The W. Vernon occurrence is located approximately 1 kilometre to the west of the northwest end of Echo Lake and is approximately 17 kilometres north-northwest of Germansen Landing (Open File 1990-17). This occurrence has similar regional geology to that of the Biddy occurrence (093N 114).

Sphalerite occurs as disseminated grains in fine-grained dolomite and/or breccia matrix in arenaceous dolomite. Galena primarily occurs massively with barite in small, localized shear zones with varying amounts of sphalerite. Silver, in the form of argentiferous galena, is generally very low-grade. The hostrocks are primarily dolomites and dolomitic breccias of the Middle Devonian Otter Lakes Group with lesser mineralization found within dolomites and arenaceous dolomites of the Silurian to Lower Devonian Echo Lake Group. Mineralization is typically found in the uppermost parts of the Otter Lakes Group, near the contact with the overlying shales of the Devonian to Mississippian Big Creek Group. A grab sample from this area analysed 61.22 grams per tonne silver and 5 to 7 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 16946).

Work History

In 1968, geochemical and electromagnetic surveys were conducted by Canex Aerial Exploration in order to determine if geochemically interesting areas were related to the local fault structure (Assessment Report 01653). It was found that geochemical results did not relate to the faulting at this occurrence. Extensive geochemical sampling and geological mapping in 1973 by Cominco Ltd some elevated zinc levels within the mineralization, but the dropping price of zinc and the discontinuous nature of the mineralization resulted in Cominco allowing the claim to lapse during the 1970s and early 1980s (Assessment Report 04815).

In 1986, renewed interest in the occurrence resulted in the discovery of unusually high germanium concentrations associated with the sphalerite mineralization. The limited success of solid geochemistry and geophysics as methods for discovering new and evaluating known showings lead to the recommendation that a drilling program should constitute the next stage in the exploration program (Assessment Report 16946).

Drilling began in September of 1990 through to October 1990, carried out by Britton Brothers drilling of Smithers, British Columbia, for the joint venture between Equinox Resources Ltd. and Daren Resources Ltd. Fourteen holes at nine different locations, totalling 692 metres, were completed. The mineralization was noted during this drilling process as extremely pod-like. The best intersection averages 4 metres of 4.9 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 20492).

A detailed compilation of historical geochemical soil sampling, as well as an air photo lineament study was conducted by B.K. (Barney) Bowen, P.Eng, of Surrey BC in 2006, and covered the Vernon area (Assessment Report 28634).