The Nancy showing is located at an elevation of approximately 1680 metres on a south-southwest–facing slope, approximately 1.4 kilometres south of the west end of Calling Lake.
The area is underlain by Bethsaida phase granodiorite to quartz monzonite of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith. Bethsaida phase rocks are typically leucocratic with biotite ‘books’ and minor hornblende. They are intruded by quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes up to 30 metres wide and numerous aplite dikes up to 5 centimetres wide. Guichon variety (Highland Valley phase) quartz diorite outcrops to the west.
Intrusive contacts to the west and regional faulting define a prominent structural trend striking 010 degrees. A distinct second set of shearing strikes 045 to 065 degrees. Mineralization is localized along faulting and is of higher grade and in larger bodies in the latter set. Jointing is well developed and varies in density, being more numerous close to faulting.
Country rocks are intensely altered by sericite and quartz with malachite staining on joint faces in areas of faulting and shearing. In 1956, trenching exposed the main, 5.8-metre wide, shear zone on the Nancy claims. It strikes 015 degrees and dips almost vertically. The fault zone comprises grey sericitic porphyry with a network of irregular quartz pods and stringers. Bornite veinlets (up to 5 centimetres wide), with minor molybdenite, are associated with the quartz. Thin, discontinuous films of bornite occur throughout the occurrence area along joint surfaces.
A smaller shear zone, approximately 2.4 metres wide, is located approximately 30 metres east of the main shear zone and dips 60 degrees east. The shear zone comprises four bands of silicified sericitic porphyry varying in width from 8 to 45 centimetres, separated by porphyritic granodiorite and hosting minor disseminated bornite with malachite staining.
Between the previous two zones, slightly sericitic porphyritic granodiorite hosts minor disseminated bornite.
Minor disseminated bornite and chalcopyrite occur in sporadic quartz and epidote veinlets in Guichon variety (Highland Valley phase) quartz diorites to the west of the occurrence, whereas trenching to the south identified a jointed granodiorite with minor malachite staining.
In 1956, a 90.78-kilogram bulk sample was taken across the full width (5.8 metres) of the south wall of the main shear zone and assayed 1.05 per cent copper with trace molybdenum, whereas chip and channel samples taken along the north wall of the shear yielded an average of 0.98 per cent copper over 5.8 metres (Assessment Report 170). Also at this time, a chip sample from the second shear zone yielded 0.22 per cent copper over 2.4 metres, and three chip samples taken between the two shear zones yielded from 0.15 to 0.20 per cent copper (Assessment Report 170).
Work History
In 1956, Laco Mines Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and trenching on the area as the Dominion, Nancy, Starnes and Terry claims of the Laco property.
In 1960 and 1961, Royal Canadian Ventures Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and a ground magnetic survey on the area as the Bon, Call, Cana and Royal claims.
In 1965, Cominco Ltd. completed a 12.8 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey, geological mapping and trenching on the Nancy, B.L. and Tom claims.
In 1966, Royal Canadian Ventures Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, soil sampling and a 19.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Cana, RC and Royal claims. In 1969, Great Plain Development Ltd. completed a 27.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the claims.
In 1980, Cominco Ltd. completed 60.0 line-kilometres of ground magnetometer and induced polarization surveys on the area as the Island property. The following year, 22.9 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveys were completed on the property.
