The Abbott (NW TR [West]) occurrence is located on a northwest-trending ridge, south of Skuhun Creek and at an elevation of approximately 1400 metres.

The area is directly underlain by Border phase monzonites of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith, and to the east by Chataway phase granodiorites. The batholith intrudes Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanics and sediments to the southwest. Nicola Group outcrops are sparse and tend to be chloritized or schistose. Flat-laying Middle and Upper Cretaceous Spences Bridge Group porphyritic andesites form cliffs to the south.

Locally, at the Northwest Trenches (West) zone, mafic-rich quartz diorite to diorite with carbonate veins hosts chalcopyrite-bornite-pyrite-malachite mineralization occurring as patches and as disseminations in fractures and veins.

In 2009, two historical trenches were identified and sampled. The first trench exposed a 0.5-metre wide fracture zone with porphyry-style copper mineralization and assayed 1.14 per cent copper and 21.2 grams per tonne silver, whereas the second trench exposed malachite mineralization along a 1-metre shear and assayed 0.434 per cent copper and 3.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 31401).

In 2012, a grab sample (3593627) assayed 1.51 per cent copper and 15.7 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 33522).

In 2013, two grab samples (WV13-R08 and -R09) assayed 0.342 and 0.167 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 34641).

In 2014, a grab sample (WV14-R08) from a historical trench yielded 2 per cent copper (Assessment Report 35321).

Work History

Historical trenches are reported near the occurrence and may relate to previous work on the Tar (MINFILE 092ISW001) occurrence to the northwest.

In 1969 and 1971, Croyden Mines Ltd. completed programs of soil sampling and a ground magnetic survey on the area as the JT, LD, and TN claims. Also in 1969, Cominco completed a program of geological mapping and an induced polarization survey on the area immediately northeast as the Highland Queen property.

In 2007 and 2008, Appleton Exploration completed programs of prospecting and soil sampling on the area as the Clapperton property.

In 2009, Christopher James Gold Corp. completed a program of rock, silt, and soil sampling on the area as the Craigmont West property.

During late 2008 through 2012, Happy Creek Minerals completed programs of geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling, geological mapping, three diamond drill holes, totalling 740.9 metres, an induced polarization survey and a 1463.0 line-kilometre airborne gamma ray spectrometer and magnetic survey on the area as the West Valley and Abbott properties.

During 2013 through 2019, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling, a 32.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and re-interpretation of historical airborne geophysical data on the area as part of the Rateria-West Valley property.