The Hope 12 occurrence is located west of Mark Creek at an elevation of 1500 metres and approximately 3.3 kilometres northwest of Sullivan Hill.

Regionally, the area is underlain by argillite, greywacke, wacke and turbidites of the middle Proterozoic Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup). These have been intruded by gabbroic sills of the middle Proterozoic Moyie Intrusions. A full description of regional geology can be found in the Sullivan (MINFILE 082FNE052) occurrence.

Locally, as identified by drilling, sedimentary exhalative style mineralization, including laminated and massive sulphides, occurs as five discrete bands over a total cored interval of 7.65 metres at a depth of 2,735.90 metres, after which footwall rocks below the ‘Sullivan Time Horizon’ were recovered. The mineralized bands vary from 0.30 to 1.08 metres in width and consist of laminated to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and sphalerite.

The intersection of ‘Sullivan -style’ massive sulphides is interpreted to represent the discovery of an entirely new SEDEX system, not a faulted-off portion of the Sullivan ore deposit. The low lead-zinc ratios in the core samples, absolute thickness of the SEDEX interval and absence of tourmalinization suggests that the intersection lies distal to the vent or feeder system (Assessment Report 27837).

In 2004, a diamond drill hole (SD#04-01) yielded intercepts of up to 12.92 per cent zinc and 0.36 per cent lead over 0.30 metre, followed by 8.62 per cent zinc and 0.19 per cent lead over 0.39 metre from 2737.83 to 2738.52 metres deep (Assessment Report 27837).

Since the late 1800s, the area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby former Sullivan (MINFILE 082FNE052) mine. In 1991, Cominco completed a diamond drill hole, totalling 182.0 metres, on the area as the Hope 12 claim. In 2004, Stikine Gold, on the behalf of Cominco, completed one diamond drill hole, totalling 2766.0 metres.