The Kinbasket (Timbasket) occurrence is located on a northeast–facing slope near the southwest shore of Kinbasket Lake between Trident and Windy creeks, approximately 7.5 kilometres north-northeast of Trident Mountain. The Mogul (MINFILE 082M 078) occurrence is located a short distance to the south.
Regionally, the area is underlain by rocks of the Neoproterozoic Horsethief Creek Group, consisting of crystalline limestone overlain by quartzite and underlain by metamorphosed black argillite. The rocks are isoclinally folded, striking northwest and dipping approximately 50 degrees to the southwest.
Limestone in the northwest limb of a fold is acutely drag folded and appears to terminate in a series of sharp fingers about 300 metres northwest of the Mogul (MINFILE 082M 078) occurrence. Continuity farther to the northwest had not been established, but it is probable that the limestone is greatly thinned by squeezing. Replacement by sphalerite and galena occurs over much of this distance, in thin bands up to 10 centimeters wide, and in local aggregates of such bands across widths of a few metres. Mineralization is apparently concentrated in the drag-fold 'fingers' (Annual Report 1951).
In 1893, select samples from the occurrence area are reported to have yielded from 593.8 to 812.5 grams per tonne silver (Annual Report 1893-1066,1067).
Work History
The occurrence was originally discovered in the early 1890s and was covered by two Crown grants (Timbasket and Mogul [MINFILE 082M 078]), which have reverted to the Crown. An adit of unknown age is reported to have been driven for approximately 7.5 metres to the southwest across the main showing; a branch approximately 4.8 metres to the northwest extends to a shaft approximately 7.5 metres below surface.
In 1949, Kootenay Exploration Ltd. explored the area and completed a program of surface stripping. In 1951, Cominco Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, prospecting and drilling on the area as the Kinbasket Property. The option was dropped later that year. In 1967, a minor program of geochemical (soil and silt) sampling was completed on the Timbasket and Mogul claims.
