Pathfinder prospect, Pathfinder Creek, Brown's Camp, Greenwood Mining Division, British Columbia, Canadai

Regional Level Types
Pathfinder prospect	Prospect
Pathfinder Creek	- not defined -
Brown's Camp	- not defined -
Greenwood Mining Division	Division
British Columbia	Province
Canada	Country

The Pathfinder prospect is located at the headwaters of Pathfinder Creek, 1.5 kilometres east of the Granby River, 18 kilometres north of Grand Forks, British Columbia, in the Greenwood Mining Division.
There is an extensive description of the property on the British Columbia “Minfile” site, current to 2014. This includes a brief summary of the geology of the property as well as an extensive summary of the exploration of the occurrence. The section on geology is quoted below:
“The Pathfinder property is situated within a belt of Devonian to Permian rocks immediately west of the fault contact with a Proterozoic gneiss complex (Grand Forks Gneiss). The northerly trending Granby River Fault is inferred to be the eastern margin of the Republic Graben, a fault-bounded package of rocks that extends north from Washington State. The Paleozoic rocks consist primarily of greenstone, chert and argillite and limestone of the Knob Hill Group. Undivided sedimentary rocks of the Triassic Brooklyn Formation underlie the area just south of the prospect. Intruding the stratigraphy are granitic plutons of the Jurassic Nelson Batholith and dikes, sills and intrusions of the Eocene Coryell Plutonic Suite, which are syenitic to monzonitic in composition.
The Pathfinder deposit consists of four parallel veins cutting the sedimentary rocks of the Knob Hill Group, which are here intruded by dikes. The veins, from 2.4 to 6.4 metres in width, are mineralized with pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite in a highly siliceous gangue. The mineralization is considered to occur partially as a replacement of the enclosing sedimentary rocks. Some reports indicate that crude banding was observed in the Pathfinder zone sulphides. Evidence indicates the Pathfinder showing is spatially related to the contact zones of the Coryell Intrusions and likely formed as hydrothermal replacements and fracture fillings in the sheared hostrocks.”
Giles Peatfield comments:
There has been a very minor amount of production from this occurrence. The official Government records show that in 1916, a total of 239 tonnes were shipped to a smelter (probably the British Columbia Copper Company, Limited facility at Greenwood), from which were recovered 130 troy ounces of silver, 24 troy ounces of gold, and 2,330 kilograms of copper. There is some uncertainty regarding these figures – Galloway (1917) wrote that “From the Pathfinder 177 tons of ore was shipped, . . . .” I have not been able to clear up this discrepancy.
Ray (2009) made a point of comparing this occurrence with the prolific gold-copper vein deposits at Rossland, British Columbia, about 45 kilometres to the east, that may occur in equivalent stratigraphy. It seems worthwhile to quote his conclusions in some detail:
“The Pathfinder-Diamond Hitch occurrences show many similarities to the classical Rossland-type Au-Ag-Cu sulfide veins in the Rossland Camp, as described by Drysdale (1915) and [by] Hoy and Dunne (2001). These vein deposits included major producers . . . . Similarities between these major deposits and the Pathfinder occurrences include:
Gangue mineralogy is dominated by pyrrhotite ± pyrite with lesser magnetite and chalcopyrite.
There is sporadic enrichment in Au, Ag and Cu, together with trace As and Mo. Some of the Rossland veins also carry traces of W, Zn and Co.
Mineralization occurs as discontinuous veins, pods and irregular replacements and may be hosted by either the intrusion of in the nearby altered country rock.
Mineralized veins in the country rocks may be haloed by a generally thin zone of garnet ± pyroxene exoskarn, . . . .”
Ray’s (2009) final point is that “Despite the presence of garnet alteration at Pathfinder, this style of mineralization should be regarded as Rossland-type veins rather than as classical skarn sensu strictu[sic].” In fact, one of his recommendations was that “In news releases and talks the similarities between the Pathfinder and Rossland Camp veins should be emphasized, particularly since the latter deposits were such major producers of Au, Ag and byproduct Cu. For a variety of reasons the skarn potential should be ‘down-played’.” I cannot say that I fully agree with him

Comments on the Minerals Reported:
Actinolite: Ray (2009), describing the Pathfinder skarns, wrote that “The skarns are generally strongly retrograde overprinted by epidote, chlorite and actinolite.”
Amphibole group: McKechnie (1967) reported ‘uralite’, which is listed by Mindat as “A variety of Amphibole Supergroup. Pseudomorphs of amphibole-group minerals, mainly actinolite, after a clinopyroxene-group mineral, mainly augite.” Augsten (2009b) and Ray (2009) reported hornblende.
Anhydrite?: Augsten (2009a), describing an altered mafic volcanic unit, wrote that “The rock is oxidized with strong goethite and limonite on the weathered surface. Locally see strong fracture-controlled gypsum or anhydrite.”
Arsenopyrite: Augsten (2009b), describing drill hole PF08-7, wrote that “The hole essentially was entirely in the crowded feldspar porphyry unit. Arsenopyrite was seen occurring as aggregates of extremely fine grained needles imparting a ‘bluish’ tint to the rock. There were no associated gold values.” Assay results of core substantiate anomalous arsenic contents.
Bornite: Augsten (2009a), describing a sample from a trench on the Pathfinder zone, wrote (in note form) “silicified know [sic – knob?] with patchy irregular qtz 'vein' segregations; strong fc [fracture controlled?] py +/- cpy; 3-5% py; 1% fc cpy; tr bornite; strong fc limonite; appears to have strong secondary black biotite.”
Calcite: Augsten (2009b) found numerous occurrences of calcite, in most rocks.
Chalcopyrite: Chalcopyrite is common in the mineralized bodies, and is the source of most or all of the copper produced from the property.
Chlorite group: Several workers have reported ‘chlorite’ or ‘chloritization’, etc. Ray (2009) provided more detail, writing that “At least two types of chlorite were seen: a pale, Fe-poor type and a black, Fe-rich type. Chloritic alteration in the mineralized sections of many skarns worldwide tends to be the dark variety which some authors believe is a positive exploration indicator.”
Epidote group: ‘Epidote’ is mentioned by most workers, generally as a late alteration product – see note above for actinolite.
Feldspar group: Augsten (2009b) reported ‘feldspar’ and orthoclase; Ray (2009) reported plagioclase and ‘K-spar’. No more detailed information is available.
Galena: Augsten (2009b) noted a trace amount of galena in a 5mm calcite-galena-sphalerite veinlet in hole PF08-09 drill core.
Garnet group: Garnets are common in the skarn assemblages. Ray (2009) noted that “At least two generations of garnet were seen: an early dark andradite and a younger, paler, presumably Fe-poor more grossular phase . . . This is typical of many skarns.” It should be noted that Dr. Ray is a recognized expert on British Columbia skarns, with extensive knowledge of garnet mineralogy therein.
Goethite: Augsten (2009a) noted numerous occurrences of goethite, in many cases with limonite and jarosite.
Gypsum: Augsten (2009a) noted numerous occurrences of gypsum, although in some cases he appears to be uncertain and refers to gypsum/anhydrite.
Hematite: Augsten (2009a) noted several occurrences of hematite, as a weathering product on fractures with limonite.
Jarosite: See note above for goethite.
Limonite: Limonite is common as a weathering product of sulfides.
Magnetite: Ray (2009), describing the rocks in drill hole PF08-13, noted “. . . massive pyrrhotite-pyrite ± trace chalcopyrite mineralization with variable amounts of magnetite. The crystals of early magnetite are surrounded by massive younger pyrite . . . .”
Malachite: Augsten (2009a) noted numerous occurrences of malachite as a weathering product in rocks from pits and trenches.
Mica group: Augsten (2009a, 2009b) reported both sericite and biotite. Ray (2009) reported biotite hornfels.
Molybdenite: Augsten (2009b) noted numerous occurrences of trace amounts of molybdenite in drill core, in many cases associated with strong sulfide mineralization.
Pyrite: This is a component of the massive sulfide mineralization, along with pyrrhotite.
Pyrolusite?: This was reported by Augsten (2009a) but with no analytical data. Given that the Mn oxide minerals are sometimes difficult to identify, I have chosen to mark this as tentative.
Pyroxene group: Ray (2009) reported ‘pyroxene’, clinopyroxene and possible augite.
Pyrrhotite: See note above for pyrite.
Quartz: This is common, generally as irregular veins and veinlets.
Sphalerite: Augsten (2009b) noted, in drill core of a crowded feldspar porphyry, “. . . specks of reddish/brown sphalerite in fxs [fractures].”
Tremolite: Ray (2009) noted that, in drill hole PF08-03, “. . . there is a fine to medium-grained garnet ± pyroxene exoskarn . . . . Locally, there is strong retrograde alteration to epidote, chlorite and tremolite.”
Zoisite: McKechnie (1967) described, in association with sulfides, “. . . a fine-grained rock composed chiefly of zoisite, epidote, uralite, and quartz.” Although not specifically stated, it seems likely that he was relying on thin section analysis for the identifications.

Comments on the rock types Reported:
Andesite: Augsten (2009a) reported andesite among the rocks described from trenches. Ray (2009) simply referred to ‘greenstone’, which on regional considerations is probably andesite.
Breccia: McKechnie (1967) wrote that “At about 300 feet east of the [Pathfinder] shaft is a stripped area, about 50 by 100 feet and trending southwest, of brecciated rock heavily mineralized with pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite.”
Dacite?: Augsten (2009a) reported a small trench exposure of “Foliated fg [fine-grained] dacite?; lt [light?] green on fresh [surface?] with 1-3% diss py [pyrite]; strongly oxidized to punky limonite/goethite in places; strong oxidation in lenses and foliation parallel seams which may represent massive sulphides [sic].”
Diorite: Augsten (2009a) reported numerous occurrences of fine-grained diorite or andesite; in some cases the exposures appear to be dykes.
Granodiorite: Granodiorite was reported by Augsten (2009a), by Ray (2009), and by Caron (2023) as a major intrusive rock type on the property.
Hornfels: Augsten (2009a) reported numerous examples of ‘hornfelsed’ meta-sediments; Ray (2009), describing the sulfide-rich veins, wrote that “This type contains sporadic quantities of Cu, Au and Ag, and may be associated with garnet ± pyroxene exoskarn . . . as well as more distal biotite hornfels; the latter may show biotite-rich layers that probably represent original thin bedding.”
Skarn: Ray (2009) wrote that “The skarns are generally strongly retrograde over printed by epidote, chlorite and actinolite.”
Syenite: McKechnie (1967) reported younger, unaltered dyke rocks that he called ‘pulaskite’. This terminology, not strictly accurate, was commonly used in the past for Eocene intrusive rocks forming part of the Marron Formation volcanic complex in the region or related to the Coryell intrusive suite. These are generally not nepheline-bearing so are not pulaskites sensu stricto. Augsten (2009a) wrote that “Lastly, Tertiary dikes and sills belonging to the Coryell suite cut all rocks. These tend to be fine to medium grained, light grey to green to pink commonly with white to pink euhedral feldspar phenocrysts. These rocks tend to form prominent linear ridges on the Pathfinder property.” For a more detailed description of these rocks and their nomenclature, refer to Little (1983).

Research by Giles Peatfield, Courtenay, British Columbia.
edited by Doug Scott, Ottawa
Posting prepared 28 April, 2025.

Other Databases

Link to British Columbia Minfile:	082ESE075

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References