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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  22-Apr-2018 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

Summary Help Help

NMI
Name BANK OF VANCOUVER (L.3096), COPPER MOUNTAIN (L.3092) Mining Division Vancouver
BCGS Map 092G055
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 092G11E
Latitude 049º 34' 37'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 123º 02' 26'' Northing 5491596
Easting 497068
Commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Zinc, Gold, Silver Deposit Types L04 : Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au
Tectonic Belt Coast Crystalline Terrane Plutonic Rocks, Gambier
Capsule Geology

The Bank of Vancouver (Copper Mountain) occurrence is located east of Seymour River at an elevation of approximately 900 metres and approximately 1.3 kilometres south of Loch Lomond.

Regionally, the area is on the eastern edge of the Britannia-Indian River pendant, which hosts the volcanogenic deposits of the Britannia camp (092GNW003). The Britannia-Indian River pendant is mainly a calc-alkaline, subaqueous volcanic and sedimentary sequence of felsic to intermediate pyroclastics, flows, cherts, argillites and greywackes. The entire pendant has been classified as part of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Gambier Group. Cenozoic to Mesozoic Coast Plutonic Complex intrusives surround portions of the stratified rocks, creating screens or pendants. These bodies are oriented north westerly throughout the Coast complex. Pliocene to recent Garibaldi Group basaltic dikes and sills intrude both the pendant and plutonic rocks.

The occurrence area is underlain by granodiorite of the Coast Plutonic Complex, which locally contains large blocks of quartz diorite inclusions. Sulphide mineralization occurs as narrow and irregular stringers in a zone 3 to 4.5 metres wide in brecciated granodiorite. In places, the breccia zone is cemented by hematite, magnetite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chlorite, carbonate and quartz with minor amounts of molybdenite and sphalerite. Biotite and actinolite are also reportedly associated with the mineralization. Just to the north of this showing, small spherical specks of chalcopyrite occur in a granitic dike cutting the granodiorite intrusive. The dike contains numerous small miarolitic cavities filled with biotite, magnetite, pyrite and chalcopyrite. Mineralization has been traced for approximately 510 metres along strike and over 30 metres in width.

In 1952, sampling of the showings yielded up to 1.42 per cent copper over 3.0 metres from the No.2 open cut, 3.70 per cent copper over 2.4 metres from the No.1 open cut, 3.25 per cent copper from the No.3 open cut and 1.38 per cent copper from the ‘Upper South‘ tunnel (J. B. Thurber [1952-10-01]: Progress report on the Eastern Area of Britannia).

The following year, surface sampling yielded up to 1.4 grams per tonne gold, 21.9 grams per tonne silver and 3.0 per cent copper over 1.5 metres, while other samples yielded up to 0.35 per cent molybdenum and 0.15 per cent zinc over 2.1 metres (G. D. Markland [1953-01-01]: Progress Report on Eastern Area of Britannia 1953). Sampling of the upper south tunnel, at this time, yielded up to 17.1 grams per tonne silver and 1.20 cent copper over 3.0 metres, while sampling of the No.1 open cut yielded up to 2.05 grams per tonne gold, 46.2 grams per tonne silver, 3.70 per cent copper and 0.64 per cent molybdenum over 2.4 metres and sampling of the No.2 open cut yielded up to 8.6 grams per tonne silver and 1.42 per cent copper (G. D. Markland [1953-01-01]: Progress Report on Eastern Area of Britannia 1953).

Diamond drilling, in the 1960’s, yielded up to 0.4 per cent copper over 38 metres (Minnova [1990-02-15]: 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia).

In 1954, a possible resource of 181,437 tonnes averaging 1.08 per cent copper was reportedly outlined (R. Greenwood [1961-09-26]: Review of Reports on Exploration Howe Sound Britannia).

The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Britannia (MINFILE 092GNW003) mine. Past exploration has included trenching, diamond drilling, open cuts and two adits or tunnels. The upper south tunnel, located at 830 metres elevation, was driven for 13.5 metres, while the lower south tunnel, located 75 metres below, was driven for 75 metres. Another adit or tunnel is reported on the Copper Mountain Crown grant to the north. In 1963 and 1965, Anaconda completed four diamond drill holes. During 1984 through 1989, Minnova and Fleck Resources completed programs of geological mapping, rock sampling, and electromagnetic surveys on the area as part of the Fleck Option.

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1911-K292; 1913-K301; 1965-221
EMPR FIELDWORK 1980, pp. 165-178
EMPR PF (S.J. Schofield (1922-06-16): Progress report on the examination of Britannia Mine, *J. B. Thurber (1952-10-01): Progress report on the Eastern Area of Britannia, *G. D. Markland (1953-01-01): Progress Report on Eastern Area of Britannia 1953, *R. Greenwood (1961-09-26): Review of Reports on Exploration Howe Sound Britannia, Minnova (1990-02-15): 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia)
GSC MAP 42-1963; 1386A
GSC MEM *158, pp. 117,118
GSC OF 611
GSC P 89-1E, pp. 177-187; 90-1E, pp. 183-195; 90-1F, pp. 95-107
Ditson, G.M. (1978): Metallogeny of the Vancouver-Hope Area,
British Columbia, M.Sc. Thesis, University of British Columbia

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