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The Jasper Property, southwest Vancouver Island, contains

several showings of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, and Au; however, the origin

and style of mineralization is not well understood. Based on the

nature of mineralization, two different deposit models have been

hypothesized: Noranda/Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulphide

(VMS) or Cu-Mo-Au Porphyry The goal of this research project

is to determine whether or not the Jasper Property hosts a VMS

deposit. This will be determined by analyzing the geology and

geochemistry of Jasper Property drill core. Geological and

geochemical predictions are as follows:

Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, or Au[6]

Submarine volcanic rocks: rhyolite, dacite, andesite, basalt

Enriched Cu-Zn relative to Pb

Geochem signatures of mafic boninite, LOTI, MORB rocks

M-affinities on Nb/Y discriminant diagram

.

The Jasper Property is underlain by a variety of lower-Jurassic

Bonanza Group volcanic rocks .

Felsic to mafic volcanics formed in an island arc environment

Bedrock exposure is due to convergent plate tectonics; the

exotic Wrangellia Terrane collided with N. America ~100 Ma

Economic mineralization is associated with alteration zones

VMS deposits originate at submarine plate boundaries

Seawater flows down joints towards igneous intrusions

Due to hydrothermal processes, sulphide minerals become

incorporated in seawater and travel back to seafloor

Sulphide minerals precipitate at 'black smoker' sites and

accumulate in lens-shaped deposits on the seafloor

Bimodal-mafic VMS deposits are associated with subduction

Vancouver Island hosts VMS in Sicker Group volcanics

Observations:

Jacques Houle and Nitinat Minerals Corporation provided three

drill cores from the Jasper Property. Drill core observations led to

the identification of four different rock units. See figures below.

Bedrock Units:

Unit A: Grey-green lapilli tuff

50% ash, %50 lapilli; most lapilli fragments occur as 2mm-5mm

quartz crystals; suspected hornblende crystals (5%); alteration

evidenced by bleaching, anastomosing calcite veins, and very

fine-grained disseminated pyrite (<5%); 4.5 cm thick galena vein

Unit C: Feldspar-phyric andesitic basalt

50% groundmass, 50% phenocrysts; grey-green aphanitic

groundmass with abundant feldspar phenocrysts: 25% K-feldspar

and 20% plagioclase; suspected hornblende (4%); alteration

associated with calcite veins (1mm-30mm thick) and

disseminated sulphide minerals: pyrite (<1%), galena (<1%).

Unit D: Overprinting alteration of A-E contact

Light green matrix with lapilli and dark rounded nodules; variable

quartz-sericite, chlorite, and red alteration; fine disseminated

pyrite(<1%); anastomosing veins; bleaching; brittle zones

Unit E: Red lapilli-tuff

50%ash, 50% lapilli; lapilli fragments (2mm-50mm); deep red

matrix; epidotization; minor calcite veins associated with pyrite

Expectations & Discussion:

If the Jasper Property hosts VMS, we should see the following:

Ore associated with the felsic or intermediate volcanic rocks?[6]

Mineralization is present, but ore is not economic.

Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, or Au?[6]

One 4.5 cm thick Pb vein found in grey-green lapilli-tuff.

1. British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS). 2014. BCGS Geoscience Map http://www.mapplace.ca, Ministry of Energy,

Mines, and Petroleum Resources. Retrieved January 25th, 2014

2. Flower, K. 2013. British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS) MINFILE Record Summary - MINFILE No. 092C 088.

3. Franklin JM. Gibson HL. Galley AG. Jonasson IR. 2005. Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits. In: Hedenquist JW.

Thompson JFH. Goldfarb RJ. Richards JP (editors). Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume. Littleton, CO. Society of

Economic Geologists. p 523-560.

4. Gibson HL. Galley AG. Jonasson IR. 2005. Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits. In: Hedenquist JW. Thompson JFH.

Goldfarb RJ. Richards JP (editors). Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume. Littleton, CO. Society of Economic

Geologists. p 523-560.

5. Houle, J. 2012. 2011 Assessment Report for Prospecting, Trenching Geochemistry, Geology, and Diamond Drilling May 2011

– March 2012 on the Jasper Property.

6. Höy T. 1991. Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits in British Columbia. In: W.J. McMillan (Coordinator). Ore Deposits,

Tectonics and Metallogeny in the Canadian Cordillera. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Paper 1991-4. p 89-123.

7. Nasmith HW, Yorath CJ. 2001. The Geology of Southern Vancouver Island. Victoria (BC): Orca Book Publishers. 172 p.

8. Nelson, J., and Colpron, M., 2007, Tectonics and Metallogeny of the British Columbia, Yukon and Alaskan Cordillera, 1.8 Ga

to the present, in Goodfellow, W.D., ed., Mineral Deposits of Canada: A Synthesis of Major Deposit-Types, District Metallogeny,

the Evolution of Geological Provinces, and Exploration Methods: Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division,

Special Publication No. 5, p. 755-791.

9. Piercy, S.J. 2010. An overview of petrochemistry in the regional exploration for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)

deposits. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. Vol 10, pp. 1-18.

10. Stevens R. 2010. Mineral Exploration and Mining Essentials. Port Coquitlam, BC: Pakawau GeoManagement. Chapter 3,

Mineral Deposits; p 70-74.

Predictions Y/N Comments

Veins containing Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au Y Core contains one significant galena (PbS) vein

Submarine volcanic rocks:

rhyolite, dacite, andesite, basalt Y Core contains intermediate tuffs and andesitic basalt,

but alteration may complicate rock classification

Ore found in felsic to intermediate rocks ? Interesting mineralization, but no major ore

Enriched Cu-Zn relative to Pb Y Evidence of a juvenile environment, consistent

with a bimodal mafic VMS model

Geochemical signatures of mafic boninite,

LOTI, or MORB rocks ? No boninite signature; may explain lack of

mineralization; likely island arc tholeiite

M-affinities on Nb/Y discriminant diagram Y Supports, but does not prove, VMS

mineralization; ore is possible, not evident

Many thanks to Jacques Houle and Nitinat Mining Corporation for

providing drill core and geochemical data. Further thanks to our

instructor, Sandra Johnstone.

Geological and geochemical findings support a potential VMS

deposit at the Jasper Property, but hard evidence is lacking. The

scope of this research is limited due to a lack of core samples,

geochemical information, and geologic mapping. Further sampling,

geochemical analysis, and property mapping are recommended.

Samples were analyzed by Inspectorate Mining and Exploration

Service using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

(ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy.

...

Image from Google Earth

Spider Diagram: The pattern of

enrichment or depletion of

certain elements in the local

rock units is similar to those of

back-arc basin basalt (BABB)

and island arc tholeiites (IAT).

Al2O3/TiO2 vs. Nb/Y: Data

points straddle the boundary

between mid-ocean ridge basalt

(MORB) and boninite/low Ti

tholeiitic (LOTI)-associated

VMS. Al2O3/ TiO2 is too low for

rocks to be considered boninitic.

Nb vs. Y: Rhyolites with M-type

affinities are most likely to host

VMS mineralization. Drill core

data plot within the M-type field.

Zr vs. Y: Drill core plots within

the tholeiitic field. This disagrees

with Bonanza Grp. descriptions

indicating calc-alkalic rocks[5].

Although these plots are better suited for rhyolite analysis, mafic,

intermediate, and felsic rock samples should display geochemical

signatures similar to rhyolites[5].

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MORB Associated

Boninite and LOTI Associated