICP analysis.
EXPLORATION PROGRAM RESULTS – 2007
Soil Sampling
Two of the soil grids
(M-17 and M-19) did not yield any significant copper values. The
highest golf (151 ppb) was found on the M-17 grid. This sample,
however, did not occur with any other nearby anomalous gold values.
Grid M-19 did not yield any anomalous copper or gold even in the area of
a new copper occurrence. This suggests the mineralization from which
rock sample RLW07-03 was collected does not have a geochemical
response.
Anomalous copper was
indicated along the southern line of the M-20 grid. the highest value
of the program (284 ppm Cu) was found along with several nearby, weakly
anomalous copper. The copper-in-soil anomalies are small and comprised
of only a few samples. Anomalous gold occurred on the west and east
ends of the central lines in Grid M-20. There was, however, no
coincidence between the anomalous copper and anomalous gold in this
grid. Sampling crews also reported copper staining in rock cuts along a
new logging road in the southeast corner of the M-20 grid. This and the
anomalous copper-in-soils indicate there may be exploration potential
southerly of the M-20 grid.
Copper values up to 128
ppm are indicated in the southeast corner of Grid M-22. There was no
with anomalous gold. Grid M-23 showed only scattered single point
copper anomalies, none of which had a gold correlation.
The ICP data from the
soil samples found no significant concentrations of other elements such
as silver, molybdenum, lead or zinc. In brief, the soil sampling
program did not reveal any areas with geochemical signatures indicating
the presence of a mineralized system.
Rock Sampling
The only anomalous
sample was RLW07-03, a selective sample collected to test for
copper-gold content in a new occurrence. This rock sample produced
values of 1372 ppm Cu and 1200b Au that were associated with narrow
(<0.5 cm) chalcopyrite bearing quartz veinlets in a pinkish biotite
granodiorite.
Photo 2
– Sample RLW07-03
Geophysics
Airborne geophysical
patterns over porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum deposits and occurrences
throughout BC’s Quesnel Trough commonly yield a characteristic
fingerprint, defined by coincident relative low-magnetic total field
values (local lows along the edges of magnetic total field highs) and
low-equivalent Thorium/Potassium ratio (eTh/K) values (with or without
positive potassium anomalies – Shives, January, 2008).
Recently the Ruth Lake
property and surrounding region was the subject of airborne radiometric
and magnetic surveys conducted in partnership with the Geological Survey
of Canada, Geoscience BC and several property owners including Candorado
Operating Company Ltd. and GWR Resources Inc. In order to identify any
areas with prospective geophysical signatures an interpretation of the
Bonaparte Lake airborne data was conducted by Mr. Rob Shives of GamX
Inc. These prospective “target areas” became the subject of the 2007
exploration program.
MANAGEMENT’S ASSESSMENT OF THE RUTH LAKE PROPERTY
The Ruth Lake property
is located in a highly prospective belt of rocks (Quesnel Trough) that
hosts some of British Columbia’s major copper-gold and copper-molybdenum
as well as important copper or gold skarns.
The property is
underlain by intrusive rocks that are known to host copper and
molybdenum deposits in the region. Alkalic copper-gold deposits on the
nearby GWR Resources Spout Lake property are currently the subject of an
aggressive exploration program.
Past exploration work on
the Ruth Lake property consisted of grassroots stage geochemical and
geophysical surveys. No diamond drilling has been conducted on the
property.
Analysis of the airborne
geophysical data identified five prospective target areas in the western
part of the Ruth Lake property. The 2007 exploration program was
designed to test whether these particular target areas have a
geochemical signature indicative of alkalic copper-gold deposits.
The Ruth Lake
exploration results were not sufficient to warrant significant
exploration such as trenching and/or diamond drilling. Further
prospecting and sampling will be required to follow-up the indications
of copper-in-soil and bedrock southerly of the M-20 grid.
Historic assessment
reports dating to the 1970s indicate that exploration was conducted in
the southern part of the Ruth Lake property around a mineral occurrence
known as the Math showing. Sporadic molybdenum-in-soil
geochemical anomalies were reported over a north-south length of 750
metres. Molybdenum and small amounts of chalcopyrite are described as
disseminations and fracture fillings in altered, silicified and locally
quartz veined granitic float and bedrock. Some drilling was reportedly
done however there are no records of the results.
It is managements
believe that the Ruth Lake property warrants further exploration work to
evaluate the M-20 grid copper soil anomaly and the area of the Math
showing. This further exploration will consist of a work program of
detailed soil sampling, prospecting and rock sampling. The results
should determine whether further exploration such as geophysical
surveys, trenching and/or drilling is warranted on these particular
parts of the Ruth Lake property. The cost estimate for this planned
exploration program is $35,000. This exploration program will be
carried out in 2008.
