General Information
Secondary Commodities: gold, silver, bismuth, copper, iron, antimony, tungsten
Aliases: Rain, Sun
Deposit Type(s): Skarn Au
Location(s): 61.685370 N, -128.1157 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 105H09
Location Comments: POW is located approximately 2.5km northwest of the Main (Justin) zone. The location of this occurrence was taken from figures on Aben's website.
Hand Samples Available at YGS: No
Last Reviewed: May 7, 2019
Capsule
Last Updated: May 7, 2019Work History
Note: The POW mineral occurrence was discovered as part of exploration efforts on the Justin property. Refer to MINFILE 105H 045 for the detailed work history on the Justin property prior to 2011 when Aben Resources Ltd. discovered the POW.
In Feb/2011 Eagle Plains optioned the Justin property to Aben Resources Ltd. and between August and Sep/2011 Aben Resources drilled 10 diamond drill holes (2,020m) to test known areas of mineralization within the Main (Justin) zone. Concurrent with the drill program the company carried out limited geological mapping, rock and soil sampling around the newly defined POW zone. The company also followed up some of the anomalies defined by the airborne geophysical survey.
In Oct/2011 Aben Resources staked SP cl 57-70 (YD87920) and SP cl 71-84 (YD87903) on the north end of the claim block. In Nov/2011 the company staked SP cl 89-207 (YF33001) on the south end of the claim block. A total of 2,020m of NQ core was drilled during the 2011 program with 2 holes totalling 546.17m in the POW zone.
In Mar/2012 Aben optioned the adjoining VF gold project (MINFILE 105H 034) from Bearing Resources Ltd. In 2012 Aben collared 9 diamond drill holes (1,994 m) on the POW zone. The company also completed ground magnetic surveys, detailed geological mapping, prospecting and rock, soil and silt sampling programs on both the Justin and VF properties.
No work was reported by Aben for 2013. In 2014, Aben’s exploration program included the collection of 60 channel samples from 4 trenches (all in the POW zone), 24 rock samples, re-analysis of 230 drill core samples, 4 silt samples and 151 soil samples with coverage totaling 7.2 line kilometers. The program was focused on two areas, the POW Zone and the Big Swifty (MINFILE 105H 107) zone.
In 2014 Aben completed reconnaissance sampling was to make a preliminary assessment of the property for economic W (tungsten) mineralization and resample core, previously drilled, for W specific analysis. Review of the 2011 - 2012 drill hole geochemical dataset indicated that anomalous concentrations of tungsten (> 200 ppm W) were reported in the multi-element ICP analysis from several intervals within the POW zone skarn. A total of 230 samples from 7 of 9 previously drilled POW zone holes, were selected for tungsten specific analysis to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential for economic tungsten mineralization.
No work was completed on the property over 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Aben completed trenching, silt and soil sampling focusing on the Lost Ace (MINFILE 105H 108) and Confluence (MINFILE 105H 106) zones. In 2018, they continued trenching, silt and soil sampling again focusing on the Lost Ace zone. The Lost Ace is located 2 kilometers west of Aben’s POW zone where past drill results indicate potential for bulk-tonnage gold mineralization with intercepts reported ranging from trace values to highs of 1.19 g/t Au over 60.0 m (including 2.47 g/t Au over 21.0 m) and 1.49 g/t Au over 46.4 m.
Capsule Geology
The actual occurrence lies approximately 11 km east of the Nahanni Range Road which services North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd’s Cantung tungsten mine which is located approximately 30 km to the north. The area lies within the Selwyn Mountains and is underlain by a sequence of Selwyn Basin stratigraphy composed primarily of shallow marine shelf and off-shelf sedimentary rock derived from the ancient North American Platform.
The occurrence area is underlain by a broad package of west-northwest trending, north-northeast dipping coarse grained clastic sediments, siltstones, pyllitic shale, limestone and calcareous siltstone and shale of the Upper Proterozoic to Lower Cambrian Hyland Group. Eagle Plains Resources/Aben Resources have broken the Hyland Group rocks into three subunits, which based on previous work are tentatively assign to the Neoproterozoic Yusezyu Formation. To the north, a northwest-southeast trending fault separates the Hyland Group rocks from a thin to medium bedded limestone unit assigned to the Cambrian to Ordovician Rabbitkettle Formation. Two periods of compressional deformation are recorded in the rocks and the package is bounded to the north and south by inferred lateral to oblique-slip faults in the Sprogge and Dayo Creek valleys. Mid-Cretaceous age quartz monzonite and quartz-biotite monzonite dykes and related veining associated with stocks of the Tombstone Plutonic suite have intruded tensional features related to the inferred faulting.
The Norquest Joint Venture originally discovered copper mineralization consisting of sparsely disseminated chalcopyrite accompanied by fine-grained pyrrhotite in several irregular pods of pyroxene skarn. This discovery area was later named the Justin Main (MINFILE 105H 035) zone. Work on the Justin property lead to the discovery of the POW zone in 2010. In 2010, Eagle Plains flew an airborne geophysical program attempting to locate any buried intrusions and major structural features that might be controlling and influencing mineralization on the property. The survey successfully identified several major features thought to play a major role in controlling mineralization on the property. Many areas of magnetic highs identified in the survey correlate with known hornfels zones and some areas of magnetic lows were equated with buried intrusions.
Follow-up exploration of the geophysical results led the company to discover the POW zone, located approximately 2.5km northwest of the Main zone. The zone is described as both a cal-silicate skarn system as well as chalcedonic and quartz veining with arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite in coarse clastic sediments. A newly discovered granodiorite plug was discovered on the margin of this zone. Chip sampling returned 0.54 g/t gold and 3.27 g/t silver over 3m and 0.88 g/t gold and 2.5 g/t silver over 1m. Grab samples of mineralized vein material returned up to 2.9 g/t gold/ Accessory metals include copper, molybdenum and zinc.
Aben Resources 2011 exploration program was geared towards drill testing the Main (MINFILE 105H 035), Confluence (MINFILE 105H 106), Kangas (MINFILE 105H 105) and POW mineralized zones. Three diamond drill holes (520.2 m) were drilled from one location to test the Main zone. Only one of three holes (494.2m) collared on the Kangas zone reached the target depth. Two diamond drill holes (461.0m) were collared from one drill pad to test the Confluence zone. Aben Resources collared two diamond drill holes (546.17m) from the same set-up to test the POW zone. Hole JN11009, the first hole collared, returned 60m grading 1.19 g/t gold from a mineralized zone described as massive skarn-style replacement of silty limestone beds, and quartz-calcite stock work veining. The stock-work veining parallels a north-northwest trending structural zone, suggesting that it played an important role in focusing hydrothermal fluids derived from the intrusion. The second hole, JN11010 intersected 23m of 1.58 g/t gold and 16.0 g/t silver. This mineralization correlates with the upper 5m zone grading 1.79 g/t gold intersected in the first hole.
While drilling on the Main, Confluence and Kangas zones Aben Resources carried out follow-up geological mapping and prospecting around the recently discovered POW zone. Geological mapping carried out at the southern extent of the POW zone shows that the area is underlain by a granodiorite stock (and quartz monzonite dykes). Prospecting uncovered two new zones of alteration and mineralization located west of the original POW zone. These two zones which are coincident with a pronounced magnetic high-EM conductor outlined in the 2010 airborne survey prompted the company to drill test the POW zone.
Aben Resources spent the winter of 2011-2012 compiling and evaluating all known data for the Justin property. In 2012, Aben collared 9 diamond drill holes (1,994 m) on the POW zone, completed ground magnetic surveys, detailed geological mapping, prospecting and rock, soil and silt sampling.
Seven of the nine diamond drill holes were completed on the POW zone with the remaining two holes being abandoned due to ground conditions. All seven completed drill holes successfully intersected gold mineralization in both structurally controlled sheeted veins and skarn style replacement zones. Notable holes include, hole JN12011 which returned 46.4m grading 1.49 g/t gold in skarn replacement mineralization, while hole JN12018 returned 88.5 m grading 0.73 g/t gold (uncut gold grade) from replacement style gold mineralization. At the end of the 2012 exploration season, gold mineralization at the POW zone was traced along surface for approximately 450 m west to east, by 200m north to south and to a 205m depth.
In 2014, Aben completed drillcore re-analysis for tungsten and 230 samples were collected from 7 of 9 previously drilled POW zone holes. JN12016 returned 8.50 metres grading 0.39% WO3 including 1.00 metre of 1.12% WO3. Previous gold results from JN12016 returned 5.60 metres grading 4.12 grams per tonne Au including 2.60 metres grading 8.20 grams per tonne Au. Results from JN12013 returned 28.90 metres grading 0.10% WO3 beginning at surface, and 1.10 metres grading 1.15% WO3. Previous gold results from JN12013 returned 7.40 metres grading 1.81 grams per tonne Au including 2.20 metres grading 4.42 grams per tonne Au.
Note: The POW mineral occurrence was discovered as part of exploration efforts on the Justin property. Refer to MINFILE 105H 045 for the detailed work history on the Justin property prior to 2011 when Aben Resources Ltd. discovered the POW.
In Feb/2011 Eagle Plains optioned the Justin property to Aben Resources Ltd. and between August and Sep/2011 Aben Resources drilled 10 diamond drill holes (2,020m) to test known areas of mineralization within the Main (Justin) zone. Concurrent with the drill program the company carried out limited geological mapping, rock and soil sampling around the newly defined POW zone. The company also followed up some of the anomalies defined by the airborne geophysical survey.
In Oct/2011 Aben Resources staked SP cl 57-70 (YD87920) and SP cl 71-84 (YD87903) on the north end of the claim block. In Nov/2011 the company staked SP cl 89-207 (YF33001) on the south end of the claim block. A total of 2,020m of NQ core was drilled during the 2011 program with 2 holes totalling 546.17m in the POW zone.
In Mar/2012 Aben optioned the adjoining VF gold project (MINFILE 105H 034) from Bearing Resources Ltd. In 2012 Aben collared 9 diamond drill holes (1,994 m) on the POW zone. The company also completed ground magnetic surveys, detailed geological mapping, prospecting and rock, soil and silt sampling programs on both the Justin and VF properties.
No work was reported by Aben for 2013. In 2014, Aben’s exploration program included the collection of 60 channel samples from 4 trenches (all in the POW zone), 24 rock samples, re-analysis of 230 drill core samples, 4 silt samples and 151 soil samples with coverage totaling 7.2 line kilometers. The program was focused on two areas, the POW Zone and the Big Swifty (MINFILE 105H 107) zone.
In 2014 Aben completed reconnaissance sampling was to make a preliminary assessment of the property for economic W (tungsten) mineralization and resample core, previously drilled, for W specific analysis. Review of the 2011 - 2012 drill hole geochemical dataset indicated that anomalous concentrations of tungsten (> 200 ppm W) were reported in the multi-element ICP analysis from several intervals within the POW zone skarn. A total of 230 samples from 7 of 9 previously drilled POW zone holes, were selected for tungsten specific analysis to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential for economic tungsten mineralization.
No work was completed on the property over 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Aben completed trenching, silt and soil sampling focusing on the Lost Ace (MINFILE 105H 108) and Confluence (MINFILE 105H 106) zones. In 2018, they continued trenching, silt and soil sampling again focusing on the Lost Ace zone. The Lost Ace is located 2 kilometers west of Aben’s POW zone where past drill results indicate potential for bulk-tonnage gold mineralization with intercepts reported ranging from trace values to highs of 1.19 g/t Au over 60.0 m (including 2.47 g/t Au over 21.0 m) and 1.49 g/t Au over 46.4 m.
Capsule Geology
The actual occurrence lies approximately 11 km east of the Nahanni Range Road which services North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd’s Cantung tungsten mine which is located approximately 30 km to the north. The area lies within the Selwyn Mountains and is underlain by a sequence of Selwyn Basin stratigraphy composed primarily of shallow marine shelf and off-shelf sedimentary rock derived from the ancient North American Platform.
The occurrence area is underlain by a broad package of west-northwest trending, north-northeast dipping coarse grained clastic sediments, siltstones, pyllitic shale, limestone and calcareous siltstone and shale of the Upper Proterozoic to Lower Cambrian Hyland Group. Eagle Plains Resources/Aben Resources have broken the Hyland Group rocks into three subunits, which based on previous work are tentatively assign to the Neoproterozoic Yusezyu Formation. To the north, a northwest-southeast trending fault separates the Hyland Group rocks from a thin to medium bedded limestone unit assigned to the Cambrian to Ordovician Rabbitkettle Formation. Two periods of compressional deformation are recorded in the rocks and the package is bounded to the north and south by inferred lateral to oblique-slip faults in the Sprogge and Dayo Creek valleys. Mid-Cretaceous age quartz monzonite and quartz-biotite monzonite dykes and related veining associated with stocks of the Tombstone Plutonic suite have intruded tensional features related to the inferred faulting.
The Norquest Joint Venture originally discovered copper mineralization consisting of sparsely disseminated chalcopyrite accompanied by fine-grained pyrrhotite in several irregular pods of pyroxene skarn. This discovery area was later named the Justin Main (MINFILE 105H 035) zone. Work on the Justin property lead to the discovery of the POW zone in 2010. In 2010, Eagle Plains flew an airborne geophysical program attempting to locate any buried intrusions and major structural features that might be controlling and influencing mineralization on the property. The survey successfully identified several major features thought to play a major role in controlling mineralization on the property. Many areas of magnetic highs identified in the survey correlate with known hornfels zones and some areas of magnetic lows were equated with buried intrusions.
Follow-up exploration of the geophysical results led the company to discover the POW zone, located approximately 2.5km northwest of the Main zone. The zone is described as both a cal-silicate skarn system as well as chalcedonic and quartz veining with arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite in coarse clastic sediments. A newly discovered granodiorite plug was discovered on the margin of this zone. Chip sampling returned 0.54 g/t gold and 3.27 g/t silver over 3m and 0.88 g/t gold and 2.5 g/t silver over 1m. Grab samples of mineralized vein material returned up to 2.9 g/t gold/ Accessory metals include copper, molybdenum and zinc.
Aben Resources 2011 exploration program was geared towards drill testing the Main (MINFILE 105H 035), Confluence (MINFILE 105H 106), Kangas (MINFILE 105H 105) and POW mineralized zones. Three diamond drill holes (520.2 m) were drilled from one location to test the Main zone. Only one of three holes (494.2m) collared on the Kangas zone reached the target depth. Two diamond drill holes (461.0m) were collared from one drill pad to test the Confluence zone. Aben Resources collared two diamond drill holes (546.17m) from the same set-up to test the POW zone. Hole JN11009, the first hole collared, returned 60m grading 1.19 g/t gold from a mineralized zone described as massive skarn-style replacement of silty limestone beds, and quartz-calcite stock work veining. The stock-work veining parallels a north-northwest trending structural zone, suggesting that it played an important role in focusing hydrothermal fluids derived from the intrusion. The second hole, JN11010 intersected 23m of 1.58 g/t gold and 16.0 g/t silver. This mineralization correlates with the upper 5m zone grading 1.79 g/t gold intersected in the first hole.
While drilling on the Main, Confluence and Kangas zones Aben Resources carried out follow-up geological mapping and prospecting around the recently discovered POW zone. Geological mapping carried out at the southern extent of the POW zone shows that the area is underlain by a granodiorite stock (and quartz monzonite dykes). Prospecting uncovered two new zones of alteration and mineralization located west of the original POW zone. These two zones which are coincident with a pronounced magnetic high-EM conductor outlined in the 2010 airborne survey prompted the company to drill test the POW zone.
Aben Resources spent the winter of 2011-2012 compiling and evaluating all known data for the Justin property. In 2012, Aben collared 9 diamond drill holes (1,994 m) on the POW zone, completed ground magnetic surveys, detailed geological mapping, prospecting and rock, soil and silt sampling.
Seven of the nine diamond drill holes were completed on the POW zone with the remaining two holes being abandoned due to ground conditions. All seven completed drill holes successfully intersected gold mineralization in both structurally controlled sheeted veins and skarn style replacement zones. Notable holes include, hole JN12011 which returned 46.4m grading 1.49 g/t gold in skarn replacement mineralization, while hole JN12018 returned 88.5 m grading 0.73 g/t gold (uncut gold grade) from replacement style gold mineralization. At the end of the 2012 exploration season, gold mineralization at the POW zone was traced along surface for approximately 450 m west to east, by 200m north to south and to a 205m depth.
In 2014, Aben completed drillcore re-analysis for tungsten and 230 samples were collected from 7 of 9 previously drilled POW zone holes. JN12016 returned 8.50 metres grading 0.39% WO3 including 1.00 metre of 1.12% WO3. Previous gold results from JN12016 returned 5.60 metres grading 4.12 grams per tonne Au including 2.60 metres grading 8.20 grams per tonne Au. Results from JN12013 returned 28.90 metres grading 0.10% WO3 beginning at surface, and 1.10 metres grading 1.15% WO3. Previous gold results from JN12013 returned 7.40 metres grading 1.81 grams per tonne Au including 2.20 metres grading 4.42 grams per tonne Au.
Location Map
Last Updated: May 10, 2019
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Geochemistry: Drill Core | 230 samples were collected from 7 of 9 previously drilled POW zone holes for tungsten re-analysis. |
| 2012 | Drilling: Diamond | 9 holes of diamond drilling totalling 1,528m of NQ and 466m of HQ core in the POW zone. |
| 2012 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 2012 | Geochemistry: Silt | |
| 2012 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 2012 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 2012 | Ground Geophysics: Magnetics | 26 line-km focused west of the POW zone. |
| 2012 | Lab Work/Physical Studies: Metallurgical Tests | |
| 2012 | Other | Downhole surveying. |
| 2011 | Drilling: Diamond | Two NQ holes totalling 546.17m. |
| 2011 | Geochemistry: Rock | Centered around the POW zone. |
| 2011 | Geochemistry: Soil | Centered around the POW zone. |
| 2011 | Geology | Centered around the POW zone. |
| 2010 | Airborne Geophysics | Magnetic and electromagnetic surveys. |
| 2010 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 2010 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Led to the discovery of the POW |
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: upper, undifferentiated
Terrane: Laurentia
Period Max: Ediacaran
Age Max: 635 MA
Period Min: Cambrian
Age Min: 541 MA
Rock Major: sandstone, conglomerate, shale, siltstone, phyllite, limestone
Rock Minor:
Reference: Jilson et al. (1980) - Yukon EMR ARMC 011986
Geological Unit (1M): PCH
Geological Unit (250K): PCH6
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
| Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 096714 | 2014 | 2014 Assessment Report for the Justin Property | Historical Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Hand - Trenching, Mechanical - Trenching | ||
| 096319 | 2012 | 2012 Diamond Drilling, Geological, Geophysics and Geochemical Report for the Justin Property and VF Property | Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Magnetics - Ground Geophysics, Metallurgical Tests - Lab Work/Physical Studies | 9 | 1994 |
| 095496 | 2011 | 2011 Diamond Drilling, Geological and Geochemical Report for the Justin Property | Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | 10 | 2020 |
| 095316 | 2010 | Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Report for the SPROGGE (Justin) Property | Electromagnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Reverse Circulation - Airborne Geophysics, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Regional Bedrock Mapping - Geology | ||
| 093783 | 1997 | 1997 Geological, Geochemical and Trenching Report on the Sprogge 1-74 and Justin 1-25 Claims | Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other, Hand - Trenching |
Related References
| Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| YEG1987 | Yukon Exploration 1987 | Annual Report | |
| YEG1997 | Yukon Exploration and Geology 1997 | Annual Report | |
| YEG2017_OV3 | Yukon Mineral Exploration Program 2017 Update | Annual Report Paper | |
| YEG1988_89 | Yukon Exploration 1988 | Annual Report | |
| YEG2018_OV3 | Yukon Mineral Exploration Program 2018 update | Annual Report Paper | |
| YEG2005_08 | Gold mineralization in the upper Hyland River area: a non-magmatic origin | Annual Report Paper | |
| YEG2010_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2010 | Annual Report | |
| YEG2011_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2011 | Annual Report | |
| YEG1981 | Yukon Exploration and Geology 1981 | Annual Report | |
| ARMC008142 | Heavy mineral sampling map - NTS 105H-9 - MacMillan project - Anmac | Geochemical Map | |
| YEG2012_OV | Yukon Exploration and Geology Overview 2012 | Annual Report | |
| YEG1999 | Yukon Exploration and Geology 1999 | Annual Report | |
| YEG2014_OV4 | Yukon Mineral Exploration Program: 2014-2015 Update | Annual Report Paper |
| Citations |
|---|
| Aben Resources Ltd., Dec/2012, May/2019. Web-site: www.abenresources.com. |
| Aben Resources Ltd., News Release. 1 Feb/2011, 17 Aug/2011, 13 Sep/2011, 29 Sep/2011, 17 Nov/2011, 10 Jan/2012, 5 Mar/2012, 29 Mar/2012, 27 Jun/2012, 16 Aug/2012, 25 Sep/2012, 8 Nov/2012, Jan/2013, Jul/2014, Sep/2014. Oct/2014. |
| Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., 2005. Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2005. p. 14 (available on SEDAR). |
| Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., News Release. 12 Mar/2002, 4 Nov/2012, 1 Feb/2011. |
| Gallagher, C. and Downie, C.C., 2002. Geological report for the Sprogge (Justin) Property, Justin 1-25 claims, Southeastern Yukon Territory. YEIP 02-047. |
| Kreft, B., 1995. Summary of 6 Prospecting Trips to Groundhog Creek, Rain Claims, Cody\Ruby, Stewart River and Rancheria Areas. YEIP 95-017. |
| McCuaig, M., 2011. 2011 Diamond Drilling, Geological and Geochemical Report for the Justin Property (Justin 1-25, SP 1-55 claims). Assessment Report #095496, Aben Resources Ltd. |
| Sax, K., 1992. Final Report on Prospecting on the Nahanni Range Road Area. YEIP 92-131. |
