The Manuel Zone geochemical anomaly is located near the head waters of Manuel Creek, approximately 8 kilometres east of Olalla.

The area is underlain by Eocene volcanics of the Penticton Group.

Locally, a zone of intense clay-silica alteration is hosted in the Kitley Lake member of the Eocene Marron Formation (Penticton Group), adjacent to a rhyolite dike. This zone coincides with a weak induced polarization chargeability anomaly in a larger area of north- trending magnetic lows, some with coincidental VLF-EM conductors (Assessment Report 23687).

The area was originally explored by Pacific Petroleum (Petro Canada) for uranium between 1976 and 1978. From 1989 to 1991, the area was explored as a part of the EPI 1-13 claims by G.F. Crooker. This included programs of geological mapping, prospecting, magnetic, VLF electromagnetic and induced polarization surveys. In 1989, sampling of rusty, epidote- altered Kitley Lake member volcanics returned up to 15 parts per billion gold, 0.3 parts per million silver, 400 parts per million arsenic and 16 parts per million copper (Property File: Lee, L. (1989-01-08): Summary of Field Visit - EPI). In 1994, the area was claimed and explored as the EP claims.