The Fold 2-3 occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1100 metres in the eastern headwaters of Jesse Creek, approximately 6 kilometres north-northeast of the community of Merritt.

Regionally, the area is underlain by undivided volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, which have intruded by granodioritic rocks of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Jesse Creek Stock.

Locally, a marble unit is in proximal contact with chloritized and magnetic magic volcanics. The northeast-trending contact zone has been exposed by historical trenches along a 75-metre strike length. Two types of mineralization have been identified. The first comprises a crystalline marble with local calc-silicate (epidote-carbonate-quartz) alteration and patch quartz±carbonate veining with sphalerite. The second comprises a marble contact with massive specularite and/or magnetite skarn zones, up to 2.5 metres wide, hosting disseminated chalcopyrite and local malachite staining.

A second zone of mineralization is located approximately 250 metres south-southeast of the first zone and comprises a crystalline marble with local calc-silicate (epidote-carbonate-quartz) alteration and patch quartz±carbonate veining with sphalerite.

In 2001, a grab sample (19008) of the first type of mineralization from the main (northern) zone yielded 4.70 per cent zinc, 0.103 per cent lead and 0.088 per cent copper, whereas a chip sample (19011) of the second type of mineralization yielded 0.70 per cent copper and 13.4 grams per tonne silver over 2 metres (Assessment Report 26671). Also at this time, a sample (19001) taken from the southern zone of mineralization yielded 0.95 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 26671).

Two other poorly documented zones of anomalous mineralization, referred to as the Pumpkin and Vale zones, are reported approximately 1.3 and 1.8 kilometres south-southwest of the Fold occurrence. The Pumpkin zone comprises potassium feldspar, epidote, magnetite, chalcopyrite and malachite in fracture zones hosted by andesitic volcanic rocks, while the Vale zone comprises chalcopyrite and magnetite associated with epidote, chlorite and carbonate in a plagioclase-porphyritic andesite. Tourmaline-ankerite-specular hematite veins are also reported in this zone.

In 1976, a sample from the Pumpkin zone yielded 0.225 per cent copper, while a sample from the Vale zone yielded 0.300 per cent lead (Property File - 10176).

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Mike Grid and Magna Copper (MINFILE 092ISE151) occurrence and a complete exploration history of the area can be found there.

In 1972, Newvan Resources is reported to have completed a program of trenching and 495 metres of drilling on the former Val 5-6 claims in the area of the Pumpkin and Vale anomalous zones. No results of this work are known.