The Melon occurrence is located approximately 7 kilometres east of the community of Horsefly and 33 kilometres southeast of Likely.
Copper mineralization is associated with the Triassic-Jurassic? monzonitic to dioritic Lemon Lake stock, which occurs within volcanic rocks of the Nicola Group in the central Quesnel belt. The stock has intruded Upper Triassic basalt and overlying Lower Jurassic breccias containing felsic volcanic and plutonic clasts. These latter breccias are partly coeval with, and form an apron about, the felsic stock. Both the volcanic and the intrusive rocks have alkalic to sub-alkalic compositions with shoshonitic affinities.
The volcanic rocks adjacent to the stock and parts of the stock itself have undergone propylitic alteration, characterized by the development of calcite, chlorite and epidote. Zeolite alteration in places may also be of hydrothermal origin. Biotite alteration and secondary potassium feldspar is commonly associated with copper mineralization in syenodiorite and monzonite. Copper mineralization also occurs sparsely in the surrounding volcanics. Weakly anomalous gold values have been determined in propylitized volcanic rocks surrounding the stock. Mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, pyrite and molybdenite.
In 1969, percussion drilling yielded up to 0.09 per cent copper over 7.5 metres (Property File - Mt. Calvery Resources Ltd. [1981-01-01]: Data Compilation - Lemon Lake Cu/Au Prospect).
In 1992, a drill hole (LRC92-3) intercepted 3.03 metres yielding 0.41 per cent copper with 0.96 gram per tonne gold and 15 metres yielding 0.13 per cent copper with 0.37 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 22850).
Since the 1960s, the Lemon Lake area has been explored for gold and silver potential. Historical work includes geophysical surveys, soil and rock sampling, prospecting, geological mapping, trenching and reverse circulation, percussion and diamond drilling.
In 1992, J.R. Kerr completed an exploration program of geochemical soil sampling, geophysical EM surveys and diamond drilling on the Melon claims. In 1994, Canim Lake Gold Corp. completed geophysical surveys over the area.
