The LAURA showing is located on Mount Franklin, approximately 550 metres southwest of the summit.
The showing consists of silver-rich mineralization exposed in several trenches located several hundred metres south of the HOMESTAKE (082ENE051) showing. The mineralization is carried by quartz veins which cut andesite and dacite of the Eocene Marron Formation, Penticton Group. These volcanic rocks unconformably overlay metasedimentary rocks of the Devonian-Triassic Harper Ranch Group. Granodiorite of an unnamed Middle Jurassic intrusion is found several kilometres to the south.
The origin of the trenches at the LAURA showing is unknown, but they were likely prospected by Longreach Resources Ltd. who carried out an extensive exploration program over this area in 1987. In 1988, Placer Dome Inc. optioned this property, known as the PLATINUM BLONDE, from Longreach Resources. Placer carried out surface sampling of the LAURA trench and diamond drilled 3 holes under the mineralized exposures. A grab sample assayed 56 grams per tonne silver, 0.14 gram per tonne gold, 0.0267 per cent zinc and 0.017 per cent lead; some grab samples assayed as high as 141 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 17273).
The drillholes, collared in Marron Group andesite, intersected andesitic and dacitic volcanic breccia and then an intermixed succession of cherts, shales, sandstones and pebble conglomerates. The sediments are deformed and contain zones of brecciation of variable intensity. The breccias are best developed in sections of cherty sediment. The intense silicification observed in the overlying trenches was not seen in drill core. Fractures are filled with calcite. Drillhole PDI 87-34 intersected a dacitic breccia, with some tuffaceous content, cemented by calcite. A 1.65-metre section (33.07 to 34.72 metres), which contained 5 per cent pyrite and a minor amount of galena, assayed 25 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 gram per tonne gold and 0.139 per cent arsenic (Assessment Report 17273). Chlorite is noted as vein selvages and 1 per cent clay alteration is present.
