Preliminary investigations of emerald mineralization in the Regal Ridge area, Finlayson Lake district, southeastern Yukon

Emerald has recently been discovered in two areas in the northern Cordillera, the Lened area immediately east of the Yukon/NWT border and the Regal Ridge property in the Finlayson Lake district of southeastern Yukon; potential for additional emerald occurrences is thought to be very good. Preliminary results from investigations at Regal Ridge in 2002 reveal a continuum between typical biotite (± muscovite) quartz monzonite to quartz-rich, tourmaline-bearing granitic pegmatite and aplite (locally containing beryl) to quartz-tourmaline veins that either contain emerald or carry emerald in associated alteration envelopes. It is likely (but still unproven) that the chromium in emeralds at Regal Ridge is derived from the mafi c metavolcanic host rocks. Detailed petrographic examination of the veins and altered host rocks is aimed at constraining the composition and nature of the mineralizing fluids responsible for formation of the emeralds.