The Saddle showing is located approximately 850 metres south east of the past producing Thistle Mine (MINFILE 092F 083) about 20 kilometres southeast of Port Alberni.

Basaltic flows and pillow basalt of the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group) are underlain by a complexly inter- layered succession of volcanics and sediments of the Paleozoic Sicker and Mississippian to Lower Permian Buttle Lake groups. These include basaltic flows, agglomerates and bedded tuffs of the Upper Devonian McLaughlin Ridge Formation (Myra Formation), Sicker Group.

Chalcopyrite, and likely sphalerite, occur on fractures cutting basaltic rocks ("Mine Flow Unit" of the Thistle mine, 092F 083) of the McLaughlin Ridge Formation. A 0.9 metre sample assayed 1.1 per cent zinc, 0.04 per cent copper and 0.27 gram per tonne gold (George Cross News Letter #96, 1985).

Drilling in 1988 encountered strong chloritic alteration and semi-massive to massive auriferous pyrite. A sample (DDH 88-04, #147923) assayed 1.695 grams per tonne gold, 1.0 gram per tonne silver, 0.010 per cent copper and 0.0064 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 17661). Chlorite-epidote-carbonte-quartz alteration is also present in the area.

Nexus acquired the property in late 1980. In 1981 and 1982, Nexus conducted surveys in the Panther Road (MINFILE 092F 439) and Thistle mine areas. In 1983, the property was optioned by Westmin Resources Ltd. and an exploration program of geological mapping, soil sampling, geophysical surveys and 6053.9 metres of diamond drilling was completed. In 1988, Nexus completed 1205.4 metres of diamond drilling on anomalies previously not tested, primarily on the Saddle occurrence. In 1995, the area was claimed as the Thistle 1 claim and a program of geochemical sampling was completed.