The Man copper prospect is located approximately 1200 metres east of Summers Creek, 2.3 kilometres southeast of the south end of Missezula Lake and 32.5 kilometres north of Princeton.

This region along Summers Creek is underlain by the Eastern volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising mafic to intermediate, augite and hornblende 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. Much of the copper mineralization and associated alteration frequenting this portion of the Nicola Belt can be attributed to the emplacement of such intrusions.

Locally, the area is underlain by Nicola Group plagioclase hornblende porphyritic andesite flows and massive to crudely bedded lahar deposits containing pink syenitic clasts (Eastern Belt, Bulletin 69). This sequence is intruded by a complexly faulted assemblage of hornblende porphyritic syenite, locally grading to monzonite or syenodiorite, and hornblende porphyritic diorite. Various fault blocks of barren, unaltered syenite occur north of similarly faulted, altered and mineralized syenite. The hornblende diorite flanks the syenite to the southwest.

The mineralized syenite exhibits strong argillic and sericitic alteration and weak to moderate chlorite and albite alteration. The surrounding mineralized andesites contain weak to moderate, patchy orthoclase; lesser chlorite, silica, sericite and clay; and traces of secondary biotite. The intrusive and volcanics are commonly veined with gypsum and calcite, lesser quartz and minor zeolite. Some orthoclase flooding is developed along the quartz and gypsum veins.

The intrusion contains up to 3 per cent pyrite and up to 2 per cent chalcopyrite as disseminations, blebs and fracture fillings. Traces of bornite and chalcocite are also evident. Surface exposures contain abundant malachite along fractures in the syenite, and some azurite confined to narrow fault-bounded zones 1 to 3 metres wide. Neotocite occurs as small black masses through the altered syenite. Chalcopyrite is occasionally found in siliceous zones and quartz veins in the andesite, and along gypsum veins and chloritic fractures.

In 1979, sampling of trenches yielded up to 0.583 per cent copper, 4.1 grams per tonne silver and 1.4 grams per tonne gold (Sample 6798; Assessment Report 7584).

By 1981, diamond drilling and trenching had intersected significant copper and gold mineralization over an area of 260 by 300 metres. The bulk of the copper mineralization occurs in one prominent north-trending zone, 200 to 225 metres long and 10 to 30 metres wide, averaging 0.3 to 0.4 per cent copper and 0.31 gram per tonne gold with up to 6.8 grams per tonne gold over 3 metres in hole 80-1 (Assessment Report 13231 and 16985; Property File - D.C. Miller, 1988, page 6). The zone dips 75 degrees to near vertically east and has been tested to a depth of 230 metres. Drilling suggests that gold mineralization occurs in fault zones separating mineralized rock from fresh unaltered rock, and in narrow steeply dipping zones paralleling the main zone of copper mineralization.

Other specific drilling intercepts included 0.31 per cent copper and 0.4 gram per tonne gold over 6 metres (197.0 to 203.0 metres down hole) and 0.23 per cent copper with 1.4 grams per tonne gold over the final 3 metres (230.4 to 233.4 metres down hole) of hole 81-1, and 0.16 per cent copper over the final 9 metres (230.0 to 239.0 metres down hole) of hole 81-2 (Assessment Report 9367). These holes were located approximately 120 metres south of the previously trenched zone. Also at this time, sampling of trenches yielded significant gold values, including 8.6 grams per tonne over 5 metres and 3.57 grams per tonne over 14 metres (Assessment Report 16985 and 17077).

Additional drilling in 1988 and 1989 intersected mineralization over a 200- by 200-metre area to depths of up to 158 metres. An angled drillhole (321-1) yielded 0.29 per cent copper and 0.27 gram per tonne gold over 193.85 metres (15.54 to 209.39 metres down hole), including 1.52 per cent copper and 10.1 grams per tonne gold over 1 metre, whereas two vertical holes (321-8 and 321-7), collared approximately 140 metres southwest and 100 metres northeast of hole 321-8, graded 0.18 and 0.43 per cent copper with 0.10 and 0.21 gram per tonne gold over 68.58 and 11.72 metres (89.00 to 157.58 and 11.28 to 23.00 metres down hole), respectively (Assessment Report 18776).

In 2007, drillholes 694-007, -008, -012 and -013 extended the mineralized zone 150 metres to the southwest and to a depth of approximately 200 metres. Drilling intercepts included 0.35 per cent copper and 1.41 grams per tonne gold over 22.0 metres in hole 694-008, 0.21 per cent copper and 0.39 gram per tonne gold over 92.0 metres in hole 694-012 and 0.26 per cent copper and 0.46 gram per tonne gold over 56.0 metres in hole 694-013 (Assessment Report 31709).

In 2008, two diamond drillholes (858-021 and -022) on the northeastern portion of the mineralized zone yielded intercepts including 0.22 and 0.22 per cent copper with 0.61 and nil gram per tonne gold over 14.0 and 24.0 metres, respectively, whereas another hole (858-025), located near the centre of the mineralized zone, yielded 0.13 per cent copper over 44.0 metres (Assessment Report 31709).

In 2007 or 2008, sampling of a roadcut exposing copper mineralization yielded 0.109 per cent copper and 0.21 gram per tonne gold over 6.0 metres (Assessment Report 31709).

In 2018, a sample (D3) from a historical trench yielded 0.815 per cent copper and 0.142 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 37988).

Another area of chalcocite and malachite mineralization is reported approximately 400 metres southwest of the main mineralized zone, whereas two other outcrops, located approximately 800 and 1000 metres south-southwest of the main zone, host chalcopyrite mineralization.

Work History

In 1969, Pageant Mines Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling and a 386.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey on the area immediately north of the occurrence as the OB and OC claims.

In 1972, Belcarra Explorations Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area as the Nellie and Warm claims. Later than year, a 12.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 48.8 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey were completed on the claims. Also at this time, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. completed a soil sampling program on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Becki claims.

The occurrence was extensively explored by Newmont Exploration of Canada Ltd. after being initially staked and trenched by E. Mullin and W. Stevens in 1979. During 1979 through 1981, the company conducted programs of geological mapping, soil sampling, ground geophysical surveys, 3250 square metres of trenching and 2551 metres of diamond drilling in 12 holes.

From 1977 to 1984, Giant Piper Exploration Inc. (formerly Piper Petroleums Ltd.) completed programs of geological mapping, trenching, geochemical sampling and ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys on the area immediate north of the occurrence as the Prime claims. In 1987, Consolidated Silver Butte Mines Ltd., on the behalf of Giant Piper Exploration Inc., completed a program of soil and rock sampling program on the Prime claims.

In 1987, the occurrence area was re-staked by D.T. Mehner as the Man claims and a minor program of prospecting and geochemical (sitl and soil) sampling was completed. In 1988 and 1989, Brican Resources Ltd. completing an induced polarization survey and drilled eight holes, totalling 1508.7 metres.

In 1997, Discovery Consultants completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Prime North property.

During 2007 through 2010, Candorado Operating Co. Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (soil and rock) sampling, a 56.1 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey and 35 diamond drillholes, totalling 6881.3 metres, on the area as the Prime/Man property.

In 2018, Rene Bernard completed a minor program of rock sampling on the area as the Man-Prime property.