Main Zone
The Main Zone banded sulfide mineralization was found by happenstance in 1983 while following up a prominent train of massive to semi-massive float boulders (the source of these boulders, some of which carry high values in silver, is yet to be determined but may well be related to the EM anomaly discovered during the 2006 airborne survey). One of the trenches put in during this work uncovered a narrow interval of high-grade lead-zinc-silver mineralization, featuring wispy bands of extremely fine-grained galena-sphalerite mineralization in argillite. This novel form of mineralization did not show any stain on weathered outcrop and was difficult to detect other than on a polished surface. Extensive talus precluded efforts to follow the zone along projected strike.
In 1998, a one-day program successfully located an extension of the zone 10m to the west-southwest, under talus. A trench, #1998-1, was blasted out revealing the most heavily mineralized section found to date: sampling of a 3.0m interval yielded a weighted average grade of 7.4% Pb, 11.7% zinc and 6.1 oz/ton silver.
Petrographic samples from the trench were examined by Ross Sherlock, Ph.D., of Steffen, Robertson and Kirsten (Canada) Inc. In a brief letter report, Sherlock stated:
“I have taken a quick look at the thin sections from the 4-J’s property. I was most interested in the rock textures that may indicate if the zinc-lead mineralization was syngenetic (Sedex-VMS) or epigenetic (vein hosted) in origin. Thin section #1 [taken from Trench #1998-1] is interesting in that it is a band of sphalerite and a band of black argillite. All the fabrics are parallel and metamorphic/deformation in character. No primary textures are preserved. However, the deformation textures are also in the sphalerite bands, suggesting that it formed pre-deformation. This supports the idea that the sphalerite mineralization may be syngenetic. The early stage of mineralization combined with its host in an argillite strongly suggests that mineralization may be Sedex or VMS in nature.
Thin section #2 [taken from Trench #1991-3 area] is a quartz-carbonate matrix with parallel bands of sphalerite and minor galena. None of the textures are primary, all are metamorphic and deformation textures. It was difficult to tell anything conclusive about this section.
I think that the textures seen in thin section #1, combined with the hand samples and the field relationships described, suggests that mineralization is sygenetic. This indicates the potential for a deposit of significant size and value making it a worthwhile exploration target.”
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