Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. is company focused on the discovery of gold-rich copper deposits in British Columbia. By integrating the project generator business model with low-cost reverse circulation drilling, the company is able to leverage its portfolio by identifying, and focusing on, the highest quality projects for partnerships and advancement.
Operating as a hybrid prospect generator, PEMC has the ability to drill early and often by combining the Company's RC drill with advances in passive seismic and XRF analytical technologies.
Generating and testing multiple prospects exposes the Company and investors to discovery through drilling and by advancing projects beyond that of traditional prospect generators.
Our objectives for 2020 include RC drilling at our Worldstock and Weedon projects, while continuing to evaluate attractive prospects with the potential for discovery. Partner-funded diamond drilling at the Stars property in 2018 resulted in the discovery of a new porphyry-copper system where PEMC holds a 20% carried interest to PFS.
-WORLDSTOCK PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The Worldstock property is a copper-gold porphyry prospect located 95 north of Kamloops, BC. The property lies 8 km to the west of Highway 5 and recently constructed logging roads provided access to target areas on the property. The Worldstock property is 25 km west of Taseko Mines Ltd.'s Yellowhead Copper Project, which boasts an 820 million tonne reserve with an average grade of 0.28% copper.
The 1,700 hectare property is underlain by volcanic flows and tuffs of the Lower Jurassic Nicola Group which have been intruded locally by Lower Jurassic Quesnel Suite diorites and monzonite stocks and dikes. Feldspar porphyritic monzonite dikes encountered in 2001 diamond drilling cut andesitic rocks and are genetically and spatially related to copper mineralization.
The Worldstock property has only seen one drill program. 7 short holes totaling 888 metres were drilled in 2001, with all holes intersecting anomalous copper and porphyry style alteration. The abundance of quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration encountered in drilling suggests the margins of porphyry system was likely drilled. Diamond drill hole WS2001-1 intersected 0.37% copper over 10.4 metres, where copper was shown to genetically and spatially related to hornblende-feldspar porphyry dikes.
Results from limited historical drilling warrant follow-up. Shallow RC drilling to vector towards a porphyry center followed by deeper diamond drilling is recommended.
GEOLOGY
Several alteration assemblages characteristic of porphyry copper +- gold systems have been identified on the property. These include, in order of abundance, propylitic, phyllic, argillic and potassic alteration assemblages. Feldspar porphyry dikes locally exhibit strong K-feldspar alteration in mineralized zones, while phyllic alteration predominates in the area around the Worldstock showing and historical drilling.
Alteration assemblages encountered in drilling suggest the margin of a porphyry system was drilled.
Cu +- Au +- Ag mineralization occurs as quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins and pyrite +- chalcopyrite as disseminations associated with fractured zones. Pyrite predominates with appreciable copper values only encountered proximal to feldspar porphyry dikes. Localized lenses of chalcopyrite have been encountered in historical trenching.
EXPLORATION TARGETS
Historical drilling intersected Cu +- Au +- Ag mineralization associated with hornblende-feldspar porphyritic monzonite dikes. Alteration and mineralization encountered in the 2001 drilling, along with IP chargeability data and multiple geochemical datasets, suggest the margin of a porphyry system was drilled. Only 7 holes averaging 127 metres have been drilled on the property, all of which intersected anomalous copper mineralization.
Three discrete, roughly 500 m diameter ovate magnetic anomalies are enveloped by high chargeability immediately north, east and west of the 2001 drilling. These, along with other geochemical and IP anomalies warrant drill testing.
Between 2011 and 2014, 987 silt samples were collected across the property and to the northwest, covering an area of 90 sq km. Large, focused copper and molybdenum anomalies demark the Worldstock porphyry prospect.
-WEEDON PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The Weedon Property is an early exploration stage porphyry copper-gold prospect that is accessible by vehicle and is close to infrastructure. Significant historical exploration aimed at outlining porphyry copper-gold targets yielded intriuging results, outlining several large targets on the property. Due to unknown overburden thicknesses, exploration targets were not drilled despite repeated recommendations to do so. Pacific Empire has mapped overburden thickness on the property through passive seismic surveys, thereby determining an average thickness of 35 - 45 metres.
The 2,630 hectare property is underlain by basaltic to andesitic volcanic flows and tuffs of the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic Takla group, locally intruded by at least one Early Cretaceous felsic stock. The property has very little outcrop exposure, which has impeded geological mapping programs. Where limited outcrop does exist, strongly pyrite-chlorite +- sericite alteration persists, suggesting that the IP chargeability data is essentially mapping sulphides.
A-h horizon geochemical sampling completed in 2010 and 2011 by Teck Resources delineated several porphyry copper-gold targets, coincident with large geophysical features characteristic of porphyry systems. A single drill hole was attempted in 2007, but was abandoned due to drilling complications at 30 metres while still in overburden. Passive seismic surveys completed by PEMC in 2019 deduced that overburden thickness in 40 metres at the 2007 drill site and therefore well within the capabilities of PEMC's reverse circulation drill.
GEOLOGY
Widespread chlorite-sericite alteration persists within the roughly east-west striking IP chargeability corridor, where exposure exists. Epidote-carbonate veins have been observed in several road cut exposure, distal to the target areas.
Strong pyrite mineralization persists within the roughly east-west striking IP chargeability corridor, where exposure exists. There is no exposure in the immediate vicinity of the geochemical and geophysical targets.
EXPLORATION TARGETS
T1 Priority Target
1.5 x 1 km IP chargeability high
1 km diameter conductivity high
1.3 x 1 km magnetic high
500 m diameter Cu-Au-Mo A-h soil geochemical anomaly
Three additional target areas have been identified on the property within the structural corridor characterized by high IP chargeability responses. All target areas can be tested from existing logging roads.
WORK HISTORY
Cominco (1990)
Induced Polarization (chargeability & resistivity)
Magnetics
Geochemistry
Recommendation: Drill test T1 target
Geoinformatics (2007)
Induced Polarization (chargeability & resistivity)
Magnetics
T1 target drilled but failed to reach bedrock and target depth
Teck Resources (2011)
Induced Polarization (chargeability & resistivity) - 60 sq km
Ah soil geochemistry & orientation survey
Recommendation: Drill test T1 target
Target T1 remains untested and is within range of PEMC RC drill !
-PINNACLE PORPHYRY PROJECT
OVERVIEW
The Pinnacle Porphyry Project covers 14,040 hectares and incorporates the Company’s NWT and Pinnacle Reef properties into one contiguous land position. All necessary permits have been submitted and reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling is intended for the fall and winter.
From 2014 through 2017, partner-funded exploration resulted in a total of 14 diamond drill holes and four Induced Polarization (“IP”) surveys on the property. At the Elbow Zone, five of the six diamond drill holes were sent for laboratory analysis and all five of these holes returned anomalous gold, highlighted by 94 metres grading 0.34 g/t gold in DD15ELB001. At the Sooner Zone, where diamond drilling in 2015 encountered broad intervals of anomalous copper, no further drilling was completed. Both of these areas have been prioritized for follow up RC drilling in 2019.
PEMC acquired the Pinnacle Reef property through staking in 2012. Since 2014, the property has seen over $2,000,000 in partner-funded exploration. During 2014, a total of 44 line-km of IP surveys were completed over three target areas on the Pinnacle Reef property, by previous partner Oz Exploration Pty Ltd. ("OZE"). This program identified three areas of anomalous chargeability, two of which (Elbow and Sooner) were prioritized for follow up diamond drill testing in 2015, one (Later) remains untested. In 2015, the Elbow and Sooner target areas were tested with diamond drilling by OZE with six holes totaling 2,493 m. Additional drilling was completed during 2016 by ML Gold at the Elbow Zone with three diamond drill holes totaling 1,107 m. Similar to the 2015 drill results, anomalous gold intercepts were associated with sericite-biotite alteration at the Elbow Zone. Following the completion of the 2016 drilling program, historical IP data that was not released publicly was purchased and amalgamated with the existing IP dataset from the 2014 surveys.
The northern half of the Pinnacle property was staked by PEMC in the fall of 2018 to cover an area of anomalous gold geochemistry in stream sediments and to cover a subtle magnetic anomaly from government funded regional airborne magnetic surveys. In the spring of 2019, PEMC completed a high resolution airborne magnetic survey over the entirety of the property to determine if greater levels of detail could assist in interpreting the underlying bedrock. The survey was successful in providing a much greater level of detail and identifying areas for IP geophysical surveys and follow up drill testing. Initial results suggest the property is centered on an area with a complex magnetic signature cut by numerous northeast trending structures.
Although historical exploration in this immediate area is limited, previous stream sediment sampling surveys returned anomalous gold up to 185 ppb in the east-central portion of the property and a sediment sample over 3.3 g/t gold 1.5 km to the east of the property.
-STARS PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The Stars Property lies 42 km west-southwest of the town of Houston in Central British Columbia. The 3,745 hectare land position covers lower Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanic rocks consisting of andesitic flows and related volcanic sedimentary rocks that have been intruded by Late Cretaceous granodioritic stocks and plugs.
On November 20, 2017, the Company signed an Option Agreement with ML Gold Corp., whereby ML Gold can earn up to a 30% interest in the project in which PEMC currently holds a 50% interest. As consideration for the Option, ML Gold will make aggregate cash payments in the amount of $80,000 and issue a total of 600,000 common shares to PEMC over a two-year period and will incur a minimum of $4,500,000 in exploration expenditures over a three-year period. PEMC will have a 20% carried interest in the project until completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study, after which point a Joint Venture will commence.
2018 EXPLORATION
During 2018, ML Gold Corp. completed a total of 6,472 m of diamond drilling in 16 holes in addition to a property wide airborne magnetic survey. Diamond drilling during 2018 focused on the Tana Zone which is located on the eastern flank of the 5-km-long ovate magnetic anomaly centered within the property.
Copper mineralization was encountered in numerous drill holes and has been directly related to feldspar porphyry intrusions with zones of increased potassic alteration typically making up the central portions of the mineralized intervals.
An initial diamond drilling program was followed up with an airborne magnetic survey over the central target area in the spring of 2018. Early diamond drilling results, highlighted by drill hole DD18SS004, were successful in intersecting intervals of copper mineralization with up to 204 metres grading 0.45% Cu from 23.47 m to 227 m, which included 0.93% Cu from 26.52 m to 66.72 m. The airborne magnetic survey outlined a large ovoid magnetic ring feature approximately 5 kilometres in diameter with a cluster of subtle magnetic signatures in the middle of the magnetic halo.
Drill hole DD18SS010 intersected a newly identified, mineralized feldspar porphyry intrusion and graded 0.20% Cu over 405.38 metres from 29.57 m to 434.95 m at the Tana Zone. Vein-hosted and disseminated copper mineralization was again intersected in Holes 11, 12 and 13 (DD18SS011-013) which were drilled as 100 metre step-out holes from hole 10 (DD18SS010).
Recently released assay results from the remaining three holes of 2018 (DD18SS014-016) (see ML Gold Corp. News Release dated January 9, 2019), continue to build upon previous results indicating well-developed copper mineralization over a length of greater than 400 metres, a width of greater than 200 metres with a depth of greater than 350 metres.
-COPPER KING
OVERVIEW
The 4,178 ha Copper King Property is 100% by PEMC. The Property is underlain by Late Triassic Takla Group volcanics, dominated by mafic to intermediate flows and breccias which have been intruded locally by Early Jurassic diorite, feldspar porphyry and granodiorite dikes and stocks. The "Snow Hole" showing, discovered in 2015 by PEMC geologists, is characterized as chalcocite-magnetite ± bornite bearing quartz veins along with abundant chlorite ± magnetite stockwork veins.
The project area is accessible by vehicle and close to infrastructure, located 45 km south of Centerra Gold Inc.'s ("Centerra") Kemess Underground and Kemess East development projects. The Omineca Resource Road and Centerra's 230-kV transmission line cross the southern portion of the property.
WORK HISTORY
Notable exploration on the Copper King Property began in the 1960’s with initial investigation of the copper potential of the DS and Sixty claim groups. Geological mapping, hand trenching and sampling, and an electromagnetic survey were completed over areas where disseminated and vein hosted copper±gold±silver was encountered.
In the mid-1970's, Canadian Superior and BP Minerals explored the Z claims for Sustut-style copper replacement in porous Takla Group tuffs. Geological mapping, geochemical sampling, induced polarization ("IP") and ground magnetic surveys were conducted over the claims and three short diamond drill holes completed in two areas.
Over 2,000 historic soil, talus, sediment and rock samples collected on the property have been digitized and outline several geochemically anomalous areas that warrant further exploration.
In 2015, PEMC completed a reconnaissance IP survey over areas of interest that identified two areas of anomalous charge ability for followup exploration. Rock chip sampling was completed in 2015 as well, expanding the footprint of anomalous copper rock geochemistry. In 2016 and 2017, PEMC completed two airborne magnetic surveys over the northeast portion of the property. This data has been integrated with the existing dataset to develop exploration targets for 2018.
EXPLORATION TARGETS
Based on the results from historical exploration programs and from work completed by PEMC from 2014 through 2017, two primary target areas have been identified.
Target area "A", also know as the “North Valley Target Area”, is characterized by an anomalous IP chargeability high coincident with rock, soil, talus and sediment samples that have anomalous levels of copper. The 2017 airborne magnetic survey identified a discrete magnetic low anomaly in this area, potentially representing magnetite destructive alteration. Historical drilling completed by BP Minerals in 1975 consisted of one shallow diamond drill hole along the southern margin of the IP chargeability anomaly. This hole (ZD#1) encountered magnetite and hematite throughout with intervals of native copper, bornite and chalcocite over the final 100 feet. PEMC intends to follow-up with a reverse circulation drilling program in 2018 at this target area.
Target area "B" is also characterized by an anomalous IP chargeability high, however at this target area the magnetic signature is characterized by a magnetic high. Rock, soil, talus and sediment geochemistry is also highly anomalous in copper and there has been no drilling in this area to date.
2018 EXPLORATION
A Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed in August of 2018 by PEMC at the Copper King Property. Drilling was focused on the "North Valley Target Area" at the northern portion of the property where anomalous IP chargeability is coincident with rock, soil, talus and sediment samples that are anomalous in copper ± gold ± silver. Four RC holes totaling 459 metres were drilled with PEMC's in-house track-mounted RC drill, with depths of the holes ranging from 82.3 to 147.8 metres.
Two of the four holes drilled encountered disseminated chalcocite mineralization associated with strong epidote-clay alteration over variable widths and laboratory results have been received for the two assayed holes. Given the geological context and the widespread nature of copper mineralization at surface, that closely resembles that encountered in drilling, the Company believes there is significant potential for a buried porphyry system on the Copper King Property. Drilling at the "snow hole" showing remains open to the south and has provided early insight
into potential vectors that the Company will use to aid in future targeting.
-NUB EAST PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The 1,258 hectare Nub East Property is an exploration stage alkalic porphyry property in north-central British Columbia, located within the highly prospective Toodoggone district. The property is owned 100% by PEMC and was acquired through staking in March of 2016. The progression from high-sulphidation to skarn mineralization with decreasing elevation and moving eastward has led to the identification of a highly prospective Cu-Au porphyry target concealed in the valley in the eastern portion of the property.
Located 27 kilometres north of the Aurico Metal Inc's Kemess Underground Project, the Nub East Property is a helicopter accessible early-stage exploration Cu-Au porphyry property. The property comes to within approximately 20 km of the Omineca Resource Access Road ("ORAR"), and is within 9 km of logging and mine access roads to the southwest. Elevation ranges from 1,900 m, where high sulphidation and polymetallic mineralization occurs, down to 1,100 m in the eastern portion of the property where a conceptualized porphyry target lies in a broad NW trending valley.
Geology in the Toodoggone district is characterized by an Early Jurassic island arc felsic to intermediate volcanics, which unconformably overlie Late Triassic Takla Group basaltic and andesitic volcanics; these units are in turn underlain by Late Carboniferous to Early Permian Asitka Group sediments, volcaniclastic and volcanic units.
HISTORICAL MINERAL OCCURRENCES
The western portions of the property are highlighted by the NUB Skarn and NUB Stockwork showing areas (BC Minfile # 094E 249). The former is characterized as chalcopyrite-pyrite ± sphalerite ± galena with anomalous precious metal values, associated with calc-silicate alteration, along a 600 metre exposed wall of limestone where it is in contact with intrusive quartz monzonite.
The NUB Stockwork showing is described as an area of 4% to 8% quartz stockwork hosted in intermediate volcanic flows and tuffs, with generally narrow quartz ± carbonate ± barite veins hosting pyrite-chalcopyrite-galena ± sphalerite mineralization. Stockwork veins locally reach one metre in width.
WORK HISTORY
During 2017, PEMC completed an airborne magnetic survey consisting of 62 line-km along north-south lines spaced 200 metres apart. This survey outlined and further defined a magnetic high anomaly situated beneath glaciofluvial cover in a broad NNW-SSE oriented valley bottom, immediately adjacent to a NW trending regional scale fault.
EXPLORATION TARGETS
The exploration model for the property is predicated on targeting Cu-Au porphyry deposits at the most reasonable stratigraphic level, which in turn leads PEMC to believe that broad valleys with magnetic high anomalies at approximately the 1,100 m elevation are high priority targets in the eastern Toodoggone district. Such an anomaly exists on the Nub East Property, and PEMC intends to test the target area with reverse circulation drilling in 2018.
2018 EXPLORATION
The planned 2018 RC drilling program on PEMC’s Nub East Property was not completed due to the proximity of the Gower Lake Wildfire to the proposed area of exploration on the Property. The Chief Gold Commissioner of British Columbia recognized the proximity of the wildfire threat and has granted the Company a one-year extension of time to complete exploration and development activities on the Property.
PEMC looks forward to continuing with further exploration on the property during the 2019 exploration season.
-MOFFAT PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The 4,090 hectare, Moffat Property is an exploration stage alkalic porphyry copper-gold prospect that is accessible by vehicle. The property is located in the Cariboo Mining Division in south-central British Columbia, approximately 56 kilometres east of Williams Lake and 35 kilometres northeast of the village of Lac La Hache which is serviced by BC Rail, BC Hydro and Westcoast Transmission natural gas.
The claims cover the northeast portion of a prominent airborne magnetic anomaly within the Quesnel Terrane. The Quesnel Terrane is host to several large tonnage copper-gold porphyry deposits including New Gold’s Afton Mine, Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley Mine, Taseko’s Gibraltar Mine and Centerra Gold’s Mount Milligan and Kemess Mines.
The majority of the Moffat property is underlain by Late Triassic to Early Jurassic intrusive rocks of the Takomkane Batholith with lesser Late Triassic volcanic rocks of the Nicola Group. The presence of widespread Quaternary glacial deposits and alluvium across the property obscures outcrop exposures and as a result outcrop is sparse. Copper mineralization consisting mainly of chalcopyrite has been observed in outcrop on the property and historical rock sampling has returned rock samples with anomalous copper, gold and silver.
HISTORY
Exploration for copper porphyry deposits in this area began in the 1960’s following the discovery of the Cariboo-Bell porphyry copper deposit. In 1988, Tide Resources Ltd. completed an airborne magnetic survey and VLF-EM survey over the property and in 2011 Fjordland Exploration Inc. completed an exploration program consisting of soil geochemistry, IP geophysical surveys and diamond drilling on the eastern portion of the property. The 2011 soil geochemical and IP geophysical surveys identified numerous coincident copper-molybdenum-gold in-soil anomalies in addition to an area of anomalous IP chargeability. Diamond drilling in 2011 targeted IP chargeability anomalies with 2 holes, DDH-MOF-02 and DDH-MOF-03, encountering anomalous copper-gold mineralization and hydrothermal alteration that is consistent with proximal porphyry type assemblages.
EXPLORATION TARGET
The presence of a large, open-ended IP chargeability anomaly and anomalous “down-ice” soil geochemistry, the margin of which historical drilling encountered propylitic and potassic alteration and associated anomalous copper-gold mineralization, forms the basis for future exploration by PEMC.
2018 EXPLORATION
During 2018, PEMC completed a 208 line-km airborne magnetic survey over the Moffat Property. Results from the airborne magnetic survey were used to guide follow-up reverse circulation drilling. A total of seven holes totaling 383 metres at the "Central Mag Anomaly" were completed. Two holes ((RC18MOF005 & 6) encountered anomalous copper. Results from 2018 reverse circulation drilling in addition to results from a seismometer survey will be used to guide 2019 exploration.
-KITIMAT PROPERTY
OVERVIEW
The 100% PEMC owned Kitimat Property is an exploration stage porphyry copper-gold prospect that is vehicle accessible and close to infrastructure. The 3,070 hectare property is situated 13 km by road from the port town of Kitimat where a deep-water port and hydroelectric power are located.
The property is underlain by Triassic to Jurassic Stikine volcanic rocks which have been juxtaposed against Late Cretaceous to Paleogene granodiorites and diorites of the Coast Plutonic Complex to the west. These units have been intruded by felsic, mafic and feldspar porphyry dikes of Late Cretaceous to Eocene age.
WORK HISTORY
Historical drilling at the Jeanette target area intersected copper-gold-silver mineralization associated with quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration that locally overprints a propylitic assemblage. Localized potassic alteration is also present, though not necessarily associated with mineralized zones. At the Bowbyes target area, a large area (2,000 x 800 m) of quartz-sericite-pyrite altered intermediate volcanic rock has been mapped by previous operators in the area of Gossan Creek, where numerous NE trending porphyry dikes exist.
Mineralization encountered to date at the Jeanette area consists of chalcopyrite-pyrite as veins, quartz vein-fill and as disseminations within silicified zones. Copper and gold values are intimately associated with historical drill intercepts highlighted by 105 m grading 0.60% Cu and 1.15 g/t Au (DDH J-2010-07, Decade Resources Ltd.). Although chalcopyrite content locally is up to 15%, the predominance of pyrite suggests that a higher temperature chalcopyrite dominant sulphide assemblage is yet to be discovered. Skarn mineralization, consisting of semi-massive chalcopyrite-pyrite-magnetite over short intervals, has been encountered in historical drilling in the southern portion of the property.
Historical exploration includes: 38 diamond drill holes totaling over 6,000 meters; soil, rock and silt surveys; airborne Mag-EM and IP surveys; trenching; and detailed mapping of over 1,000 rock exposures.
During 2017, PEMC completed an exploration program consiting of a soil and bark geochemical survey over the Jeanette target area with four, approximately one kilometre long, lines spaced 100 metres apart. The results of this survey confirmed the presence of anomalous copper in soils and further defined the historical copper-in-soil anomaly outlined by previous operators. The copper soil anomaly at the Jeanette area measures approximately 200 m x 500 m with the majority of the anomaly lying upslope and to the west of the 2010 diamond drilling. As a result, the magnetic anomaly to the east of the 2010 drilling and the copper anomaly to the west of the 2010 drilling are now both priority targets for the 2018 exploration program.
At the Bowbyea area during 2017, prospecting confirmed the presence of widespread alteration associated with anomalous soil geochemistry.
EXPLORATION TARGETS
Historical exploration has outlined two primary target areas referred to as the Jeanette and Bowbyes target areas. The Jeanette target area is highlighted by historical copper-gold drill intercepts up to 105 m @ 0.60% copper and 1.15 g/t gold hosted in quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration. The Bowbyes target area is a roughly 1,200 by 800 metre zone of anomalous copper-in-soil geochemistry coincident with numerous mapped feldspar porphyry dikes and extensive quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration in the area of “Gossan Creek”.
2018 EXPLORATION
The 2018 reverse circulation drill program consisted of five holes totaling 326.1 metres, with holes ranging from 27.4 to 120.4 metres in depth. The purpose of the program was to confirm and potentially build upon historical drill results from the Jeannette Zone, as well as to test additional exploration targets away from the Jeannette Zone. 2018 RC drilling results did not replicate historical drill results in the Jeannette Zone.
Pacific Empire Minerals Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol PEMSF. This is not investment advice. Please view the disclaimer found on this website.
