The RIDDLE CREEK showing is located approximately 16 kilometres west-southwest of Summerland.

A 5 by 2 kilometre radioactive area coincides with an Eocene volcanic centre. The principal radioactive rocks include trachytes, mafic phonolites and ash flows of the Eocene Penticton Group, Marron Formation and consanguineous syenite of the Eocene Coryell Intrusions. North of the radioactive area, polymictic conglomerates and andesite overlie granitic phases of the Jurassic Okanagan Intrusions and form the base of the Tertiary section.

The most radioactive rocks are thick (150 to 200 metres) trachyte lava flows. Assays contained up to 0.012 per cent uranium and 0.038 per cent thorium (Assessment Report 6750). Pervasive hydrothermal alteration of the trachyte and vent breccia has produced cream and white kaolinized rocks of variable radioactive response. The syenites, which lie to the west of the trachyte, average 0.006 per cent uranium and 0.032 per cent thorium (Assessment Report 6750).

Radioactive elements are concentrated on manganese pitch and dendritic growths on numerous small cracks. In this area a sediment sample from a small pond assayed 0.06 per cent uranium (Assessment Report 6750).

In 1977, British Newfoundland Exploration Ltd. carried out geological mapping, silt and soil geochemical surveys, and a radiometric survey of the RIDDLE CREEK volcanic centre. They identified an area of above-average background radioactivity approximately 2 kilometres southwest of the RIDDLE CREEK radioactive zone. This included a contact zone between the Kitley Lake Member of the Marron Formation and Coryell syenite. This southwest zone is included in the RIDDLE CREEK occurrence.

In 1978, British Newfoundland drilled 7 diamond-drill holes for a total of 270 metres. Five of the holes were drilled in the syenite intrusive, while the remaining 2 were drilled into ash flows (Kitley Lake Member?) and basal conglomerates (Springbrook Formation?). An intense, argillic alteration zone was intersected which resulted in poor core recovery. There were no intersections of uranium or thorium mineralization. The claims were allowed to lapse after the uranium moratorium was declared in 1980.

In 1986, the southwest area was staked as the VENT property by M. Morrison and optioned to Zygote Resources Ltd. Geological and geochemical surveys in 1987 were followed by an 8 hole reverse circulation drill program in 1989. Four of the drillholes intersected brecciated, clay altered, pyrite enriched and silicified Marron Formation trachyte flows and tuffs. Precious metal values were negligible and Zygote Resources dropped their option on the property. Work since then by M. Morrison has consisted of magnetometer, VLF-EM and scintillometer surveys. No economic minerals have yet been identified on the VENT property.