General Information
Primary Commodities: lead, silver, zinc
Aliases: West Zone
Deposit Type(s): Sediment hosted Mississippi Valley-Type Pb-Zn (MVT)
Location(s): 64.157610 N, -133.383690 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 106C03
Location Comments: Location is approximate center of deposit.
Hand Samples Available at YGS: Yes
Last Reviewed: Jan 18, 2017
Capsule
Last Updated: Jan 18, 2017WORK HISTORY
*This occurrence covers the original Craig occurrence. The Crag (without the “i”) project is located to the east. *In Jan/2007 this occurrence was moved 1.4 km to the west-northwest. The location marks the approximate center of the West zone/Craig deposit.
Staked within Craig cl 1-624 (YA6224) from August to Nov/76 by McIntyre Mines Ltd, following an aerial reconnaissance program. In 1976 the company carried out a property wide exploration program consisting of prospecting, reconnaissance geological mapping and rock sampling. In 1977 the company carried out further prospecting, geological mapping, grid, ridge and spur soil sampling and reconnaissance and grid based ground magnetic, electromagnetic and self-potential geophysical surveys. McIntyre Mines also collared 29 diamond drill holes (4 802 m) on the property, of which 19 diamond drill holes (3 187.7 m) were collared on the West Zone (this occurrence).
Fringe claims bordering the south side of the Craig claims include A cl 1-112 (YA13947) staked in Nov/76 by Tay River Resources Ltd, Mex cl (YA15686) staked in Jul/77 by D. Anfield and Zen cl (YA15718) staked in Jul/77 by Zenore Resources Inc. The Mex group was hand trenched in 1978.
In Jul/79 McIntyre entered a joint venture with Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd, which carried out further detailed mapping and hand trenching. In 1980 Canadian Superior drilled 9 diamond drill holes (1 635 m) on the property. Two holes (544 m) were collared on the West zone.
In 1982 Serem Ltd optioned an 85 % interest in the remaining Craig claims including the West zone (this occurrence). In Oct/83 Serem released a preliminary prospectus which included a mineral resource (Historical Estimate) for the underground portion of the West Zone/Craig deposit. Serem hand trenched selected targets in 1986. In Mar/87 Serem Ltd changed their name to Cheni Gold Mines Ltd, then to Serem Quebec Inc in Jan/89, at which time the Craig claims were reduced to a block of five claims (#’s 4, 6, 8, 29 and 31). In Oct/94 the surviving claims were transferred to Falconbridge Ltd.
In Oct/97, Manson Creek Resources Ltd surrounded the five remaining Craig claims with Nad cl 1-119 (YB98288). In 1998, Manson Creek acquired an option to earn up to a 100% interest in the West zone/Craig deposit from Falconbridge. Later in the year the company carried out an I.P. test survey over the Craig deposit. The following year the company expanded the IP geophysical survey to the east, west and north and collared one diamond drill hole (190.2 m) north of the West zone/Craig deposit. At the end of the program Manson Creek dropped its option and returned the claims to Falconbridge. The last of the Nad claims expired in Oct/2008.
In June/2005 Noranda Inc purchased the remaining interest in Falconbridge Ltd that it didn’t already own, with the merged companies continuing as Falconbridge Ltd. In Aug/2006 Falconbridge was purchased by Xstrata, a Swiss based company. In May/2013 Glencore International merged with Xstrata, resulting in the formation of Glencore Xstrata PLC. In May 2014 Glencore Xstrata changed its name to Glencore PLC. The Craig claims are registered to Glencore Canada Corporation, a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Glencore PLC.
GEOLOGY
The occurrence is located approximately 140 km northeast of the town of Mayo, in east-central Yukon. Access is normally by helicopter although recently exploration companies have employed aircraft to ATAC Resources’ Rackla airstrip located 10 km to the north-northeast and then helicoptered to the occurrence area.
The area was geologically mapped in the early 1970’s by S Blusson of the Geological Survey of Canada (1974 – 1:250 000 scale) as part of Operation Stewart. Blusson’s maps were used by most geologists and exploration companies until 2010 when the Yukon Geological Survey initiated a project to better understand the geology of the area following the discovery of Carlin-type gold mineralization on ATAC Resources’ Rackla Gold Project located to the north. M. Colpron of the Yukon Geological Survey geological mapped topographic map sheet 106C 03 (Mount Ferrell – 1:50 000 scale) in the summer of 2011 and a preliminary geological map was released in 2012.
The location error associated with the original location (i.e. 1.4 km to the southeast) likely resulted from inaccurate maps used before the onset of satellites and geographic information systems. The transfer of data from NAD 27 to NAD 83 likely also introduced location errors. Manson Creek Resources’ 1999 assessment report (#094089) by Eaton and Evans appears to be the first assessment report to note the proper location but it was reported as an UTM location and the report did not include a detailed physical location map. Previous Minfile updates appear to have missed the mistake.
In 1976 McIntyre Mines discovered significant silicic alteration within a regional carbonate unit. Further investigation led to the discovery of 5 occurrences hosting silver-lead-zinc mineralization over a distance of 6.5 km hosted by the same carbonate unit. The carbonate unit was originally thought to lie at the northern margin of the Selwyn basin, south of the Dawson thrust, a crustal break which thrusts regionally metamorphosed basinal sediments north onto carbonate platform rocks assigned to the Mackenzie platform. The carbonate unit was thought to be one continuous geological unit Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian in age.
Geological mapping completed by Colpron found that: 1) the Craig deposit is geologically separate from the other four occurrences located to the east; 2) the Craig deposit is located north of the Dawson Thrust (i.e. footwall side) within the Mackenzie Platform; and 3) the Craig deposit is hosted within a Devonian to Mississippian bioclastic limestone unit (unit DMEC). Manson Creek also appears to be the first company to locate the Craig deposit north of the Dawson thrust and within the Mackenzie Platform.
Aerial reconnaissance in 1976 observed a large kill zone overlying the occurrence site. Follow-up prospecting and rock sampling led to the discovery of a roughly circular lens measuring approximately 7 m across, containing massive to nearly massive, coarsely crystalline galena with less sphalerite and minor tetrahedrite. Several other lenses of less spectacular mineralization were found over a horizontal distance of 350 m and relief of 80 m. All occurrences are located within a near vertical northwest trending silicified zone enclosed by a 150 m wide, 1 km long dolomite lenses that trends northwest. McIntyre Mines labeled the mineralized area the West zone. The control of mineralization within the silicified zone is obscure and seems entirely erratic as does the localization and degree of silicification within the dolomite. The mineralization contains high lead - zinc values with accompanying silver values over significant widths. Results from individual rock samples do not appear to have been filed for assessment.
In 1977 McIntyre Mines tested the West zone with 19 diamond drill (3 187.7 m) holes. The majority of holes intersected what McIntyre Mines described as good grade material. The best result obtained was from hole C77-6 which returned 21.5 m grading 12.9 % lead, 8.1 % zinc and 128.6 g/t silver. The company reported that the deposit measured a slope length of 426.7 m, an average horizontal thickness of 11.9 m and a width of 70 m for a section which extends downward from surface and subparallel to the slope with a vertical rang of approximately 121.9 m. McIntyre Mines estimated that the newly named Craig deposit hosted a resource of approximately 943 472 tonnes grading 8.5 % lead, 13.5 % zinc and 112 g/t silver. (Assessment Report #090307, p. D-1). The resource covered an ore body extending approximately 61 m down dip from surface. Although the deposit was classified as a carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley type, McIntyre Mines suggested that the high silver ratios and mineralization implied that vein-type mineralization is also locally present. The company thought the deposit might increase at depth however the 2 diamond drill holes (544 m) collared in 1980 by Canadian Superior Explorations only intersected sporadic low grade disseminations.
A search of government and assessment records did not turn up Serem Ltd.’s Oct/83 preliminary prospectus. The prospectus reportedly contained a drill indicated (Historical Estimate) resource of 482 141 tonnes grading 8.2 % lead, 13.39 % zinc and 105.6 g/t silver (Canadian Mines Handbook 1984-85, p. 340). Previous versions of Yukon Minfile reported that the resource represented the underground portion of the West zone/Craig deposit.
The 1998 IP geophysical survey outlined the trend of the deposit and the host limestone unit. In addition the survey outlined a strong east west linear chargeability anomaly north of the deposit. Manson Creek expanded the 1998 grid to the east, west and north in order to refine the location of the anomaly. The single 1999 drill hole, intersected slightly anomalous pyritic shales and argillites on the north margin of the deposit. Finely disseminated pyrite occurs as conformable bands with local accumulations up to 30%. Manson Creek also carried out thin section, fluid inclusion and lead Isotope examinations of two drill core samples collected from the deposit. The age data correlates well to published Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) data, but the temperature data showed similarities to a range of types, from MVT to epithermal vein type.
Manson Creeks’ 2001 Annual Report stated “further work on known mineralized showings on the Craig property did not return results which would have justified a continued commitment to further exploration”. The company returned the claims to Falconbridge Ltd. The annual report also contain a resource figure of 874 980 tonnes (Historical Estimate) with an average grade of 8.5 % lead, 13.5 % zinc, and 123.4 g/t silver. This figure was also cited in the Canadian Mines Handbook 2001 - 02 citation for Falconbridge Inc. The company described the calculation as “a previous diamond drill outlined mineral resource”.
*This occurrence covers the original Craig occurrence. The Crag (without the “i”) project is located to the east. *In Jan/2007 this occurrence was moved 1.4 km to the west-northwest. The location marks the approximate center of the West zone/Craig deposit.
Staked within Craig cl 1-624 (YA6224) from August to Nov/76 by McIntyre Mines Ltd, following an aerial reconnaissance program. In 1976 the company carried out a property wide exploration program consisting of prospecting, reconnaissance geological mapping and rock sampling. In 1977 the company carried out further prospecting, geological mapping, grid, ridge and spur soil sampling and reconnaissance and grid based ground magnetic, electromagnetic and self-potential geophysical surveys. McIntyre Mines also collared 29 diamond drill holes (4 802 m) on the property, of which 19 diamond drill holes (3 187.7 m) were collared on the West Zone (this occurrence).
Fringe claims bordering the south side of the Craig claims include A cl 1-112 (YA13947) staked in Nov/76 by Tay River Resources Ltd, Mex cl (YA15686) staked in Jul/77 by D. Anfield and Zen cl (YA15718) staked in Jul/77 by Zenore Resources Inc. The Mex group was hand trenched in 1978.
In Jul/79 McIntyre entered a joint venture with Canadian Superior Exploration Ltd, which carried out further detailed mapping and hand trenching. In 1980 Canadian Superior drilled 9 diamond drill holes (1 635 m) on the property. Two holes (544 m) were collared on the West zone.
In 1982 Serem Ltd optioned an 85 % interest in the remaining Craig claims including the West zone (this occurrence). In Oct/83 Serem released a preliminary prospectus which included a mineral resource (Historical Estimate) for the underground portion of the West Zone/Craig deposit. Serem hand trenched selected targets in 1986. In Mar/87 Serem Ltd changed their name to Cheni Gold Mines Ltd, then to Serem Quebec Inc in Jan/89, at which time the Craig claims were reduced to a block of five claims (#’s 4, 6, 8, 29 and 31). In Oct/94 the surviving claims were transferred to Falconbridge Ltd.
In Oct/97, Manson Creek Resources Ltd surrounded the five remaining Craig claims with Nad cl 1-119 (YB98288). In 1998, Manson Creek acquired an option to earn up to a 100% interest in the West zone/Craig deposit from Falconbridge. Later in the year the company carried out an I.P. test survey over the Craig deposit. The following year the company expanded the IP geophysical survey to the east, west and north and collared one diamond drill hole (190.2 m) north of the West zone/Craig deposit. At the end of the program Manson Creek dropped its option and returned the claims to Falconbridge. The last of the Nad claims expired in Oct/2008.
In June/2005 Noranda Inc purchased the remaining interest in Falconbridge Ltd that it didn’t already own, with the merged companies continuing as Falconbridge Ltd. In Aug/2006 Falconbridge was purchased by Xstrata, a Swiss based company. In May/2013 Glencore International merged with Xstrata, resulting in the formation of Glencore Xstrata PLC. In May 2014 Glencore Xstrata changed its name to Glencore PLC. The Craig claims are registered to Glencore Canada Corporation, a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Glencore PLC.
GEOLOGY
The occurrence is located approximately 140 km northeast of the town of Mayo, in east-central Yukon. Access is normally by helicopter although recently exploration companies have employed aircraft to ATAC Resources’ Rackla airstrip located 10 km to the north-northeast and then helicoptered to the occurrence area.
The area was geologically mapped in the early 1970’s by S Blusson of the Geological Survey of Canada (1974 – 1:250 000 scale) as part of Operation Stewart. Blusson’s maps were used by most geologists and exploration companies until 2010 when the Yukon Geological Survey initiated a project to better understand the geology of the area following the discovery of Carlin-type gold mineralization on ATAC Resources’ Rackla Gold Project located to the north. M. Colpron of the Yukon Geological Survey geological mapped topographic map sheet 106C 03 (Mount Ferrell – 1:50 000 scale) in the summer of 2011 and a preliminary geological map was released in 2012.
The location error associated with the original location (i.e. 1.4 km to the southeast) likely resulted from inaccurate maps used before the onset of satellites and geographic information systems. The transfer of data from NAD 27 to NAD 83 likely also introduced location errors. Manson Creek Resources’ 1999 assessment report (#094089) by Eaton and Evans appears to be the first assessment report to note the proper location but it was reported as an UTM location and the report did not include a detailed physical location map. Previous Minfile updates appear to have missed the mistake.
In 1976 McIntyre Mines discovered significant silicic alteration within a regional carbonate unit. Further investigation led to the discovery of 5 occurrences hosting silver-lead-zinc mineralization over a distance of 6.5 km hosted by the same carbonate unit. The carbonate unit was originally thought to lie at the northern margin of the Selwyn basin, south of the Dawson thrust, a crustal break which thrusts regionally metamorphosed basinal sediments north onto carbonate platform rocks assigned to the Mackenzie platform. The carbonate unit was thought to be one continuous geological unit Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian in age.
Geological mapping completed by Colpron found that: 1) the Craig deposit is geologically separate from the other four occurrences located to the east; 2) the Craig deposit is located north of the Dawson Thrust (i.e. footwall side) within the Mackenzie Platform; and 3) the Craig deposit is hosted within a Devonian to Mississippian bioclastic limestone unit (unit DMEC). Manson Creek also appears to be the first company to locate the Craig deposit north of the Dawson thrust and within the Mackenzie Platform.
Aerial reconnaissance in 1976 observed a large kill zone overlying the occurrence site. Follow-up prospecting and rock sampling led to the discovery of a roughly circular lens measuring approximately 7 m across, containing massive to nearly massive, coarsely crystalline galena with less sphalerite and minor tetrahedrite. Several other lenses of less spectacular mineralization were found over a horizontal distance of 350 m and relief of 80 m. All occurrences are located within a near vertical northwest trending silicified zone enclosed by a 150 m wide, 1 km long dolomite lenses that trends northwest. McIntyre Mines labeled the mineralized area the West zone. The control of mineralization within the silicified zone is obscure and seems entirely erratic as does the localization and degree of silicification within the dolomite. The mineralization contains high lead - zinc values with accompanying silver values over significant widths. Results from individual rock samples do not appear to have been filed for assessment.
In 1977 McIntyre Mines tested the West zone with 19 diamond drill (3 187.7 m) holes. The majority of holes intersected what McIntyre Mines described as good grade material. The best result obtained was from hole C77-6 which returned 21.5 m grading 12.9 % lead, 8.1 % zinc and 128.6 g/t silver. The company reported that the deposit measured a slope length of 426.7 m, an average horizontal thickness of 11.9 m and a width of 70 m for a section which extends downward from surface and subparallel to the slope with a vertical rang of approximately 121.9 m. McIntyre Mines estimated that the newly named Craig deposit hosted a resource of approximately 943 472 tonnes grading 8.5 % lead, 13.5 % zinc and 112 g/t silver. (Assessment Report #090307, p. D-1). The resource covered an ore body extending approximately 61 m down dip from surface. Although the deposit was classified as a carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley type, McIntyre Mines suggested that the high silver ratios and mineralization implied that vein-type mineralization is also locally present. The company thought the deposit might increase at depth however the 2 diamond drill holes (544 m) collared in 1980 by Canadian Superior Explorations only intersected sporadic low grade disseminations.
A search of government and assessment records did not turn up Serem Ltd.’s Oct/83 preliminary prospectus. The prospectus reportedly contained a drill indicated (Historical Estimate) resource of 482 141 tonnes grading 8.2 % lead, 13.39 % zinc and 105.6 g/t silver (Canadian Mines Handbook 1984-85, p. 340). Previous versions of Yukon Minfile reported that the resource represented the underground portion of the West zone/Craig deposit.
The 1998 IP geophysical survey outlined the trend of the deposit and the host limestone unit. In addition the survey outlined a strong east west linear chargeability anomaly north of the deposit. Manson Creek expanded the 1998 grid to the east, west and north in order to refine the location of the anomaly. The single 1999 drill hole, intersected slightly anomalous pyritic shales and argillites on the north margin of the deposit. Finely disseminated pyrite occurs as conformable bands with local accumulations up to 30%. Manson Creek also carried out thin section, fluid inclusion and lead Isotope examinations of two drill core samples collected from the deposit. The age data correlates well to published Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) data, but the temperature data showed similarities to a range of types, from MVT to epithermal vein type.
Manson Creeks’ 2001 Annual Report stated “further work on known mineralized showings on the Craig property did not return results which would have justified a continued commitment to further exploration”. The company returned the claims to Falconbridge Ltd. The annual report also contain a resource figure of 874 980 tonnes (Historical Estimate) with an average grade of 8.5 % lead, 13.5 % zinc, and 123.4 g/t silver. This figure was also cited in the Canadian Mines Handbook 2001 - 02 citation for Falconbridge Inc. The company described the calculation as “a previous diamond drill outlined mineral resource”.
Location Map
Last Updated: Jun 1, 2020
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Studies: Resource Estimate | Manson Creek Resources released non-compliant resource estimate in 2001 Annual Report. |
| 1999 | Drilling: Diamond | One hole collared, 190.2 m, to test chargeability anomaly located north of Craig deposit. |
| 1999 | Ground Geophysics: IP | Expanded 1988 survey to map deposit and locate chargeability anomaly. |
| 1998 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1998 | Ground Geophysics: IP | Carried out test survey. |
| 1986 | Trenching: Hand | Selected areas. |
| 1983 | Studies: Resource Estimate | Serem Ltd released preliminary prospectus which included resource estimate, non-compliant |
| 1980 | Drilling: Diamond | Nine holes (1,635 m) collared on property, two holes (544 m) collared on Craig deposit. |
| 1979 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1979 | Trenching: Hand | |
| 1977 | Drilling: Diamond | Twenty-nine holes (4,802 m) collared on property, nineteen holes (3,187.7 m) collared on West zone (this occurrence). |
| 1977 | Geology: Detailed Bedrock Mapping | Mapped area around West zone. |
| 1977 | Geochemistry: Soil | Grid, ridge and spur sampling, also further rock sampling. |
| 1977 | Ground Geophysics: Magnetics | Also electromagnetic and self-potential surveys. |
| 1977 | Studies: Resource Estimate | Rough resource estimate calculated for Craig deposit, non-compliant. |
| 1976 | Geochemistry: Rock | Reconnaissance scale. Also silt sampling |
| 1976 | Geology: Regional Bedrock Mapping |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Ancestral North America
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: North America - basinal strata
Realm: Laurentia
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup:
Group/Suite: Earn
Formation:
Member:
Terrane: Laurentia
Period Max: Devonian
Age Max: 385 MA
Period Min: Carboniferous
Age Min: 345 MA
Rock Major: shale, sandstone, conglomerate
Rock Minor: chert
Reference: Colpron et al. (2013) - YGS OF 2013-13
Geological Unit (1M): DME
Geological Unit (250K): DME1
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
| Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 096269 | 2011 | Geochemical Report: Dal Project | Soil - Geochemistry | ||
| 095693 | 2009 | Assessment Report Describing Prospecting and Rock Geochemical Sampling | Rock - Geochemistry, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 094089 | 1999 | Geophysical and Diamond Drilling Assessment Report for the Craig Claims | Diamond - Drilling, IP - Ground Geophysics, Line Cutting - Other | 1 | 187.80 |
| 093968 | 1999 | Geochemical, Geological and Geophysical Assessment, Report for the Val,Vera,Rusty,KLA,Nad and Craig Claims | Orthophoto - Airphotography, Silt - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other, Research/Summarize - Pre-existing Data | ||
| 090307 | 1977 | Geological Report on the Craig Property | Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Gravity Survey - Ground Geophysics, Prospecting - Other | 29 | 4802.43 |
Related References
| Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIR1977 | Mineral Industry Report 1977 | p. 37. | Annual Report |
| 1989-3 | Yukon Gold-Silver File Description of Occurrences | p. 131. | Open File (Geological - Bedrock) |
| YEG1998_OV | Yukon Mining & Exploration Overview 1998 | p. 21-22, 28. | Annual Report |
| YEG1999_OV | Yukon Mining & Exploration Overview 1999 | p. 20, 30, 31. | Annual Report |
| YEG2001_OV | Yukon Mining & Exploration Overview 2001 | p. 11-12. | Annual Report |
| YEG1979_80 | Yukon Geology and Exploration 1979-80 | p. 225-230. | Annual Report |
| YEG2011_03 | Preliminary observations on the geology of the Rackla belt, Mount Ferrell map area (NTS 106C/3), central Yukon | p. 27-43. | Annual Report Paper |
| Citations |
|---|
| CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK 1984-85, p. 340; 2001-02, p. 233. |
| MANSON CREEK RESOURCES LTD, 2001. Annual Report. (Available in EMR Library) |
| MANSON CREEK RESOURCES LTD, Jan/2017. Web Site: www.manson.ca/ |
