The CM property is underlain by oceanic, mafic volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Devonian to Permian Fennell Formation (Slide Mountain Group). Copper, zinc and precious metals mineralization has been identified at the Upper and Lower showings, where it is hosted in a chert/argillite horizon within tholeiitic basaltic rocks. Delineation of the mineralized horizon by diamond drilling has been difficult due to intense faulting and fracturing of the rock near the showings. High-grade copper has also been identified at the Gold zone, located about 600 metres south of the Upper/Lower showings, but it has been difficult to trace and its genesis is not fully understood.

The mafic volcanic rocks are pervasively weakly chloritized with local epidote and silica alteration indicating regional greenschist facies metamorphism. Rare, patchy dolomitization of the mafic volcanic rocks is observed as an orange-brown discolouration at scattered locations on the property, especially in the Gold zone. A zone of intense quartz +/- calcite veining with variable chlorite alteration and silicification occurs over a strike length of 1.7 kilometres and a width of approximately 150 metres. It occurs in pillowed and variolitic basalt in the stratigraphic footwall to the chert/argillite horizon that hosts the Lower and Upper showings. Examination of drill core from the Upper and Lower showings revealed the basalt in the vicinity of the mineralized zone to be intensely silicified.

Sulphides at the Lower showing consist of semimassive to disseminated pyrite with lesser chalcopyrite and sphalerite in a chert/argillite unit. Surface trenching by previous workers yielded up to 5.7 per cent copper, 29.7 grams per tonne silver and 2.95 grams per tonne gold over 3.4 metres. In 1994, a grab sample across 2 metres of massive sulphides at the Lower showing analysed 8.6 per cent copper, 0.39 per cent zinc, 4.23 grams per tonne gold and 30 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 23155). The Upper showing consists of massive magnetite with up to 10 per cent disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite in chert. Previous trenching of the massive magnetite yielded 0.4 per cent copper and 2 grams per tonne gold over 3 metres (Assessment Report 24180).

The Gold zone is characterized by vuggy quartz-carbonate fracture-filling which is anomalous in gold and may represent a late stage epithermal event. The mafic volcanic rocks have patchy dolomitization. Mineralization in drillhole 87-2 from the Gold zone consists of semimassive pyrite and chalcopyrite in a silica-rich sediment. The intersection grades 4.8 per cent copper, 0.2 per cent zinc, 14.1 grams per tonne silver and 0.12 gram per tonne gold over 2.9 metres. Numerous subsequent drillholes in the area were unsuccessful at expanding this intersection (Assessment Report 23653).

The Fennell brothers of Barriere and Chu Chua indicated to R.A. Buckley (1972) that they first staked the showing after a bulldozer had uncovered rust during the construction of logging roads in the 1950s. The river showing, however, had been known for some time before this and had been blasted and sampled by the Fennell brothers in the 1950s during their initial exploration efforts. A short adit and ladders to Newhykulston Creek, dating before the Fennell brothers' work, were observed by Buckley (1972). Dr. Lees in his report states that the property was acquired by Warner Holdings Ltd. (no date). Some packsack diamond drilling (6 holes) to a depth of less than 3 metres was done by Warner Holdings field manager, Mr. P. Connell. Core recovery was very low. Kel-Glen held the claims since early 1970. Rio Tinto Canadian Exploration Ltd. optioned the claims from Kel-Glen mid-1970, and drilled a total of 458 metres of "B" type core. Rio Tinto also conducted a limited geochemical, self-potential and magnetometer survey. Kel-Glen attempted to core the prospect in early Spring 1972. A total of 7 holes were collared, 121 metres were drilled and 31 metres of highly broken core was recovered. Recovery was extremely low and the results inconclusive. Dekalb Mining Corporation, in 1972, re-evaluated the Rio Tinto core (still available on the property), and conducted trenching, limited geological mapping and 552 metres of diamond drilling in 10 holes. In 1978, the BM and Nook claims were staked on behalf of Marston Fennell and in 1979 Noranda Exploration Company Limited established a control grid and conducted soil sampling (1021 samples), airborne VLF-EM survey, and vertical shootback electromagnetic and magnetometer surveys (48 kilometres). In 1979, Craigmont flew a Dighem III survey (2274 kilometres of magnetic and electromagnetic data collection) covering all of the Fennell Formation between Barriere and Clearwater. In 1985, BP Resources Canada Limited staked the CM claims which covered the original showings and established four small grids (22 kilometres) and conducted a Max/Min II electromagnetic and magnetometer survey. During 1986-87, BP carried out linecutting (7.3 kilometres), geological mapping, diamond drilling of two holes totalling 243 metres, soil geochemical survey (563 samples), Max/Min II electromagnetic survey (6.6 kilometres), induced polarization survey, trenching and magnetometer survey. In 1988, geological mapping, Max/Min II electromagnetic survey (3 kilometres), diamond drilling of 17 holes totalling 1985 metres, soil sampling (150 samples) and 9 trenches totalling 355 metres was carried out by Skylark Resources Ltd. on behalf of BP Resources Canada Limited. In 1989, Minnova Inc. carried out 25.7 kilometres of grid work, geological mapping, rock (204) and soil (992) sampling, 26 kilometres of Max/Min II electromagnetic and magnetic survey, minor trenching and 5 diamond-drill holes totalling 594 metres. In 1993, Inco Exploration and Technical Services Limited performed geological mapping and lithogeochemical sampling (35 rocks) on behalf of owner, S.J. Hoffman. In 1994, Inco Exploration and Technical Services Inc. carried out geological mapping, lithogeochemical sampling (140 rocks), linecutting (28.6 kilometres) and Max/Min II electromagnetic and magnetic surveys (38 kilometres). In 1995, Inco Limited carried out diamond drilling totalling 1180 metres in 7 holes.