The Bas (H.G. zone) occurrence is located on a small ridge west of the Kettle River, approximately 1.5 kilometres southwest of the mouth of Stove Creek.
The area is primarily underlain by quartz diorite and granite of the Jurassic Nelson Plutonic Suite(?) with isolated outcrops of undivided metamorphic rocks of the Proterozoic to Paleozoic Shuswap Assemblage.
Locally, three zones (BS 6-8, Stockwork [Vuggy, Switchback and Bluff veins] and H.G. zones) of mineralization have been identified over an area of approximately 550 metres to the north-south and 350 metres to the east-west. Mineralization in the area is characterized by numerous randomly oriented quartz veins and lenses, moderate to extreme brecciation, and minor to moderate K-feldspar, sericite and kaolinite alteration. Variable amounts of pyrite in a quartz stockwork carry silver and gold values. Mineralization is structurally controlled and is associated with north east and north west trending faults. Alteration zones of propylitic, argillic and phyllic alteration have been mapped and show features of both porphyry copper-gold- silver and epithermal gold-silver deposit models.
At the H.G. (High Grade) zone, an argillic to phyllic altered feldspar porphyry adjacent to an altered mafic dike hosts a series of 0.3 to 3.1 metre thick quartz veins with semi-massive to massive pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, argentite and scheelite mineralization. The veins strike south 20 degrees east and dip 20 to 40 degrees to the west.
In 1978, grab sampling of the H.G. zone yielded up to 15.39 grams per tonne gold and 552.0 grams per tonne silver, while chip sampling yielded up to 7.9 grams per tonne gold, 149.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.16 per cent copper over 1.2 metres (Assessment Report 7259). In 1980, diamond drilling intersections yielded up to: 7.87 grams per tonne gold, 227.5 grams per tonne silver, 0.07 per cent copper and 0.03 per cent lead from 13.1 to 13.25 metres in hole SAB 80-13; hole SAB 80-1 yielded 12.7 grams per tonne silver and 0.43 per cent tungsten over 2.97 metres and 7.0 grams per tonne gold over 15 centimetres; hole SAB 80-19 yielded 1.4 grams per tonne gold, 79.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.39 per cent copper over 15 centimetres (Assessment Report 9576). In 1982, diamond drilling (Hole 82-13) yielded up to 17.8 grams per tonne gold, 280.4 grams per tonne silver, 1.34 per cent lead, 0.12 per cent zinc and 0.10 per cent copper over 0.7 metre (Assessment Report 18533). In 1999, a grab sample (12027) assayed 32.97 grams per tonne gold and 521.4 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 26382). In 2016, a grab sample (663204) of massive pyrite assayed 51.5 grams per tonne gold and 679 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 36584).
The Stockwork zone, located approximately 300 metres to the north- north east, consists of a quartz-sericite-pyrite altered intrusive hosting three separate brecciated quartz stockwork zones (Vuggy, Switchback and Bluff) over an area of approximately 300 by 450 metres. The veins host pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, galena and scheelite mineralization. In 1980, diamond drilling (Hole 80-3) yielded up to 0.8 gram per tonne gold and 98.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 9576). In 1999, grab sampling yielded up to 0.13 gram per tonne gold and 7.9 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 26382).
At the BS 6-8 zone, located approximately 400 metres to the northwest, three parallel to sub-parallel vuggy quartz veins host coarse pyrite and limonite. The veins are hosted by porphyry granite with finely disseminated pyrite. In 1973, a rock sample assayed 7.9 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 4979).
In 1983, a 22-tonne bulk sample, grading 3.76 grams per tonne gold and 143.7 grams per tonne silver, was shipped to Slocan City for metallurgical testing (Assessment Report 15639). The results of this testing are not on record and it is not known what amounts of ore were taken from the various zones, but the bulk of the ore is reported to have come from the Lead (MINFILE 082ENE044) zone open-cut.
The property was staked as the BS 1-12 claims in 1972 by S.E. Arnold, who had found mineralized quartz veins exposed in road-cuts. In 1973 and 1974, S.E. Arnold and R.W. Yorke-Hardy prospected, mapped and sampled the area. They located numerous mineralized quartz veins and gossans on the BS 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 claims. In 1977, Yorke-Hardy carried out geochemical and electromagnetic surveys. Anomalies identified in 1977, were followed in 1978 by road construction, mapping, trenching and three percussion drill holes, totalling 350 metres. In 1979, a 3.5 kilometre induced polarization survey, and additional trenching, mapping and sampling was carried out on the area as the BAS claims.
In 1980, Mohawk Oil Co. Ltd. carried out a 25-hole, 3114 metre diamond drill program on the SAB claim group. The 1980 program was followed by an induced polarization survey in 1981; VLF-EM surveys in 1981 and 1982; geochemical surveys for silver and gold in 1981, 1982 and 1984; a magnetometer survey in 1982; induced polarization and resistivity surveys in 1984; prospecting in 1985 and additional diamond- drill programs in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984. In 1982, a pilot mill was constructed on the property and in 1983 concentrates were sold to the Cominco smelter in Trail, BC. Very little of this work, with the exception of the 1980 drill program, the 1981 induced polarization survey and the 1985 prospecting program, was filed for assessment.
In 1986, Triple Star Resource completed a program of geochemical sampling on the area to the south as the Split 1-2 claims. In 1989, Y-H Technical Services completed a program of ground geophysical surveys and a compilation report, which re-interpreted the prospect as an epithermal deposit and includes some of the results of Mohawk Oil's diamond-drill and geophysical programs. In 1996, a program of geological mapping and geochemical sampling was completed. In 1999, the area was prospected and rock sampled as the Kettle claims. In 2004 and 2005, Leroy Ventures completed programs of rock, silt and soil sampling, geological mapping, trenching, a 33.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and a 235.0 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area. In 2016, Rich River Exploration prospected and sampled the area.
