The Cincinnatti (Paycinci) occurrence is located approximately 1.1 kilometres west-northwest of the south end of Alleyne Lake and 3.0 kilometres north-northwest of the south end of Kentucky Lake.
The deposit is located in the southern portion of an area of hilly upland situated in the centre of the Aspen Grove copper camp, known as the Fairweather Hills. The Fairweather Hills region is underlain by the Central volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising intermediate, feldspar and feldspar augite porphyritic pyroclastics and flows, and associated alkaline intrusions. The intrusions vary in composition from diorite to monzonite and are thought to be comagmatic with the Nicola Group, ranging in age from Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic.
Locally, the area is underlain by red and green laharic breccias, augite andesite porphyry and minor sediments of the Nicola Group (Central Belt, Bulletin 69). The units generally strike north-northwest and dip east. This sequence is broken up into a series of tilted fault blocks trending north.
Hypogene and supergene copper mineralization occurs in green laharic breccia, near the contact with red laharic breccia to the east. This mineralization consists primarily of disseminated and fracture-controlled chalcocite and native copper, accompanied by lesser malachite and azurite, and minor chalcopyrite, bornite, cuprite and pyrite. Drilling indicates chalcopyrite becomes more abundant at depth at the expense of chalcocite. Weak to moderate epidote alteration and limonite staining are also reported. This mineralization is exposed along the crest and east flank of a small north- trending ridge over a north-south distance of 400 metres. Precious metal values are generally low.
In 1966, the occurrence was estimated to contain a measured, indicated and inferred reserve of 1.8 million tonnes grading 1 per cent copper (Assessment Report 24019).
In 1979, drill indicated reserves were reported at 54 000 tonnes grading 0.876 per cent copper (Assessment Report 7654, page 1). Also at this time, drilling to test the westward extension of the mineralized zone expose by the historical adit intercepted minor zones hosting chalcopyrite and native copper blebs from 42.6 to 51.3 metres down hole in hole 79-1 yielding anomalous values of up to 0.037 per cent copper and 28.0 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 7654).
In 1985, six rock samples (2051 to 2056) from historical trenches, extending for approximately 500 metres along a north-south strike, assayed 1.1 to 2.4 per cent copper, 0.005 to 0.010 gram per tonne gold and 1.3 to 5.7 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 14108, Figure 5).
In 1992, a sample (92022) from the Cincinnatti adit area yielded 0.198 per cent copper, whereas chip sampling of the Cincinnatti and Sherwin trenches, located approximately 100 and 300 metres to the south of the adit, respectively, yielded 1.25 and 0.29 per cent copper over 10 and 25 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 22382). A discontinuous chip sample taken roughly between the two trenched zones yielded 1.04 per cent copper over approximately 20 metres (Assessment Report 22382). Also at this time, a chip sample taken along the Cincinnatti trench is reported to have yielded 0.89 per cent copper over 49 metres (George Cross News Letter No. 90 (May 8), 1992).
In 1995, chip sampling (618-I, -J, -L, -M and -N) of trenches located near an infilled shaft or test pit yielded from 0.76 per cent copper over 15 metres to 2.99 per cent copper over 4 metres, whereas a sample (618-K) from the shaft or pit exposing a 2-metre-wide shear zone with malachite staining assayed 2.38 per cent copper (Assessment Report 24019). Also at this time, two samples (618-F and 618-G) from trenches located several hundred metres northwest and southeast of the previous samples yielded 2.06 and 1.13 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 24019).
Work History
The occurrence was first explored by the Bates brothers in the early 1900s. A number of trenches, and one adit, approximately 120 metres long, were excavated between 1899 and 1913.
During 1963 through 1967, Payco Mines Ltd. and Alscope Consolidated Ltd. conducted programs of geological mapping, ground geophysical surveys, trenching and diamond and percussion drilling.
In 1973, Gold River Mines and Enterprises Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, 39.0 line-kilometres of ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys and 15 drillholes, totalling approximately 1000 metres. In 1979, Sienna Developments Ltd. completed two diamond drill holes, totalling 150.0 metres, on the area as the Lisa claim of the Fairweather Hills property. During 1978 through 1980, Westward Energy & Resources Corp. completed programs of soil sampling and ground geophysical (induced polarization, magnetic and electromagnetic) surveys on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the AG claims.
In 1985, Vanco Explorations Ltd. completed a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Finn and Mickey claims.
In 1990, MineQuest Exploration Associates Ltd. rock sampled the area as the Ley 1-3, Al 1-2 and Ken claims. The following year, a 6.5 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed on the claims. In 1992, Pacific Copper Fields Inc. and MineQuest Exploration Associates Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the claims. In 1995, Discovery Consultants completed a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Payco 1-4 and Cincinnatti 1-6 claims.
In 1998, Christopher James Gold Corp. optioned the property. In 2008, Christopher James Gold Corp. completed a 1113.5 line-kilometre airborne magnetic-radiometric survey on the area as the Big Kidd property.
In 2011 and 2012, Xstrata Copper Canada Corp., on the behalf of Jiulian Resources Ltd., completed programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and a 56.8 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Big Kidd property.
In 2017, Cazador Resources Ltd and Richard Billingsley had a geological review of the property completed.
