Carbide Property

The Carbide property lies within the Shuswap Metamorphic Complex along the northeastern margin of the Frenchman Cap Dome, about 65km north west of Revelstoke British Columbia.

Mineralization consisting of sphalerite galena pyrite and tetrahedrite occurs at the top of a marble unit along the slopes above north Fissure Creek. The mineralised unit has been traced for over 1800 metres.

The mineralization consists of zones of heavy sulphides about 1 m thick in an envelope of sparser mineralization which may be up to several metres thick.

The mineralization appears to carry about twice the amount of Ag per percent Pb as the other deposits in the area and therefore may represent a different style of mineralization with improved economic potential. The mineralization is stratabound and associated with a marble unit which outcrops and is mineralized over 1.8 km away from the main mineralized
showings.

The large area between the known marble outcrops has excellent exploration potential for Pb Zn Ag mineralization and has never been tested by drilling. In an area around a fold in the stratigraphy, the potential for sunstantial thickening of the mineralized horizon also exists.

An attempt to explore the area around the fold for mineralization at depth with an IP survey was unsuccessful because of interference from a shallow sulphide rich pelite horizon.

The property lies within the Shuswap Metamorphic Complex along the northeastern margin of the Frenchman Cap Dome. The core of the dome is composed of a mixed paragneiss and orthogneiss succession of probable Aphebian age. The dome is mantled by unconformably overlying metasedimentary rocks consisting of quartzites, calcare-ous schists, marbles and pelitic schists, and locally intruded by carbonatite. The metasediments are flat gently dipping and are repeated across the closure of a major Phase 1 recumbent anticline which has its closure to the east.

Stratabound base metal sulphide mineralization occurs within a fetid white marble unit on the upper limb of the anticline. The marble unit ranges from 2 metres to 50 metres thick and grades into over- lying calc-silicates. Mineralization consisting of sphalerite galena pyrite and tetrahedrite occurs at the top of the marble unit along the slopes above north Fissure Creek. The mineralised unit has been traced for over 1800 metres.

The mineralization consists of zones of heavy sulphides about 1 m thick in an envelope of sparser mineralization which may be up to several metres thick.

Carbonatite also occurs as a distinct concordant layer Although similar to the marble it contains phlogopite, zircon, apatite, and pyrochlore which are not present in the marble It is distinct from the marble in outcrop because as the carbonate matrix weathers it leaves a light brownish rind composed of unweathered crystals which are mainly calcite and REE accessory minerals.

Two types of Carbonatites are known to occur within the CARBIDE claimed area. These carbonatite’s occur within the same stratigraphic units for over two Km.

The first type (1) has metasomatic envelopes or ’fenite’ margins and is associated with a nepheline syenite gneiss.
The second type (2) has no visible alteration along the contact and is associated stratigraphically with the mineralised white fetid marble unit.

Both types of carbonatites occur as concordant layers in the metasedimentary cover. Type (1) carbonatite matrix consists off calcite, aergirine, riebeckite, sphene, and apatite. The type (1) carbonatite weathers buff and reveals knots up to 5cm of Biotite, ilmenite and magnetite. The type (2) carbonatite contains pebble to cobble sized fragments of biotite or albite. Apatite, molybdenite, pyrite and columbite-tantalite are all common accessory minerals. Both carbonatite types are stratigraphically below the marble unit. The Rare Earth Element (REE) potential of these carbonatites is yet to be determined.

Discovered and explored by Cominco in the 1960’s, explored by J.M Leask in the 198O’S.

The Carbide property offers excellent exploration potential for a significant Pb Zn Ag deposit as well as untested potential for Rare Earth Elements. The property has never been drilled and a large area of untested stratigraphy exists at depth. A fold where thickening of the mineralized horizon may have occurred, is also present on the property.

The best potential for economic mineralisation lies at depth and therefore a drilling program is required. An initial 750 m Phase I diamond drilling program is recommended. The untested carbonatite on the property is an attractive modern exploration target.

Further exploration of the CARBIDE PROJECT is definitely warranted.