General Information
Secondary Commodities: antimony, gold, bismuth, arsenic, silver
Aliases: Hyland Gold, Montrose Ridge
Deposit Type(s): Plutonic Related Au
Location(s): 60.470410 N, -127.869090 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 95D05
Location Comments: Location marks approximate center of Cuz zone.
Hand Samples Available at YGS: No
Last Reviewed: Oct 3, 2017
Capsule
Last Updated: Oct 3, 2017WORK HISTORY
Kidd Creek Mines Ltd staked Cuz cl 1-56 (YA67481) in Dec/81 and performed geological mapping, grid soil sampling, grab rock and silt sampling in 1982, before staking Cuz cl 57-60 (YA68994) in Aug/82. In 1985 the company carried out detailed and property scale geological mapping, follow-up soil sampling, panel sampling, ground IP, VLF-EM and magnetometer geophysical surveys. In 1986 Kidd Creek changed its name to Falconbridge Ltd.
The claims were transferred to Archer, Cathro and Associates (1981) Ltd in Jun/91 and in 1994 the remaining 7 Cuz claims (9-14, 57, YA67489 etc.) were sold to Nordac Resources Ltd.
In May/94 Westmin Resources Ltd surrounded the occurrence and the Hyland Gold deposit, located 4 km to the north (Minfile Occurrence 095D 011), with a large block of Ver claims (1-262, YB49031) before adding CJ cl 1-140 (YB55638) and CJ cl 141-154 (YB56194) to the south and west in Sept/94. During the summer and fall of 1994, Westmin carried out airborne EM, Mag/VLF and radiometric geophysical surveys, property scale geological mapping, prospecting, rock, soil and stream sampling and grid development on their claims.
In 1995 Nordac dug 4 hand pits in an attempt to delineate the source area of anomalous soil samples collected previously by Kidd Creek.
In 1995 Westmin Resources completed fill-in soil sampling on two lines immediately south of the Hyland Gold deposit and staked HL cl 1-84 (YB79485) adjoining the Ver claim to the north of the deposit. The company's 1996 work program consisted of soil sampling, property scale geological mapping and rock sampling of the HL claims, as well as auger sampling of the area south of the Hyland Gold deposit.
In Mar/98 Westmin Resources was acquired by Boliden Ltd and in Apr/99 Expatriate Resources Ltd purchased the Ver and CJ claims from Boliden. Expatriate subsequently formed the Hyland Gold Joint Venture (Cash Resources Ltd 55%, Expatriate 31% and Nordac Resources Ltd 14%) thereby consolidating this occurrence with the Hyland Gold occurrence (Minfile Occurrences 095D 011) thus facilitating exploration in the area. In the summer of 1999 the joint venture carried out prospecting and grid soil sampling over areas which had not previously received detailed sampling. During the winter of 1999-2000 the joint venture completed a data compilation of all previous exploration work undertaken within the boundaries of the newly consolidated property.
In May/2001 Cash Resources re-organized and changed its name to Cash Minerals Ltd and in Jun/2001 Nordac Resources re-organized and changed its name to Strategic Metals Ltd. During the 2001 exploration season the Joint Venture group carried out limited soil sampling, hand trenching and prospecting in the vicinity of the occurrence.
Expatriate purchased Cash Minerals 55% interest in the Hyland Gold Joint Venture in Nov/2002 for cash and a 1% Net Smelter Return on production. In Jan/2003 the company purchased Strategic Metals 14% interest for cash and a 0.25% Net Smelter Return. Adrian Resources Ltd continues to hold a 1% Net Smelter Return royalty capped at $1 500 000.00 on 88 claims associated with the Hyland Gold occurrence.
In Feb/2003 Expatriate optioned a 51% interest in the newly consolidated Hyland Gold property to Northgate Exploration Ltd for cash and a commitment to spend $5,000,000.00 over 4 years. In Jun/2003 Expatriate commenced a two phase diamond drill program on the Main Zone (Hyland Gold occurrence, located 4 km to the north. No appreciable amount of work was carried out on this occurrence.
In Jul/2003 Expatriate shareholders approved a plan to transfer Expatriate's precious metal assets, including the Hyland Gold Property to a separate company, StrataGold Corporation. In May/2004 Northgate Exploration changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation. In the 2004 exploration season Northgate Minerals funded an eight hole diamond drill (1 800 m) program and 15.7 km of ground IP geophysics on the Hyland Gold occurrence. In 2005 StrataGold collared 4 diamond drill holes (984.81 m) on the property. The program which was funded by Northgate Minerals collared 3 holes (784.86 m) in and around the Cuz occurrence while the last hole (199.95 m) tested a coincident geochemical and geophysical anomaly located 2.1 km east of the Main zone (Hyland Gold occurrence). In Dec 1995 Northgate Minerals dropped its option on the property.
In Feb/2009 Victoria Gold Corp purchased all outstanding shares of StrataGold Corp. thus transferring control of the Hyland Gold property to Victoria Gold. In Dec/2009 Victoria Gold optioned a 100 % interest in the Hyland Gold property to Argus Metals Corp. in return for cash, shares and certain work commitments. StrataGold retained a 2.5 % capped Net Smelter Return with a provisional buyback of 1.5 % for $1 000 000.00.
In 2010 Argus Metals carried out geological mapping and reconnaissance prospecting on and north of the Main zone, followed by 4 diamond drill holes (765 m) collared on and north of the Main zone. Later in the fall the company carried out a ground Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) survey across the Main zone and collected samples of drill core for petrography descriptions.
Between October and Nov/2011 Argus Metals surrounded the Hyland Gold property with Pork cl 1- 236 (YD113001), Bean cl 1-354 (YD115103) and Roast cl 1-56 (YD115047). In 2011 the company carried out a ground Time Domain Electromagnetics (TDEM) survey over the Main zone and areas located south of the zone, continued mapping the geology between the Main and Cuz occurrences and expanded rock, soil and silt sampling programs across the property. The company also completed 16 diamond drill holes (3 128 m); of which 13 targeted the Main zone and points south and 3 holes targeted the Cuz occurrence. In Oct/2011 Argus Metals fulfilled its obligations under its option agreement with StrataGold Corp, thus earning a 100 % interest in the Hyland Gold property subject to the various royalty interests spelled out in various historic agreements.
In Mar/2012 Argus Metal released a National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report on the Hyland Gold property. The report summarized all exploration completed to date on the property. The report also contained a maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Main zone.
In Sep/2012 Argus Metals announced it had signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Banyan Coast Capital Corporation for the sale of the Hyland Gold project for shares and cash. In Nov/2012 Banyan Coast Capital released an updated NI 43-101 technical report on the Hyland Gold property. This report is essentially the same report released by Argus Metals in Mar/2012 except for the addition of data related to the purchase of the property by Banyan Coast Capital. In Feb/2013 Banyan Coast Capital closed the sale of the Hyland Gold property and transitioned from a Capital Pool Company to a Tier 2 Mining Issuer resulting in a change in name to Banyan Gold Corporation.
In 2013 Banyan Gold carried out follow-up soil sampling south of the Cuz occurrence to test high priority gold/arsenic-in-soils anomalies defined by ridge and spur soil sampling and silt sampling programs previously carried out in 2011. The program led to the discovery of the Montrose Ridge zone (this occurrence) a coincident gold/arsenic-in-soil anomaly located approximately 2.5 km southeast of the Cuz zone/occurrence. In 2014 Banyan Gold carried out infill soil sampling between the Cuz and Montrose Ridge zones. The company also carried out coincident rock sampling and geological mapping over the same area.
In 2015 Banyan Gold carried out a systematic surface sampling and trenching program over the Montrose Ridge gold and arsenic gold in soil anomaly. The company also completed an access trail to connect the area to existing trail network. In addition the company drilled three diamond drill holes (739.85 m), on the Camp zone, a gold and arsenic soil anomaly located 500 m north of the Main zone.
In 2016 Banyan Gold dug 2 trenches on the Camp zone and 5 trenches on the Montrose Ridge zone and collected follow-up grid soil samples from around the Main, Montrose Ridge and South Ridge zones. The company also collared three diamond drill holes (475 m) on the Main zone. In 2017 Banyan Gold continue diamond drilling on the Main and Cuz zones and investigating soil anomalies in the South Ridge area.
GEOLOGY
The area is located in the southeast corner of the Yukon approximately 70 km northeast of Watson Lake. Access is normally by float plane from Watson Lake to Quartz Lake (Hulse Lake) or by helicopter from Watson Lake. A 40 km winter road built in 1989 provides access to the property in the winter months allowing the mobilization of heavy equipment and fuel to the property.
The property is located at the southeast end of the Selwyn Basin, an off-shelf sequence that developed at the continental margin of the North American craton prior to Cordilleran deformation and accretion. Structural complexity coupled with folding and faulting and a general lack of bedrock expose has hampered geological mapping on the property. The property is underlain by an interbedded sequence of quartzites, limestones and phyllites, with individual beds varying from less than one metre to tens of metres in thickness. The underlying bedrock in the central part of the property is interpreted by L. Pigage et al., (2011), of the Yukon Geological Survey to belong to a transition zone between the Yusezyu and Vampire Formations of the Precambrian Hyland Group.
The most important structural feature on the property is the Quartz Lake Lineament, a north trending recessive topographic linear that likely corresponds to a steeply dipping structural zone. The linear is usually filled by glacial till or talus but where bedrock is exposed in a number of trenches across the Main zone, it consists of a series of anastomosing, sub parallel faults. Sense of motion on the structures is unknown but local stratigraphy appears to have negligible offset. The lineament bisects the Main zone and strikes toward the Cuz zone where it is cut by a normal fault that juxtaposes Yusezyu Formation against Vampire Formation stratigraphy. The lineament also coincides with resistivity and magnetic lows in the vicinity of the Main zone.
Gold mineralization on the property occurs in at least four different settings: (1) breccia zones, veins and auriferous sulphide disseminations, best developed in silicified quartzite or jasperoid altered zones in phyllite; (2) north-trending recessive weathering fault zones in the Quartz Lake Lineament containing pods of semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite +/- pyrite; (3) manto-like siderite replacement bodies up to 40 m thick, formed along the limestone-quartzite contacts in a corridor along the Quartz Lake Lineament. These contain relatively minor amounts of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite; (4) narrow quartz veins containing erratic pods of nearly massive jamesonite, samples of which assayed up to 41% lead, 154.3 g/t silver and 3.4 g/t gold. All types of mineralization are oxidized to varying depths, depending on fault-induced density and local degree of glacial erosion. Character and intensity of mineralization depends on the character and chemistry of the host rocks. To that extent, gold mineralization is both stratigraphically and structurally controlled.
Early exploration around the Cuz occurrence/zone was spotty. Soil sampling conducted in 1982 by Kidd Creek Mines, outlined a roughly circular area 450 m in diameter on the north slope of Gretchen Peak (local name) hosting a strongly anomalous gold and arsenic anomaly. Follow-up rock sampling returned samples up to 5.5 g/t gold.
Three years later the company's 1985 work program outlined a zone of sericitic and argillic alteration and an IP anomaly associated with limonitic shear zones and pyritic quartz veins. One hundred and thirty-five panel samples averaged 74 ppb gold. Ten samples from north and northeast trending shear zones cutting quartzite and conglomerate returned values of over 200 ppb gold, and also contained anomalous amounts of arsenic, bismuth and antimony. Trenching carried out by Nordac Resources in 1995 was unsuccessful in determining the nature of bedrock mineralization because of talus cover.
The formation of the Hyland Gold Joint Venture in Apr/99 and the consolidation of claims in the area facilitated exploration in the area. At the time of formation of the joint venture the Hyland Gold property consisted of the Main zone (Minfile Occurrence #095D 011) and the Cuz zone (this occurrence) located 4 km to the south. Exploration carried out since then has identified 2 additional zones of significant mineralization; the Camp zone (Minfile Occurrence 095D 011) located approximately 500 m north of the Main zone and the Montrose Ridge zone (this occurrence) located approximately 2 km south of the Cuz zone.
The Cuz zone (occurrence location) lies approximately 4 km south of the Main zone at the intersection of the Quartz Lake Lineament with a southeasterly trending normal fault that terminates or offsets the Quartz Lake Lineament. Host rocks are quartzite, conglomerate and limestone of the Upper Quartzite unit of the upper Vampire Formation in contact with similar rocks of the overlying Yusezyu Formation. The main expression of the Cuz zone is a gold/arsenic soil anomaly, originally measuring a roughly circular area 450 m in diameter. Exploration to date has extended the anomaly over 2 km to the southeast along the strike of the southeasterly trending fault.
Field examination of mineralized talus fragments collected in 2001 revealed two types of gold mineralization. The first type and the one returning the highest gold values to date, consist of limonitic, siliceous vein float within which tiny grains of arsenopyrite are sometimes still present after oxidation. Grey chalcedonic, somewhat banded and often druzy quartz in the veins, has been emplaced in at least two stages and is accompanied by brecciation and alteration of the host rock. Yellow-orange to red-brown limonite comprises from 10 to 50 % of the vein material. Crosscutting relationships suggest that the veins may form a stockwork zone within an anomalous area. A grab sample of this material assayed 9.0 g/t gold.
The second type of mineralization consists of gold bearing, sheared, leached and bleached clastic sedimentary rocks. At first glance these do not appear to differ greatly from barren to weakly mineralized quartzite and conglomerates that are peripheral to the anomalous zone. On closer inspection, strong silicification and box works after disseminated sulphides are evident. One such specimen assayed 3.7 g/t gold. Although this type of mineralization is generally lower grade than the vein-bearing rock, the silicified material is probably more representative of much of the material found between veins or shear zones within the anomalous area. The source area of this talus mineralization has not directly been tested by diamond drilling has not yet been tested by diamond drilling.
The fault that cross-cuts the Quartz Lake Lineament trends northwesterly from the Cuz occurrence through a narrow valley with poor bedrock exposure. Prospecting in the valley in 1982 discovered siderite float, a common alteration type in the Camp zone to the north. Mineralization at the Cuz zone is gold dominated with low silver values as compared to the silver dominated mineralization at the Main zone. In style and mineralization Cuz zone mineralization is most comparable to Type 3 mineralization, with quartz +/- Fe-carbonate +/- pyrite +/- titanite. Type 3 mineralization is the latest stage of mineralization and possibly represents a distal, upper or waning phase of the hydrothermal system.
Argus Metals’ 2011 diamond drill program was the first to discover in situ gold mineralization at the Cuz zone. Hole HY-11-36 returned 4.5 m grading 1.93 g/t gold from 25.9 to 30.4 m and 4.5 m grading 0.65 g/t gold from 10.5 m to 15 m in the discovery hole. Similar grades were encountered 80 m northwest and 240 m northwest of the discovery hole. Complete oxidation of sulphide mineralization in drill core extends about 20 m from surface, while transition zone incomplete oxidation extends about 40 m from surface. Cuz zone gold mineralization intersected by the 2011 drilling program in conjunction with results of prospecting and soil sampling, outlines a potentially mineralized breccia up to 300 m wide over a possible 2 km strike length on a southeasterly trend.
Gold mineralization sampled to date at the Cuz zone is distinct from the mineralization seen at the Main zone as there is a significantly lower silver component than at the Main zone. The Cuz zone mineralization occurs along a regional scale fault that terminates or offsets the Quartz Lake lineament and is in higher structural and stratigraphic setting than the Main Zone. Banyan Gold believes that the secondary structures (and their intersections with the dominant north-south Quartz Lake Lineament) may offer important exploration targets for future work on other parts of the property. Furthermore the mineralogical and metallogenic characteristics of the Cuz zone, coupled with its stratigraphic and structurally higher setting than the Main zone, suggests that it may represent distal or high level mineralization. It is possible then that significant gold mineralization may exist at deeper levels in the Cuz zone where Main Zone stratigraphy may be present.
Initial ridge and spur soil sampling carried out in 2011 and silt sampling carried out previously outlined anomalous gold and arsenic values 2 km south of the Cuz zone. Follow-up grid soil sampling in 2013 and 2014 outlined a broad 500 m by 1 000 m easterly trending gold in soils anomaly (> 200 ppm gold) labeled the Montrose Ridge zone (UTM 562695 W, 6701910 N). In 2015 a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) detector was used to confirm the effectiveness of the method as well as to infill and extend the Montrose Ridge zone. The XRF results reported arsenic-in-soil results comparable to previous soil samples and additionally that bismuth is a highly applicable pathfinder element for the Montrose Ridge zone gold mineralization.
Excavator trenching carried out in 2015 on the anomaly/zone returned 6 m of 4.4 g/t gold in trench MT-15-01 including 2 m of 13.1 g/t gold from 4 to 6 m. The trench also returned 24 m of 0.47 g/t gold from 18 to 42 m, including 6 m of 1.3 g/t gold from 36 to 42 m. Chip and channel samples from other nearby trenches returned anomalous, but less significant values for gold and arsenic. The trench samples returned low silver response (< 1 g/t) similar to the Cuz zone located 2.5 km to the north. These results strengthens the interpretation that both the Cuz and Montrose Ridge zones represent a separate or higher level mineralization system than the Main zone system where an approximate 1:4 gold-silver ratio exists. This definition of vertically extensive, multi-phased gold mineralization events on the Hyland Gold property further emphasizes the district-scale of the causative hydrothermal system.
Banyan Gold’s continues to explore the property with the view towards expanding the existing inferred Main zone resource, defining a maiden mineral resource for the Cuz zone and testing other zones located on the property.
Kidd Creek Mines Ltd staked Cuz cl 1-56 (YA67481) in Dec/81 and performed geological mapping, grid soil sampling, grab rock and silt sampling in 1982, before staking Cuz cl 57-60 (YA68994) in Aug/82. In 1985 the company carried out detailed and property scale geological mapping, follow-up soil sampling, panel sampling, ground IP, VLF-EM and magnetometer geophysical surveys. In 1986 Kidd Creek changed its name to Falconbridge Ltd.
The claims were transferred to Archer, Cathro and Associates (1981) Ltd in Jun/91 and in 1994 the remaining 7 Cuz claims (9-14, 57, YA67489 etc.) were sold to Nordac Resources Ltd.
In May/94 Westmin Resources Ltd surrounded the occurrence and the Hyland Gold deposit, located 4 km to the north (Minfile Occurrence 095D 011), with a large block of Ver claims (1-262, YB49031) before adding CJ cl 1-140 (YB55638) and CJ cl 141-154 (YB56194) to the south and west in Sept/94. During the summer and fall of 1994, Westmin carried out airborne EM, Mag/VLF and radiometric geophysical surveys, property scale geological mapping, prospecting, rock, soil and stream sampling and grid development on their claims.
In 1995 Nordac dug 4 hand pits in an attempt to delineate the source area of anomalous soil samples collected previously by Kidd Creek.
In 1995 Westmin Resources completed fill-in soil sampling on two lines immediately south of the Hyland Gold deposit and staked HL cl 1-84 (YB79485) adjoining the Ver claim to the north of the deposit. The company's 1996 work program consisted of soil sampling, property scale geological mapping and rock sampling of the HL claims, as well as auger sampling of the area south of the Hyland Gold deposit.
In Mar/98 Westmin Resources was acquired by Boliden Ltd and in Apr/99 Expatriate Resources Ltd purchased the Ver and CJ claims from Boliden. Expatriate subsequently formed the Hyland Gold Joint Venture (Cash Resources Ltd 55%, Expatriate 31% and Nordac Resources Ltd 14%) thereby consolidating this occurrence with the Hyland Gold occurrence (Minfile Occurrences 095D 011) thus facilitating exploration in the area. In the summer of 1999 the joint venture carried out prospecting and grid soil sampling over areas which had not previously received detailed sampling. During the winter of 1999-2000 the joint venture completed a data compilation of all previous exploration work undertaken within the boundaries of the newly consolidated property.
In May/2001 Cash Resources re-organized and changed its name to Cash Minerals Ltd and in Jun/2001 Nordac Resources re-organized and changed its name to Strategic Metals Ltd. During the 2001 exploration season the Joint Venture group carried out limited soil sampling, hand trenching and prospecting in the vicinity of the occurrence.
Expatriate purchased Cash Minerals 55% interest in the Hyland Gold Joint Venture in Nov/2002 for cash and a 1% Net Smelter Return on production. In Jan/2003 the company purchased Strategic Metals 14% interest for cash and a 0.25% Net Smelter Return. Adrian Resources Ltd continues to hold a 1% Net Smelter Return royalty capped at $1 500 000.00 on 88 claims associated with the Hyland Gold occurrence.
In Feb/2003 Expatriate optioned a 51% interest in the newly consolidated Hyland Gold property to Northgate Exploration Ltd for cash and a commitment to spend $5,000,000.00 over 4 years. In Jun/2003 Expatriate commenced a two phase diamond drill program on the Main Zone (Hyland Gold occurrence, located 4 km to the north. No appreciable amount of work was carried out on this occurrence.
In Jul/2003 Expatriate shareholders approved a plan to transfer Expatriate's precious metal assets, including the Hyland Gold Property to a separate company, StrataGold Corporation. In May/2004 Northgate Exploration changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation. In the 2004 exploration season Northgate Minerals funded an eight hole diamond drill (1 800 m) program and 15.7 km of ground IP geophysics on the Hyland Gold occurrence. In 2005 StrataGold collared 4 diamond drill holes (984.81 m) on the property. The program which was funded by Northgate Minerals collared 3 holes (784.86 m) in and around the Cuz occurrence while the last hole (199.95 m) tested a coincident geochemical and geophysical anomaly located 2.1 km east of the Main zone (Hyland Gold occurrence). In Dec 1995 Northgate Minerals dropped its option on the property.
In Feb/2009 Victoria Gold Corp purchased all outstanding shares of StrataGold Corp. thus transferring control of the Hyland Gold property to Victoria Gold. In Dec/2009 Victoria Gold optioned a 100 % interest in the Hyland Gold property to Argus Metals Corp. in return for cash, shares and certain work commitments. StrataGold retained a 2.5 % capped Net Smelter Return with a provisional buyback of 1.5 % for $1 000 000.00.
In 2010 Argus Metals carried out geological mapping and reconnaissance prospecting on and north of the Main zone, followed by 4 diamond drill holes (765 m) collared on and north of the Main zone. Later in the fall the company carried out a ground Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) survey across the Main zone and collected samples of drill core for petrography descriptions.
Between October and Nov/2011 Argus Metals surrounded the Hyland Gold property with Pork cl 1- 236 (YD113001), Bean cl 1-354 (YD115103) and Roast cl 1-56 (YD115047). In 2011 the company carried out a ground Time Domain Electromagnetics (TDEM) survey over the Main zone and areas located south of the zone, continued mapping the geology between the Main and Cuz occurrences and expanded rock, soil and silt sampling programs across the property. The company also completed 16 diamond drill holes (3 128 m); of which 13 targeted the Main zone and points south and 3 holes targeted the Cuz occurrence. In Oct/2011 Argus Metals fulfilled its obligations under its option agreement with StrataGold Corp, thus earning a 100 % interest in the Hyland Gold property subject to the various royalty interests spelled out in various historic agreements.
In Mar/2012 Argus Metal released a National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report on the Hyland Gold property. The report summarized all exploration completed to date on the property. The report also contained a maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Main zone.
In Sep/2012 Argus Metals announced it had signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Banyan Coast Capital Corporation for the sale of the Hyland Gold project for shares and cash. In Nov/2012 Banyan Coast Capital released an updated NI 43-101 technical report on the Hyland Gold property. This report is essentially the same report released by Argus Metals in Mar/2012 except for the addition of data related to the purchase of the property by Banyan Coast Capital. In Feb/2013 Banyan Coast Capital closed the sale of the Hyland Gold property and transitioned from a Capital Pool Company to a Tier 2 Mining Issuer resulting in a change in name to Banyan Gold Corporation.
In 2013 Banyan Gold carried out follow-up soil sampling south of the Cuz occurrence to test high priority gold/arsenic-in-soils anomalies defined by ridge and spur soil sampling and silt sampling programs previously carried out in 2011. The program led to the discovery of the Montrose Ridge zone (this occurrence) a coincident gold/arsenic-in-soil anomaly located approximately 2.5 km southeast of the Cuz zone/occurrence. In 2014 Banyan Gold carried out infill soil sampling between the Cuz and Montrose Ridge zones. The company also carried out coincident rock sampling and geological mapping over the same area.
In 2015 Banyan Gold carried out a systematic surface sampling and trenching program over the Montrose Ridge gold and arsenic gold in soil anomaly. The company also completed an access trail to connect the area to existing trail network. In addition the company drilled three diamond drill holes (739.85 m), on the Camp zone, a gold and arsenic soil anomaly located 500 m north of the Main zone.
In 2016 Banyan Gold dug 2 trenches on the Camp zone and 5 trenches on the Montrose Ridge zone and collected follow-up grid soil samples from around the Main, Montrose Ridge and South Ridge zones. The company also collared three diamond drill holes (475 m) on the Main zone. In 2017 Banyan Gold continue diamond drilling on the Main and Cuz zones and investigating soil anomalies in the South Ridge area.
GEOLOGY
The area is located in the southeast corner of the Yukon approximately 70 km northeast of Watson Lake. Access is normally by float plane from Watson Lake to Quartz Lake (Hulse Lake) or by helicopter from Watson Lake. A 40 km winter road built in 1989 provides access to the property in the winter months allowing the mobilization of heavy equipment and fuel to the property.
The property is located at the southeast end of the Selwyn Basin, an off-shelf sequence that developed at the continental margin of the North American craton prior to Cordilleran deformation and accretion. Structural complexity coupled with folding and faulting and a general lack of bedrock expose has hampered geological mapping on the property. The property is underlain by an interbedded sequence of quartzites, limestones and phyllites, with individual beds varying from less than one metre to tens of metres in thickness. The underlying bedrock in the central part of the property is interpreted by L. Pigage et al., (2011), of the Yukon Geological Survey to belong to a transition zone between the Yusezyu and Vampire Formations of the Precambrian Hyland Group.
The most important structural feature on the property is the Quartz Lake Lineament, a north trending recessive topographic linear that likely corresponds to a steeply dipping structural zone. The linear is usually filled by glacial till or talus but where bedrock is exposed in a number of trenches across the Main zone, it consists of a series of anastomosing, sub parallel faults. Sense of motion on the structures is unknown but local stratigraphy appears to have negligible offset. The lineament bisects the Main zone and strikes toward the Cuz zone where it is cut by a normal fault that juxtaposes Yusezyu Formation against Vampire Formation stratigraphy. The lineament also coincides with resistivity and magnetic lows in the vicinity of the Main zone.
Gold mineralization on the property occurs in at least four different settings: (1) breccia zones, veins and auriferous sulphide disseminations, best developed in silicified quartzite or jasperoid altered zones in phyllite; (2) north-trending recessive weathering fault zones in the Quartz Lake Lineament containing pods of semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite +/- pyrite; (3) manto-like siderite replacement bodies up to 40 m thick, formed along the limestone-quartzite contacts in a corridor along the Quartz Lake Lineament. These contain relatively minor amounts of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite; (4) narrow quartz veins containing erratic pods of nearly massive jamesonite, samples of which assayed up to 41% lead, 154.3 g/t silver and 3.4 g/t gold. All types of mineralization are oxidized to varying depths, depending on fault-induced density and local degree of glacial erosion. Character and intensity of mineralization depends on the character and chemistry of the host rocks. To that extent, gold mineralization is both stratigraphically and structurally controlled.
Early exploration around the Cuz occurrence/zone was spotty. Soil sampling conducted in 1982 by Kidd Creek Mines, outlined a roughly circular area 450 m in diameter on the north slope of Gretchen Peak (local name) hosting a strongly anomalous gold and arsenic anomaly. Follow-up rock sampling returned samples up to 5.5 g/t gold.
Three years later the company's 1985 work program outlined a zone of sericitic and argillic alteration and an IP anomaly associated with limonitic shear zones and pyritic quartz veins. One hundred and thirty-five panel samples averaged 74 ppb gold. Ten samples from north and northeast trending shear zones cutting quartzite and conglomerate returned values of over 200 ppb gold, and also contained anomalous amounts of arsenic, bismuth and antimony. Trenching carried out by Nordac Resources in 1995 was unsuccessful in determining the nature of bedrock mineralization because of talus cover.
The formation of the Hyland Gold Joint Venture in Apr/99 and the consolidation of claims in the area facilitated exploration in the area. At the time of formation of the joint venture the Hyland Gold property consisted of the Main zone (Minfile Occurrence #095D 011) and the Cuz zone (this occurrence) located 4 km to the south. Exploration carried out since then has identified 2 additional zones of significant mineralization; the Camp zone (Minfile Occurrence 095D 011) located approximately 500 m north of the Main zone and the Montrose Ridge zone (this occurrence) located approximately 2 km south of the Cuz zone.
The Cuz zone (occurrence location) lies approximately 4 km south of the Main zone at the intersection of the Quartz Lake Lineament with a southeasterly trending normal fault that terminates or offsets the Quartz Lake Lineament. Host rocks are quartzite, conglomerate and limestone of the Upper Quartzite unit of the upper Vampire Formation in contact with similar rocks of the overlying Yusezyu Formation. The main expression of the Cuz zone is a gold/arsenic soil anomaly, originally measuring a roughly circular area 450 m in diameter. Exploration to date has extended the anomaly over 2 km to the southeast along the strike of the southeasterly trending fault.
Field examination of mineralized talus fragments collected in 2001 revealed two types of gold mineralization. The first type and the one returning the highest gold values to date, consist of limonitic, siliceous vein float within which tiny grains of arsenopyrite are sometimes still present after oxidation. Grey chalcedonic, somewhat banded and often druzy quartz in the veins, has been emplaced in at least two stages and is accompanied by brecciation and alteration of the host rock. Yellow-orange to red-brown limonite comprises from 10 to 50 % of the vein material. Crosscutting relationships suggest that the veins may form a stockwork zone within an anomalous area. A grab sample of this material assayed 9.0 g/t gold.
The second type of mineralization consists of gold bearing, sheared, leached and bleached clastic sedimentary rocks. At first glance these do not appear to differ greatly from barren to weakly mineralized quartzite and conglomerates that are peripheral to the anomalous zone. On closer inspection, strong silicification and box works after disseminated sulphides are evident. One such specimen assayed 3.7 g/t gold. Although this type of mineralization is generally lower grade than the vein-bearing rock, the silicified material is probably more representative of much of the material found between veins or shear zones within the anomalous area. The source area of this talus mineralization has not directly been tested by diamond drilling has not yet been tested by diamond drilling.
The fault that cross-cuts the Quartz Lake Lineament trends northwesterly from the Cuz occurrence through a narrow valley with poor bedrock exposure. Prospecting in the valley in 1982 discovered siderite float, a common alteration type in the Camp zone to the north. Mineralization at the Cuz zone is gold dominated with low silver values as compared to the silver dominated mineralization at the Main zone. In style and mineralization Cuz zone mineralization is most comparable to Type 3 mineralization, with quartz +/- Fe-carbonate +/- pyrite +/- titanite. Type 3 mineralization is the latest stage of mineralization and possibly represents a distal, upper or waning phase of the hydrothermal system.
Argus Metals’ 2011 diamond drill program was the first to discover in situ gold mineralization at the Cuz zone. Hole HY-11-36 returned 4.5 m grading 1.93 g/t gold from 25.9 to 30.4 m and 4.5 m grading 0.65 g/t gold from 10.5 m to 15 m in the discovery hole. Similar grades were encountered 80 m northwest and 240 m northwest of the discovery hole. Complete oxidation of sulphide mineralization in drill core extends about 20 m from surface, while transition zone incomplete oxidation extends about 40 m from surface. Cuz zone gold mineralization intersected by the 2011 drilling program in conjunction with results of prospecting and soil sampling, outlines a potentially mineralized breccia up to 300 m wide over a possible 2 km strike length on a southeasterly trend.
Gold mineralization sampled to date at the Cuz zone is distinct from the mineralization seen at the Main zone as there is a significantly lower silver component than at the Main zone. The Cuz zone mineralization occurs along a regional scale fault that terminates or offsets the Quartz Lake lineament and is in higher structural and stratigraphic setting than the Main Zone. Banyan Gold believes that the secondary structures (and their intersections with the dominant north-south Quartz Lake Lineament) may offer important exploration targets for future work on other parts of the property. Furthermore the mineralogical and metallogenic characteristics of the Cuz zone, coupled with its stratigraphic and structurally higher setting than the Main zone, suggests that it may represent distal or high level mineralization. It is possible then that significant gold mineralization may exist at deeper levels in the Cuz zone where Main Zone stratigraphy may be present.
Initial ridge and spur soil sampling carried out in 2011 and silt sampling carried out previously outlined anomalous gold and arsenic values 2 km south of the Cuz zone. Follow-up grid soil sampling in 2013 and 2014 outlined a broad 500 m by 1 000 m easterly trending gold in soils anomaly (> 200 ppm gold) labeled the Montrose Ridge zone (UTM 562695 W, 6701910 N). In 2015 a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) detector was used to confirm the effectiveness of the method as well as to infill and extend the Montrose Ridge zone. The XRF results reported arsenic-in-soil results comparable to previous soil samples and additionally that bismuth is a highly applicable pathfinder element for the Montrose Ridge zone gold mineralization.
Excavator trenching carried out in 2015 on the anomaly/zone returned 6 m of 4.4 g/t gold in trench MT-15-01 including 2 m of 13.1 g/t gold from 4 to 6 m. The trench also returned 24 m of 0.47 g/t gold from 18 to 42 m, including 6 m of 1.3 g/t gold from 36 to 42 m. Chip and channel samples from other nearby trenches returned anomalous, but less significant values for gold and arsenic. The trench samples returned low silver response (< 1 g/t) similar to the Cuz zone located 2.5 km to the north. These results strengthens the interpretation that both the Cuz and Montrose Ridge zones represent a separate or higher level mineralization system than the Main zone system where an approximate 1:4 gold-silver ratio exists. This definition of vertically extensive, multi-phased gold mineralization events on the Hyland Gold property further emphasizes the district-scale of the causative hydrothermal system.
Banyan Gold’s continues to explore the property with the view towards expanding the existing inferred Main zone resource, defining a maiden mineral resource for the Cuz zone and testing other zones located on the property.
Location Map
Last Updated: Aug 15, 2018
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Drilling: Diamond | Company plans to drill Main and Cuz zones. |
| 2016 | Geochemistry: Soil | Follow-up sampling. |
| 2016 | Trenching: Backhoe | Montrose Ridge area. |
| 2015 | Development, Surface: Trail | Connected Montrose Ridge to existing trail system. |
| 2015 | Geochemistry: Rock | Montrose Ridge area. |
| 2015 | Trenching: Backhoe | Montrose Ridge area. |
| 2014 | Geochemistry: Soil | In fill sampling. |
| 2013 | Geochemistry: Soil | Follow-up sampling south of Cuz zone. |
| 2012 | Studies | Technical report prepared in March which included this occurrence.Report updated in November to capture sale to Banyan Coast Capital Corp. |
| 2011 | Drilling: Diamond | Three holes targeted Cuz occurrence, part of larger drill program. |
| 2011 | Geochemistry: Rock | Also silt and soil sampling over areas not previously sampled. |
| 2011 | Geology: Regional Bedrock Mapping | Between Main and Cuz zones. |
| 2005 | Drilling: Diamond | Three holes (784.86 m) in and around occurrence. |
| 2001 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 2001 | Other: Prospecting | |
| 2001 | Trenching: Hand | |
| 2000 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Compilation study undertaken over winter or 1999-2000. |
| 2000 | Pre-existing Data: Data Compilation | |
| 1999 | Geochemistry: Soil | Carried out over areas not already sampled. |
| 1999 | Other: Prospecting | |
| 1996 | Drilling: Auger | Auger sampling om HL claims. |
| 1996 | Geochemistry: Soil | Also rock sampling on Ver claims. |
| 1996 | Geology: Regional Bedrock Mapping | On Ver claims. |
| 1995 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 1995 | Trenching: Hand | |
| 1995 | Geochemistry: Soil | Soil sampling on Ver claims. |
| 1994 | Airborne Geophysics: Magnetic | Also VLF-EM and radiometric surveys. |
| 1994 | Geochemistry: Rock | Also soil and silt sampling. |
| 1994 | Geology: Regional Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1994 | Other: Prospecting | |
| 1985 | Geochemistry: Soil | Follow-up sampling. |
| 1985 | Geology: Detailed Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1985 | Ground Geophysics: Magnetics | Also VLF-EM and magnetometer surveys. |
| 1985 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 1982 | Geochemistry: Soil | Grid based. |
| 1982 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1982 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 1982 | Geochemistry: Silt |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Ancestral North America
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: North America - basinal strata
Realm: Laurentia
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup: Windermere
Group/Suite: Hyland
Formation: Yusezyu
Member:
Terrane: Laurentia
Period Max: Ediacaran
Age Max: 635 MA
Period Min: Ediacaran
Age Min: 541 MA
Rock Major: pebbly sandstone
Rock Minor: sandstone; phyllite; limestone
Reference: Pigage et al. (2011) - YGS OF 2011-1
Geological Unit (1M): PCH
Geological Unit (250K): PCH6
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
| Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 094678 | 2005 | Hyland Project 2005, Assessment Report, 2005 Diamond Drilling | Diamond - Drilling | 4 | 984.81 |
| 094296 | 2002 | Geological Report Describing the Hyland Gold Property Including 2001 Geochemical Surveys and Prospecting | Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Prospecting - Other, Hand - Trenching | ||
| 093308 | 1995 | 1994 Assessment Report Hyland Property (Ver 1 to 262, CJ 1 to 154 Mineral Claims) Geological Mapping, Lithogeochemical Sampling, Stream Sediment Sampling, Soil Sampling, and Airborne Geophysical Surveys | Electromagnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Gamma-Ray Spectrometry - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology | ||
| 091815 | 1985 | 1985 Final Report on the Cuz Claims, Southeastern Yukon Territory | Rock - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, EM - Ground Geophysics, IP - Ground Geophysics, Magnetics - Ground Geophysics | ||
| 091427 | 1982 | Report on Geological and Geochemical Survey Conducted July 18 - August 29, 1982 for Quartz Lake Project | Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 092014 | 1975 | Geological/Geochemical Reconnaissance | Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, EM - Ground Geophysics, Magnetics - Ground Geophysics | 17 | 1277.80 |
| 060678 | 1967 | Report on a Combined Helicopter-Borne Electromagnetic and Megnetometer Survey of Quartz Lake, Yukon Territory for Redfort Syndicate | Electromagnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics | ||
| 060677 | 1966 | Geological Reports on the Redfort Group Comprising the Red, Fort, and Plus Claims (192 Claims) | Interpretation - Airphotography, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Petrographic - Lab Work/Physical Studies |
Related References
| Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARMC008138 | Recce geochem map - Cu, Pb, Zn - Acland Creek | Geochemical Map | |
| ARMC008139 | Heavy mineral sampling map - Acland Creek - Anmac Project | Geochemical Map | |
| ARMC008141 | Heavy mineral sampling map - Irons Creek - Anmac project | Geochemical Map | |
| ARMC018634 | Field map - Coal River area | Geoscience Map (General) | |
| 2011-1 | Bedrock geology of Coal River map area (NTS 95D), Yukon | Open File (Geological - Bedrock) | |
| YEG2010_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2010 | p. 35, 59, 64. | Annual Report |
| YEG2011_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2011 | p. 27-28 | Annual Report |
| YEG2013_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2013 | p. 30, 41. | Annual Report |
| YEG2014_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2014 | p. 31, 39. | Annual Report |
| YEG2015_OV2 | Yukon Hard Rock Mining, Development and Exploration Overview 2015 | p. 33 | Annual Report Paper |
| YEG2016_OV4 | Yukon Hardrock Mining, Development and Exploration Overview 2016 | p. 51, 55, 59. | Annual Report Paper |
| Citations |
|---|
| ADRIAN RESOURCES LTD, NDU RESOURCES LTD AND SILVERQUEST RESOURCES LTD, Dec/88. Yukon Mining Incentive Plan (YMIP) 1988 – 044. Available in EMR Library. |
| ARGUS METALS CORP, Mar/2012. Technical Report on the Hyland Gold Property in the Yukon Territory, Canada, March 1, 2012 by A. Armitage and P. Gray. (Available on SEDAR). |
| ARGUS METALS CORP, Press Release. 7 Jul/2011, 11 Aug/2011, 27 Sep/2011, 31 Oct/2011, 28 Nov/2011, 5 Dec/2011, 10 Sep/2012. |
| ARGUS METALS CORP. Apr/2010. Consolidated Financial Statements, April 30, 2010, p. 13. |
| ARGUS METALS CORPORATION, Sep/2017. Web Site: www.argusmetalscorp.com. |
| BANYAN COAST CAPITAL CORP, Nov/2012. Technical Report on the Hyland Gold Property in the Yukon Territory, Canada, November 2, 2012 by A. Armitage and P. Gray. This is an updated version of Argus Gold’s March 1, 2012 technical report. (Available on SEDAR under Banyan Gold Corp.). |
| BANYAN GOLD CORP, Aug/2016. Technical Report on the Hyland Gold Project, Yukon Territory, Canada, August 4, 2016 by R. Carne and A. Armitage. (Available on SEDAR). |
| BANYAN GOLD CORP, Mar/2014. Assessment Report #096575 by P. Gray. |
| BANYAN GOLD CORP, May/2016. Assessment Report #096993 by P. Gray. |
| BANYAN GOLD CORP, News Release. 19 Feb/2013, 18 Nov/2013, 30 Sep/2014, 16 Apr/2016, 8 Sep/2015, 17 Sep/2015, 3 Nov/2016, 14 Nov/2017, 25 Jul/2017, 18 Sep/2017. |
| BANYAN GOLD CORP, Nov/2015. Assessment Report #096791 by P. Gray. |
| NOVAMIN RESOURCES INC, NDU RESOURCES LTD AND SILVERQUEST RESOURCES LTD, Dec/87. Yukon Mining Incentive Plan (YMIP) 1987 – 010. Available in EMR Library. |
| STRATAGOLD CORPORATION, Mar/2006. Consolidated Financial Statements December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, p. 13. Reports Northgate Minerals dropped its option on the property. (Available on SEDAR). |
