The Rusty Rock occurrence is located at approximately 300 metres elevation, southeast of the Chemainus River and approximately 3 kilometres northwest of Big Sicker Mountain.

Regionally, the area is located within the Cowichan uplift and is underlain mainly by andesitic to rhyolitic volcanics of the Middle to Upper Devonian McLaughlin Ridge and Myra Formations (Sicker Group). The local stratigraphy is disrupted by folding, faulting (pre-Triassic as well as Paleogene–Neogene), intrusions of gabbro and diabase sills and dikes (known as the Mount Hall gabbro) that are coeval with the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group).

Locally, a zone of oxidized schists hosts quartz veins, up to 0.6 metre wide, with disseminations and stringers of pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor sphalerite.

In 2020, three rock samples (S74 to S76) yielded from 0.12 to 0.22 per cent copper with 0.01 to 0.34 per cent zinc (Portable-XRF assays; Assessment Report 39405).

In 2022, two composite rock chip samples (RR1 and RR5) from the zone yielded 0.01 and 0.10 per cent zinc, 4.3 and 18.5 grams per tonne silver with 3.26 and 1.12 grams per tonne gold over 2.25 and 1.00 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 41178).

Work History

A 21-metre-long historical adit, likely dating to the late 1890s or early 1900s, is reported to have been developed on the occurrence.

In 1972, Duncanex Resources completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping and a 34.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the CF Group. In 1978, Union Miniere Exploration and Mining Corp. Ltd. conducted a soil sampling program on the area immediately north as the Twin E claim. During 1978 through 1980, S.E.R.E.M. Limited completed programs of geological mapping, ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling and two diamond drill holes on the area as the Rocky claims and Nugget Creek property.

In 1986, Corporation Falconbridge Copper (Minnova) drilled five diamond drill holes (MTS-10, -13, -15, -25 and -26) on the old Queen Bee Crown-grant area to the south to test the ‘Mine Package’ section of rocks. Also at this time, a 23.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed on the area. During 1987 through 1990, Minnova completed programs of geochemical sampling and at least 24 diamond drill holes, totalling 6319.7 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. 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 area as the Mount Sicker property. 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. 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.