Summary and Mineralization
The MacLean showing was discovered in a 2020 exploration program on the crest of Mt Bergeland on the east side of Nanika Lake and revisited in the following two seasons.
As described on the home page of this website, the claims surrounding the MacLean showing were optioned to Surge Copper in December, 2024. On exercise of the option, however, Raye retains a right of way through the Surge-optioned claims connecting the MacLean showing to the main body of Raye's claims. The purpose of this right of way is to allow trucking of ore from MacLean onto Raye's claims west of Nanik Lake should a discovery be made at MacLean.
The main mineralized zone occurs in an 80 hectare northerly-trending area on the crest of the NE trending Mt Bergeland ridge. As shown in the photograph below, closely-spaced, northerly-striking, quartz-chalcopyrite vein sets were discovered in the main quartz diorite pluton or stock.
Mineralization consists of pyrite-chalcopyrite veining with local bornite and oxidized (black) chalcocite in sulphide and quartz sulphide veinlets.
The three maps below the photograph show the levels of Cu, Mo and Ag in the veins. Clicking on the maps will enlarge them.
The fourth illustration shows a section through the 3D magnetic susceptibility model at Mt Bergland which suggests the presence of a buried magnetic body in close proximity to the mineralized veins.
The next recommended exploration step at MacLean is therefore an IP survey to identify a buried drilling target defined, in conjunction with the magnetics, by its chargeability.
Mineralized Veinlets
A view of the MacLean veinlet sets at the discovery zone. They are north-trending with rusty selvages weathering positively in the Mt Bergland quartz diorite pluton.
The veinlets range from a few mm to cms in width and are commonly orientated in parallel, north-striking sets subparallel to the main trend. Some quartz veins have variable amounts of massive or coarsely crystalline chalcopyrite (<40% locally), and pyrite, with secondary malachite and chalcocite developing on the margins and coating some fracture surfaces.
Importantly, these veins are proximal and subparallel to a series of granitic dikes considered to be associated with the Nanika Plutonic Suite which is thought to be a key component of the mineralizing process at the nearby Berg deposit.
