The Lenora past-producer is located on the western slopes of Mount Sicker, approximately 1.5 kilometres east of the Chemainus River.

Several past-producers are located on Mount Sicker in the Cowichan uplift, one of three geo-anticlinal uplifts that expose rocks of the Paleozoic Sicker and Buttle Lake groups on Vancouver Island. Cretaceous sediments of the Nanaimo Group unconformably overlie the Paleozoic rocks; the contact is marked by a basal conglomerate containing volcanic fragments derived from the Sicker Group. The local stratigraphy is disrupted by folding, faulting (pre-Triassic as well as Paleogene–Neogene) and the intrusions of two gabbro sills (known as the Mount Hall Gabbro) that are coeval with the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation. The target of exploration activity has been the volcanogenic, polymetallic massive sulphides that are hosted within felsic volcanic tuffs of the Middle to Upper Devonian McLaughlin Ridge Formation (Sicker Group) and restricted to a belt running from Chipman Creek to Mount Richards, in the hangingwall of the Fulford fault.

Massive sulphides were discovered on Mount Sicker in the late 1800s and production issued from three separate underground mines (Lenora [MINFILE 092B 001], Tyee [MINFILE 092B 002] and Richard III [MINFILE 092B 003]) for several years. These mines were later held as one operating mine, the Twin J mine (1942–1952). The Twin J mine was examined by J.S. Stevenson in the 1940s and the following description is derived from his paper (Geology of the Twin J Mine; Structural Geology of Canadian Ore Deposits, Volume 1, The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1948). The rocks in the mine, and nearby, include cherty tuffs, graphitic schists, rhyolite porphyry and diorite. The chert and graphitic schists together form a band of sediments 30 to 45 metres wide that near the workings are at least 640 metres long. The trend of the band and the strike of the sediments are 110 degrees. The dip of the sediments is 50 degrees southwest. Where relatively undeformed, the rocks are slaty, where moderately deformed their laminae are bent into small canoe-shaped folds, and where intensely deformed, either by close folding or shearing, they are highly schistose.

Rhyolite porphyry and diorite are the two most widespread rocks in the area. Rhyolite porphyry sills follow the folding of the sediments and dikes cut early phases of the diorite. Two phases of the diorite, fine-grained and coarse-grained, are present. Fine-grained diorite occurs as sills in the sediments; coarse-grained diorite is found as irregular intrusive bodies, and as well-defined dikes. Although all phases of the diorite are younger than the sediments, some phases are older and others younger than the rhyolite porphyry.

Two types of ore are found in association with cherty tuffs and graphitic schists: a barite ore consisting of a fine-grained mixture of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and a little galena in a gangue of barite, quartz and calcite; and a quartz ore consisting of mainly quartz and chalcopyrite.

The two main orebodies, known as the North orebody and the South orebody, are long, lenticular bodies lying along two main dragfolds in the band of sediments. The North orebody measures approximately 500 metres along strike, 37 metres downdip and from 0.3 to 3 metres in thickness. The South orebody, which is 46 metres from the North, and has its upper limit 45 metres higher, measures 640 metres along the strike, 45 metres downdip and is approximately 6 metres in thickness. Most of the ore mined in the early period came from the South orebody, but most of that mined by Twin J came from the North orebody.

Two main faults, striking east and nearly vertical, displace the orebodies. The north fault is between the two orebodies, and in going westward strikes into the South orebody at a small angle. This fault displaces the south orebody approximately 60 metres upward and an unknown distance eastward with respect to the North orebody. Long sections of barite drag-ore may be seen in the north fault below the South orebody. The south fault is south of the South orebody. Several diagonal faults cut the orebodies but displace them only slightly horizontally and vertically. A few flat or very gently dipping faults also cut the orebodies; but these displace the ore even less than most of the diagonal faults. In addition to movement along well-defined faults, considerable slippage has occurred between sharply folded beds in the graphitic schists.

A regional silicified and pyritized fracture zone can be traced by widely separated, mineralized outcrops, from Mount Richards on the east through the Twin J on Mount Sicker to Mount Brenton on the west, a total of 13 kilometres. The displacement along this break is unknown. At the Twin J, the fracture zones are manifested by vertical silicified zones on the south sides of both the North and South orebodies and by post-mineral breaks such as the north and south faults.

Work History

The first claim in the area was staked in 1895 by F.L. Sullivan, T. McKay and Henry Buzzard. The partners were later joined by Harry Smith. In 1898 and 1899, drifting, crosscutting and shaft sinking were conducted with stoped ore being stored in dumps and some hand-picked ore being sent to a smelter. During 1900 to mid-1902, the Lenora-Mount Sicker Mining Company was formed with continued underground development and stoping being performed. During 1903 through 1907, minor work was completed with small shipments of ore being shipped from the dump.

The Lenora mine, worked between 1898 and 1903 (inclusive) and in 1907, produced 321886 grams of gold, 8 706 817 grams of silver and 3 226 034 kilograms of copper from a total of 71 650 tonnes mined. The Tyee mine was worked intermittently from 1901 to 1909 producing 762 553 grams of gold, 13 725 069 grams of silver and 5 840 593 kilograms of copper from a total of 152 668 tonnes mined. The Richard III mine produced, in three years between 1903 and 1907, 22 830 grams of gold, 522 714 grams of silver and 113 604 kilograms of copper from a total of 4903 tonnes of ore mined (Mineral Policy data).

In 1926, Ladysmith Tidwater Smelters Ltd. acquired the assets of Tyee mine and smelter and leased the Lenora. An adit was started on the Lenora to connect both mines. The following year, the lease on the Lenora was dropped and work ceased.

In 1939 and 1940, Sheep Creek Gold Mines Ltd. optioned the Lenora (MINFILE 092B 001), Tyee (MINFILE 092B 002]) and Richard III (MINFILE 092B 003) mines and are reported to have conducted a significant amount of diamond drilling and underground development before the option was dropped due to low zinc prices.

In 1942, the mines were taken over by Twin J Mines Ltd. and over the next two years programs of drilling and sampling, underground rehabilitation and mine site preparation were conducted. Milling began in mid-1943 with operations being suspended in 1944. In 1946, the mining and milling resumed after underground development was re-timbered and continued until September 1947. In 1949, the property was taken over by Vancouver Island Base Metals Ltd. who repaired the Tyee shaft, re-timbered tunnels and continued underground development and diamond drilling. The Mine was re-opened in 1951 with a modest exploration and development program being carried out before closing in January 1952.

The three mines (Lenora [MINFILE 092B 001], Tyee [MINFILE 092B 002] and Richard III [MINFILE 092B 003]) were amalgamated and operated intermittently between 1942 and 1952 as the Twin J mine. From a total of 48 082 tonnes mined, the operation produced 63 730 grams of gold, 2 002 971 grams of silver, 364 755 kilograms of copper, 164 587 kilograms of lead, 1 926 111 kilograms of zinc and 4546 kilograms of cadmium (Mineral Policy data).

During 1964 through 1966, the area was held and explored by Mt. Sicker Mines Ltd. In 1967 and 1968, Mt. Sicker Mines conducted programs of geological mapping, a 48.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and a 3.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the Mt. Sicker property.

At this time, the Tyee, Upper Lenora and Lower Lenora dumps were estimated to contain approximately 45 360 to 136 080 tonnes averaging 0.48 per cent copper; 18 150 to 45 360 tonnes averaging 0.22 per cent copper and an unknown scattered tonnage averaging 0.17 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 1104).

Based on mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, trenching and diamond drilling from 1967 to 1970, ore reserves were estimated at 317 485 tonnes grading 1.6 per cent copper, 4.11 grams per tonne gold, 140.54 grams per tonne silver, 0.65 per cent lead and 6.6 per cent zinc (Northern Miner - September 25, 1969).

In 1972, Duncanex Resources completed a program of prospecting, line-cutting, geological mapping and a 34.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the surrounding area as the CF Group. In 1974, Dresser Ind. completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 830.0 metres, on the Lenora property. During 1978 through 1980, S.E.R.E.M. Limited completed programs of geological mapping, ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling and seven diamond drill holes, totalling 1235.9 metres, on the surrounding area as the Rocky claims.

In 1984, Falconbridge Copper completed two diamond drill holes (MTS-4 and -5), totalling 394.1 metres, immediately south of the Lenora claim to test the Lenora-Tyee Horizon below and west of the historical workings but failed to intersect any significant mineralization and no assays were reported. In 1986, Falconbridge Copper completed a 23.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area. Also at this time a single diamond drill hole (MTS-17) was completed on the Herbert claim to the south of the Lenora occurrence.

During 1987 through 1990, Minnova completed programs of geochemical sampling and at least 27 diamond drill holes, totalling 7073.0 metres, on the area as the Mount Sicker and Twin properties.

In 2008, Westridge Resources completed a 440.3 line-kilometre airborne geophysical (magnetic and electromagnetic) survey on the area as part of the Fortuna property.

In 2010 and 2011, Rock-Con Resources completed a program of prospecting and rock sampling on the Mount Sicker property. Two 6-metre chip samples (5D and 7D) from the Lenora pit, near the main Lenora adit, assayed 21.10 and 4.8 grams per tonne gold, 113 and 176 grams per tonne silver, 0.21 and 2.78 per cent lead, 3.23 and 1.19 per cent copper with 10.45 and 13.85 per cent zinc, respectively (Assessment Report 32278). Also at this time, three grab samples (1.9, 2.9 and 4.9) from float rock at the Lenora No. 2 (Green Water) adit yielded from 2.21 to 13.40 grams per tonne gold, 128 to 337 grams per tonne silver, 2.29 to 17.95 per cent copper, 0.02 to 2.04 per cent lead and 0.69 to 15.15 per cent zinc, and a nearby rock chip sample from a mineralized road outcrop assayed 6.09 grams per tonne gold, 212 grams per tonne silver, 9.55 per cent copper, 0.70 per cent lead and 9.22 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 32278).

In 2013 and 2014, Conarry Ventures Inc. conducted programs of prospecting and rock sampling on the area as the Mount Sicker property.

In 2020, 911 Mining Co. conducted a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock and silt) sampling on the surrounding area as the Mount Sicker property. Two samples (S45 and S46) of blue clay from the Lenora tailings area yielded 0.13 and 0.43 per cent copper with 0.10 and 0.23 per cent zinc (Portable-XRF assay; Assessment Report 39405).

In 2021 and 2022, Scenc Resources Corp. completed a minor program of geological mapping, rock sampling, a 1.8 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and four backpack drill holes, totalling 14.9 metres, on the Mount Sicker property. Twelve samples (three outcrop and nine float) from the Lenora occurrence area yielded from 0.49 to 10.65 per cent copper, 0.02 to 10.60 per cent lead, 0.24 to 24.2 per cent zinc, 29 to 397 grams per tonne silver and 0.37 to 23.3 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 40298).

Later in 2022, Sasquatch Resources Corp. completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping, drillcore and rock sampling and a 418.2 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic survey on the Mount Sicker property. Sampling of the previous years’ drillcores from the Lenora Copper and Portal areas yielded intercepts of 6.32 per cent copper, 0.13 per cent lead, 4.03 per cent zinc, 125.0 grams per tonne silver and 9.95 grams per tonne gold over 6.1 metres in hole BD22-001 and 2.15 per cent copper, 0.96 per cent lead, 12.26 per cent zinc, 84.7 grams per tonne silver and 3.48 grams per tonne gold over 3.15 metres in hole BD22-002 (Assessment Report 41178).