General Information
Capsule
Last Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Work History
Mineralized float was found in this area in 1955 and 1958 by Prospectors Airways Ltd. Atlas Explorations Ltd examined the occurrence showing on behalf of the Hess Project (a joint venture with Quebec Cartier Mining Company Ltd and Phillip Brothers (Canada) Ltd) in 1967 but did not stake any claims.
Viceroy Exploration (Canada) Inc staked Squall cl 1-12 (YB80981) 15 km to the northeast in Jun/97 and carried out rock geochemical sampling at that time. In 1998, Viceroy carried out geological mapping and geochemical (rock and silt) sampling and later in Aug/98 staked Tarakan cl 1-12 (YC01258) 13.5 km to the southeast.
In Mar/99, NovaGold Resources Inc acquired 100% of Viceroy's interest in 22 grassroots properties in the Yukon, including the Squall and Tarakan claims, in exchange for 3.4 million common shares. In Aug/99 NovaGold carried out geological mapping, prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling of the Tarakan claims. No further work was carried out on the Squall claims and both claim groups were allowed to lapse in 2000.
Capsule Geology
The showing consists of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite in skarn developed in Proterozoic Hyland Group metasedimentary rocks at the margin of a mid Cretaceous Tombstone Suite intrusive stock. The skarn zone is 150 m wide but mineralization is patchy. Grab samples averaged less than 0.5% Cu.
A similar, biotite monzonite stock has been emplaced within calcareous sandstone, also of the Hyland Group, underlying the location of the former Squall claims. The sediments are widely mineralized with pyrite and pyrrhotite, but significant mineralization (up to 1.6 g/t Au) is restricted to widespread, narrow quartz-arsenopyrite veins.
The rocks underlying the area covered by the Tarakan claims consist of interbedded chert, siltstone and minor shale of the Devonian to Mississippian aged Earn Group that have been intruded by two small quartz monzonite stocks with locally associated calc-silicate alteration. Northwest trending fault zones, along unit contacts, are associated with anomalous gold and silver values from rock sampling. Two samples of strongly limonitic skarn mineralization from the canyon at the northeast end of the claim group returned 3.30 g/t and 1.08 g/t Au respectively, while sampling just north returned background gold values with consistently elevated silver values to 19.8 g/t Ag.
References
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA Paper 66-31, Figure 1, Occurrence NO. 49.
NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC, Mar/99. News Release.
NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC, Feb/2000. Assessment Report #094075 by G. Johnson and C. Schulze.
ROOTS, C.F., ABBOTT, G., CECILE, M. AND GORDY, S., 1995. Bedrock Geology of Lasing Range Map Area (105N), East Half, Hess Mountains, Yukon. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon Region. Open File 1995-7 (G).
VICEROY EXPLORATION (CANADA) INC, Sep/98. Assessment Report #093907 by C.M. Schultz.
