The Abbott East (NW TR [East]) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1420 metres on a southwest-trending ridge, approximately 2.3 kilometres west of the south end of Abbott Lake.
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 a hornblende-biotite granodiorite hosts fractures with chlorite-epidote-sericite-quartz fillings with cross-cutting veinlets of malachite-chalcopyrite-bornite. Immediately west of the occurrence the area is cut by the north-south–trending Lornex fault.
In 2013, two grab samples (WV13-R06 and -R07) yielded 0.330 and 0.525 per cent copper (Assessment Report 34641).
In 2019, a sample (4370) from the mineralized zone yielded 1.31 per cent copper and 6.4 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 38907).
Approximately 500 metres west of the previous mineralized zone, historical trenches expose a fractured medium to coarse-grained biotite granodiorite which is reported to appear to be an intrusive breccia. Fracture fillings comprise chlorite, epidote, potassium feldspar, quartz and iron oxide with trace chalcopyrite, pyrite and native copper.
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.
