Teck begins drilling Redstar massive sulphide prospect

Teck (TEL-T) has begun a 4,000-ft. drilling program on the Redstar property, 35 km south of Princeton in southwestern British Columbia.

The major can earn up to a 70% interest in the property from Redstar Resources (RST-V) by spending $4 million on exploration and making cash payments totalling $175,000. Teck can earn an additional 10% by completing a feasibility study.

The Redstar property is a felsic volcanic-hosted massive sulphide prospect.

A zinc-copper showing was discovered in 1900 and several short adits were driven in the following years. In the mid-1950s, at least six adits totalling 211 metres were driven into the Red Star zone, along with further workings developed by internal shafts. In 1964 and 1965, 38 tons of sorted ore grading 8.1% zinc, 6.5% copper and 72 grams silver per tonne was shipped from the Red Star zone.

The Red Star surface showing has reportedly assayed 10% zinc, 2.65% copper and 0.01 oz. gold in chip sampling over 2.7 metres.

In 1992, Westmin Resources (WMI-T) optioned the Redstar property and carried out geological mapping, geochemical soil and rock sampling, and geophysical surveys. In 1994, Westmin drilled five stratigraphic diamond drill holes (totalling 4,600 ft.) north of the showing. The holes returned geochemically anomalous copper, zinc, gold and barium values.

Westmin allowed its option to lapse in 1995.

The focus of Teck’s initial drilling program is 2,000 ft. of strike length that includes the Red Star showing and the old underground workings, which cut zinc-copper mineralization over a vertical interval of 460 ft.