Blue Hill (Cu-Mo)

Project Summary

Cross Section A-A` Cross Section B-B`

The Blue Hill target is part of the Ann Mason Project and is located approximately 2 km to the northwest of the Ann Mason deposit in a similar geologic environment.  For access to the general Project and ownership information, click here for the Ann Mason Project page.

Two main styles of porphyry mineralization occur at Blue Hill: a near surface, oxide-copper mineralization, which overlies a copper-molybdenum sulphide mineralization.

The oxide zone is exposed on surface and has been traced by drilling as a relatively flat-lying zone covering an area of about 800 by 500 m, and continuing for several hundred metres further to the west as a thinner zone. Oxide mineralization extends from surface to an average depth of 124 metres where a zone of mixed oxide/sulphide mineralization is present to depths of 185 metres. The copper oxide zone remains open to the northwest and southeast.

The copper-mineralized sulphide zone underlies the southeastern half of the oxide mineralization and continues to depth to the southeast below the Blue Hill fault. The sulphide mineralization remains a very early-stage target, with only a few widely-spaced core holes testing it. It remains open to the southeast, towards Ann Mason.

An induced polarization survey completed in 2010 shows a continuous, strong chargeability anomaly between Ann Mason and Blue Hill suggesting significant remaining exploration potential over this 2 km distance.

A resource estimate for the Blue Hill oxide-copper target is currently being prepared. Metallurgical testing (column leaching tests) is also underway. Since 2010, 24 reverse circulation holes totalling 4,409 m and 12 diamond drill holes totalling 4,396 m have been completed at Blue Hill (as of mid-February 2012, Click here for results).

Exploration Activities

• 24 RC holes totalling 4,409 m and 12 diamond drill holes totalling 4,396 m have been completed at Blue Hill since 2010 (as of mid-February 2012). Click here for results.
• 5 diamond drill holes testing westward extension of the Blue Hill zone of mineralization on the Blackjack property (2010)

Link to Technical Report

March 2012 - Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the Ann Mason Project
March 2011 - Ann Mason Property Technical Report

Geology and Mineralization

Mineralization is hosted primarily by granodiorite and quartz monzonite, with lesser amounts of porphyritic quartz monzonite and quartz monzonite porphyry.  The low-angle, southeast dipping Blue Hill Fault strikes northeast through the middle of the target, cutting off a portion of the near-surface oxide mineralization. However, sulphides continue below the fault to the southeast.

Oxide copper mineralization consists of malachite, rare azurite, black copper-manganese oxides, copper sulphates and copper-bearing limonites. Mineralization occurs primarily on fracture surfaces and in oxidized veins or veinlets. A zone of mixed oxide/sulphide mineralization with minor chalcocite is present below the oxide mineralization to depths of 185 metres. The copper oxide zone remains open to the northwest and southeast.

Oxide copper mineralization at Blue Hill is interpreted to be the result of in-place oxidation of copper sulphides with only minor transport of copper into vugs, fractures and faults or shear zones. No significant zones of secondary enrichment have been observed.

The copper-mineralized sulphide zone underlies the southeastern half of the oxide mineralization and continues to depth to the southeast, below the Blue Hill fault.  Mineralization consists of varying quantities of chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite and molybdenite.  Local, higher grade sulphide mineralization commonly occurs within zones of sheeted veins containing chalcopyrite, magnetite and secondary biotite. Significant amounts of disseminated molybdenum mineralization have been observed locally, often in contact with dykes. To the northwest, below the oxides only a few holes have tested the sulphide potential, however in this direction the sulphides appear to be increasingly pyritic with only minor amounts of copper.

Alteration assemblages are similar to Ann Mason except that primary zoning is difficult to discern in areas of pervasive oxidation.  Within zones of sulphide mineralization, propylitic alteration is more widespread and potassic alteration is more restricted to quartz monzonite porphyry dykes and immediately adjacent rocks of the Yerington batholith.  Late stage sodic alteration locally reduces copper grades, similar to what has been observed at Ann Mason.

The sulphide mineralization remains a very early-stage target, with only a few widely-spaced core holes testing it.  It remains open to the southeast, towards Ann Mason. 

Last Updated:  May 2012