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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  30-Nov-1996 by Keith J. Mountjoy (KJM)

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NMI 082E6 Ag1
Name OPULENCE (L.1910), HARDSCRABBLE NO.1 FR. (L.3448), ROYAL BANNER (L.3452), OPUL 1-2, OPE 2-8, JR 11-16, SS 1-13 FRACTION, EL STAK 4 FRACTION, FEM 3 Mining Division Osoyoos
BCGS Map 082E021
Status Prospect NTS Map 082E04W, 082E05W
Latitude 049º 15' 06'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 119º 48' 04'' Northing 5459209
Easting 296166
Commodities Copper, Silver, Gold Deposit Types L01 : Subvolcanic Cu-Ag-Au (As-Sb)
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Plutonic Rocks, Okanagan
Capsule Geology

The Opulence occurrence is located at 1200 metres elevation west of Olalla Creek and 2 kilometres southeast of Olalla, British Columbia. The Opulence occurrence consists of two shafts and three trenches on the Opulence (Lot 1910) Reverted Crown grant and other shafts, adits and trenches surrounding the Opulence, including those on the Hardscrabble No. 1 Fraction (Lot 3448) and Royal Banner (Lot 3452) Reverted Crown grants.

In 1899, a 13.7-metre shaft was sunk into diorite containing native copper and copper sulphides. The Opulence claim was Crown granted in 1901. In this year, a 4.5-metre drift was run south underneath the shaft. Later, a second shaft was reported sunk 6.1 metres and copper sulphides in diorite encountered. In 1903, a drift was run 7.6 metres from the bottom of the first shaft. Native copper and copper sulphide values range from 21 to 30 per cent (Assessment Report 10678). The property lay inactive until 1969 and 1970 when explored by Lucky Strike Mines Ltd. The exploration program consisted of geological mapping, a geochemical survey and an induced polarization survey. Four diamond-drill holes were subsequently drilled. One hole intersected a 36.58 metre interval yielding 0.6 per cent copper (Assessment Report 10678). In 1982, Albury Resources Ltd. optioned the property from G. White and conducted an exploration program on the ground covering the Opulence occurrence. Prospecting was conducted on the Royal Banner and Hardscrabble No. 1 Fraction Reverted Crown grants.

Hostrocks of the Opulence occurrence are pyroxenite, dacite and diorite of the Middle Jurassic Olalla stock that intrude quartzite and argillite of the Carboniferous to Triassic Shoemaker Formation. Aplite dikes frequently cut the diorite. At the Opulence showing, the quartzite is described as fine grained with a grey mottled saccharoidal texture and has been referred to as granular sandstone. Weathered surfaces are often reddish brown with hematitic and limonitic staining. The argillite is fine grained, grey to black, often siliceous or calcareous and contains finely disseminated pyrite.

The diorite is thought to be the most significant rock type with respect to mineralization, with native copper, chalcopyrite and malachite occurring in the diorite of the Olalla stock. The No. 2 (Main) adit was dewatered and cleaned out in 1969 by Lucky Strike Mines Ltd. The shaft is 13.7 metres deep from which a 18 metre adit extends southward. Siliceous and hornfelsed argillite is heavily sheared and contains minor native copper and chalcopyrite with heavy malachite and azurite staining. Samples taken from the shaft by Lucky Strike Mines Ltd. showed decreased copper values with depth. Sample 2-1 from the upper 1.5 metres yielded 2.65 per cent copper (Assessment Report 1901). Sample 2-18 from the lowest 1.5 metres yielded 0.30 per cent copper (Assessment Report 1901). Sample 4760, taken by Albury Resources Ltd. in 1982 yielded trace gold, 14.06 grams per tonne silver, 2.53 per cent copper across 2 metres (Assessment Report 10678).

The No. 1 shaft is located 23 metres south-southwest of the No. 2 shaft. Samples from this shaft yielded copper values ranging from 1.17 per cent over 3 metres (Sample 17801) to 4.08 per cent copper over 1.8 metres (Sample 17802) (Assessment Report 1901).

On the Hardscrabble No. 1 Fraction, an adit was driven along the contact between diorite and quartzite. Porphyry-style mineralization consisting of native copper, chalcopyrite and pyrite was encountered. Sample 4761, taken by Albury Resources Ltd., in 1982 yielded trace gold and silver, and 0.192 per cent copper over 2.5 metres (Assessment Report 10678). Malachite and azurite staining were noted on surface. Several surface samples were taken near the adit by Lucky Strike Mines Ltd. in 1969. Seven samples averaged about 0.35 per cent copper over 3 metres (Assessment Report 1901).

On the Royal Banner, a trench was located which exposed altered pyroxenite cut by aplite dikes and veins with magnetite. Chalcopyrite, pyrite, malachite and azurite were exposed in the trench and is associated with a shear zone striking 048 degrees and dipping 75 degrees southeast. Sample 4762, taken by Albury Resources Ltd., in 1982 yielded trace gold, 22.97 grams per tonne silver and 4.84 per cent copper over 1 metre (Assessment Report 10678).

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1899-775; 1900-884; 1901-1074,1157,1230; 1902-184; 1903-175; 1904-226; 1906-170
EMPR ASS RPT 1899, 1900, *1901, *10678, 12123, 24415
EMPR GEM 1969-351
GSC MAP 341A; 538A; 539A; 541A; 628A; 15-1961; 1736A; 2389
GSC MEM 38; 179
GSC OF 481; 637; 1505A; 1565; 1969
GSC P 37-21

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