PREFACE

McConnell Creek map-area lies in a mountainous, relatively inaccess-
ible region near the centre of the northern half of British Columbia. Little
was known about it until 1907-08 when placer gold was discovered on
McConnell Creek. This activity, and that of a later rush of placer miners
in 1932, quickly waned, without disclosing commercial mineral deposits or
material geological information. Subsequent investigations by the Geolog-
ical Survey in areas to the south succeeded, however, in drawing attention
to the McConnell Creek area as a possible source of lode deposits. Accord-
ingly, field work was commenced there by Dr. Lord in 1941, and, although
interrupted by more urgent wartime duties, was completed by him in 1945.

The present report is descriptive of the geology, structure, and
economic features of the area. Granitic intrusions, both of Mesozoic and
Tertiary age, are described, and the presence, in this part of the province,
of a large area of Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene strata is noted for the
first time. A belt of strong, post-Paleocene faults, in part continuous with
the Pinchi fault zone, traverses the area from southeast to northwest,
and probably extends far beyond. Many occurrences of gold, silver, copper,
coal, and other minerals, found in the course of geological mapping and
resultant active prospecting, are described. Although none of these is yet
known to be commercially valuable many are of sufficient interest to
warrant further search. As an aid to the prospector, Dr. Lord has listed the
more favourable host rocks, and has defined the areas within which mineral
occurrences are most concentrated.

GEORGE HANSON,
Chief Geologist, Geological Survey of Canada

Orrawa, March 25, 1948