The area of the Sugar 8NE occurrence is underlain by sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Stuhini Group. These are intruded by Triassic to Tertiary dioritic putons of the Coast Plutonic Complex, to the immediate east, and the Middle Jurassic Warm Springs Mountain Pluton, consisting of monzodiorite to gabbro, to the immediate south. Feldspar porphyry dikes and plugs are mapped within several hundred metres of the occurrence.

A grab of a fracture controlled 1 centimetre-wide quartz vein containing semi-massive sphalerite and chalcopyrite assayed 3 parts per billion gold, 1.4 grams per tonne silver, 0.2 per cent copper and 3.3 per cent zinc (Sample 30641, Assessment Report 20192). A 1.5 metre chip sample across the hornfelsed host of sample 30641 that included the veinlet assayed 3 parts per billion gold, 0.8 gram per tonne gold and 0.06 per cent copper and 0.08 per cent zinc (Sample 30642, Assessment Report 20192).

Twelve claims covering an area of 6 kilometres (east-west) by 15 kilometres (north south) were staked as the Sugar 1-12 claim group in 1988 by Lacana Exploration Inc, a subsidiary of Corona Corporation. Prospecting in 1988 by Lacana on the Sugar 1-12 claims resulted in the collection of 299 rock samples and 15 silt samples. In 1989, Lacana prospected, mapped the claims and collected 259 rock samples. Thirteen areas (or “showings”) of interest were reported by Lacana.