The Pemberton occurrence is located on a south to southwest facing slope on the southwest side of Pemberton Hills, approximately 21.5 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy.

The area is underlain by mafic and felsic volcanic rocks of the Middle Jurassic Holberg volcanic unit (Bonanza Group) which have been intruded by quartz diorite to granodiorite of the Lower to Middle Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite.

Locally, in the Pemberton Hills area, pyrophyllite-bearing silicified breccia has been interpreted as a volcanic centre (Geology, Exploration and Mining 1974, page 217). Additional centres are found to the northwest (Refer to 092L 078 - Hep; 092L 185 - Hushamu; 200 - Red Dog; 102I 013 - South Knob). Similar mineralization is found to the southeast in the vicinity of Island Copper Mine (092L 138) where pyrophyllite-bearing zones are exposed in the mine workings.

At the Pemberton occurrence, silicified breccia masses appear to follow a zone trending 285 degrees truncated by either diorite masses or Bonanza pyroclastics and flows. The breccias contain pyrophyllite, sericite and clay. Other volcanic centres are reported to contain zeolites.

The pyrophyllite has probably formed as a product of hydrothermal alteration during low grade regional metamorphism (Open File 1988-19, pages 16,17).

Pyrite is associated with the breccias. Chalcopyrite is present at others. The volcanic centres are receiving interest due to the potential of being bulk tonnage, low grade gold deposits.

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Hushamu (MINFILE 092L 240) occurrence and a complete regional exploration history can be found there. During the 1960s through 1990s, BHP-Utah Mines (later BHP Minerals Canada Ltd.) completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, airborne and ground geophysical surveys and diamond drilling on the area.

In 2017, North Island Mining Corp. completed a spectral analysis program on the area as the Pemberton Hills property. The following year, nine diamond drill holes, totalling 3401.6 metres, and a 13.8 line-kilometre induced polarizations survey were completed on the property. In 2019, a 20.5 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed on the area as the Pemberton Hills Property.