The Copper Queen (Zones 8, 24, 25 and 26) occurrences are located over a 300 by 500 metre area on the western slopes of the White Range, centred at approximately 900 metres in elevation.
The area is underlain by Upper Triassic Vancouver Group rocks consisting of Karmutsen Formation basalts overlain by Quatsino Formation limestone. These are intruded by the Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite consisting dominantly of quartz diorite with lesser diorite and granodiorite. A number of skarn showings are scattered within all three major rock units and at their contacts. Several of the skarns within the Karmutsen basalts are conformable, occupying highly amygdaloidal flow tops.
The Copper Queen occurrence consist of 4 different skarn out crops numbered 25, 24, 8 and 26, from north to south, as reported in Assessment Report 8037.
Zone 25 consists of a series of small pods of magnetite skarn associated with silicification in a complicated contact area. The skarn zone consists of magnetite, garnet, calcite and pyroxene with pyrite.
Zone 24 consists of course magnetite occurring over a 5 by 5 metre area. A grab sample (13805) assayed 35 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 8037).
Zone 8 consists of a tabular skarn zone, gently dipping east and hosting magnetite with minor chalcopyrite and pyrite. The zone is exposed at the surface over 2 by 15 metres.
Zone 26 consists of an endo-skarn containing garnets, pyroxene, amphibolite, quartz and calcite with pyrite and chalcopyrite. A grab sample (13804) assayed 1.5 per cent copper, 161 grams per tonne silver and 0.7 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 8037).
In 1963, Mastodon-Highland completed a program of geological mapping and a ground magnetometer survey on the area as the Gam claims. During 1973 through 1977, W. Babkirk prospected the area as the Donner and Heber claims. In 1978, Mont Alta Projects Ltd. completed a program of rock sampling and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Donner Lake property. In 1979, CON-AM Resources optioned the property and completed a program of geological mapping, rock sampling and a ground magnetometer survey.
