The Sumas Sodaspar deposit is located about 9 kilometres northeast of Abbotsford, near Sumas Mountain.

The central part of Sumas Mountain is underlain by porphyritic meta-andesite and metadacite with minor breccia and arkose, of the Jurassic Harrison Lake Formation. Granodiorite to quartz diorite of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Coast Plutonic Complex is present on the east side of the mountain. A valuable series of shales occurs in sedimentary rocks that cap the southwestern end of Sumas Mountain, just north of Kilgard (see Sumas Mountain Fireclay, 092GSE024; Clayburn Fireclay, 092GSE004; and Richmix Fireclay, 092GSE005). This sedimentary sequence consists of more than 366 metres of interbedded shales, sandstones and conglomerates.

The Sumas Sodaspar occurrence consists of a feldspar (sodic feldspar) dike outcropping in a north-south direction for a few kilometres and is up to 200 metres wide and a few hundred metres in depth. The dike is surrounded by grey to pink, medium grained granodiorite and massive andesite and dacite porphyries. The dike contains at least two major phases. Most of the dike is porphyritic dacite with phenocrysts of plagioclase and quartz in an aphanitic green groundmass. The second phase is very fine to fine grained leucocratic dacite with fine grained phenocrysts of plagioclase and quartz in a groundmass of potassium feldspar. To the west, the dike grades sharply into andesite. The feldspar dikes are generally well jointed and fractured, breaking readily into resistant angular fragments which are now used locally for road construction. Limonite is common on joint and fracture surfaces. Quarrying has been done in the northeast part of the property to provide sub-base aggregate for nearby subdivisions.

Sodic feldspar (sodaspar), an industrial mineral, is the major source of alumina (Al2O3) which acts as a flux in the manufacture of glass, fibreglass and in ceramic products such a kitchen sinks, toilets or floor tiles. It also acts as filler for paint and asphalt tile. Quality Industrial Mineral & Supply Inc. is interested in developing the sodic feldspar deposit to supply existing market needs.

The critical factor in an economic evaluation of feldspar is the iron (Fe) content of the raw material. The Fe content of the rocks below the zone of weathering is lower than that of samples from near the surface. Thus, drilling has indicated that large tonnages of rock with iron contents of less than 0.35 per cent exist below surface. For most users of feldspars, allowable Fe varies with the intended use from: a) 0.25 - 0.35 per cent for fibreglass b) less than 0.05 per cent for high quality glass and porcelain c) 0.30 per cent for low quality glass

Chemical analyses on two samples, collected by Z.D. Hora, are as follows:

_____________________________________________
              OXIDES            WEIGHT %
              Al2O3             15 to 18
              Na2O              about 8
              Fe2O3             0.15 to 0.40
_____________________________________________

The results of iron analysis on 27 samples taken by J. Payne in 1990, indicate the iron content ranges between 0.19 and 2.33 per cent Fe2O3 with an average of 0.99 per cent Fe2O3 (Assessment Report 21633). Petrographic analysis of samples indicated that most of the iron was contained in minerals such as chlorite, hornblende and actinolite and to a lesser extent in pyrite and hematite. The intergrowth of these mafic silicates with feldspar, however, could make their separation difficult. The results of whole rock analysis on 8 samples were:

______________________________________________
              SiO2             77.34 -81.72
              Al2O3            10.88 -12.81
              Fe2O3             0.52 - 2.33
              CaO               0.28 - 0.78
              Na2O              4.20 - 6.30
              K2O               0.10 - 2.65
              TiO2              0.10 - 0.24
              P2O5              0.01 - 0.06
              MnO               0.01 - 0.02
              Cr2O3             0.01
              Ba (ppm)          141  - 2041
              LOI               0.3  - 1.0
______________________________________________

In an effort to evaluate Fe content with depth as well as geology it was decided to rotary hammer drill 10 widely-spaced boreholes for a total of 96 metres. Although the actual thickness of the dikes is considered to be a few hundred metres, a minimum depth of 50 metres was used. Geological mapping, drilling and measuring of exposed sections has revealed that 36 million tonnes of sodic feldspar material exists near the surface (Property File - Stage 1 report). Recent analytical analyses suggests that sufficient iron can be removed using a weak acid wash to produce a product suitable for high quality glass or porcelain marketing (Assessment Report 21633).