The Copper King occurrence comprises quartz-siderite veins and veinlets hosting irregular blebs of chalcopyrite and galena with disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite. Chalcopyrite also occurs as fracture-fillings. Veining is within and spatially related to Proterozoic Moyie Intrusions (diorite dikes), similar to the Bull River mine (082GNW002). The dikes are within sediments of the Helikian Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup) which consist of argillite, quartzite and greywacke.

The vein closely follows a diorite dike, strikes east-west, dips 70 degrees to the north and can be traced for a considerable distance by a number of shallow diggings, including several small shafts.

Several quartz stringers cut by the lower adit carry values in lead, zinc, and silver. A sample of the best mineralization assayed: gold, trace; silver, 48 grams per tonne; lead, 10.9 per cent; and zinc, 13.5 per cent (Minister of Mines Annual Report, 1925, page 228). Chalcopyrite and galena occur in quartz-siderite veins in metadiorite dikes (Geology, Exploration, and Mining, 1972, page 44).

From 12 tonnes mined in 1924 and 1928, a total of 3266 grams (105 ounces) of silver, 31 grams (1 ounce) of gold, and 411 kilograms (900 pounds) of copper were recovered.

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Bull River (MINFILE 082GNW002) mine and a completed regional exploration history can be found there. A small amount of material was shipped to Trail for processing.

The Mabel and Chickamon Stone claims, owned by Johnson and Roberson of Fort Steele, were located on these showings (Copper King) in about 1896. By 1899 the workings on the Chickamon Stone claim included 110 metres of adit, 41.5 metres of shaft, and a 24.4-metre winze. The nearby Providence claim (Lot 6670) was Crown-granted to D.F. Desaulniers in 1905. The property was acquired in about 1924 by W.S. Santos of Cranbrook as the Copper King (Lot 3915) and Copper Queen (Lot 3916) claims. These claims were Crown-granted to Mr. Santos in 1925. Development work was carried out during the period 1924-1928 and small amounts of ore shipped. The workings in 1926 were reported to comprise No.1 adit driven on the vein for 82.3 metres, a winze to 23.2 metres, and a crosscut adit, 42.7 metres below No.1 adit, driven for 106 metres. The New Max 1-8, New Dam 1-6, and Providence claims were acquired by Placid Oil Company in about 1970. Work on the property in 1972 included geological mapping, an electromagnetic survey over 10 line-kilometres, and a geochemical soil survey comprising 1500 samples.

In 1972 and 1973, the vein in the upper adit was reported to be exposed for 80 metres and have a width of 0.3 to 0.6 metre and grade 1.2 per cent copper (Bird, S. (2019-01-22): NI43-101 Technical Report - Gallowai-Bul River Resource Estimate). In 1972, geological field mapping and air photo interpretation was completed on the New Max 1-8, New Dam 1-6 mineral claims and the Providence Crown Grant claim (Assessment Report 3700).

In 1978, an airborne geophysical survey consisting of infrared photography and ground VLF electromagnetic surveys was completed on the Steeples 1-30 claims for R.H. Stanfield (Assessment Report 7086). Results were negative.

In 1979, Bul River completed 3920 metres of drilling on the Copper King.

In mid-1983 a reconnaissance V.L.F. electromagnetic test survey was flown along northwest-southeast flight lines for R.H. Stanfield (Assessment Report 11681). Diagrams show that the far northwest part of the survey covered the Copper King and most of the occurrences covered by the 1991 Dighem survey.

In 1991, 1206 line-kilometres of airborne elctromagnetic (DIGHEM) survey completed for Bul River Mineral Corporation Ltd. (R.H. Stanfield) identified several anomalies on the Steeples claim block and portions of the Aspen claim block (Assessment Report 21155). The survey covered Bull River (082GNW002), Copper King (082GNW006), Cuckoo (082GNW028), Trilby (082GNW072), Old Abe (082GNW103), Bull River Gypsum (082GSW031), and Aspen (082GSW033).

In 2012, Moose Mountain Technical Services prospected and sampled the area. Sampling at this time yielded up to 1.957 per cent copper, 26 grams per tonne silver, and 0.351 gram per tonne gold from grab samples over a 3-metre length and a 0.35-metre vein width, while a channel sample across 0.65 metre assayed 0.851 per cent copper, 22 grams per tonne silver, and 0.477 gram per tonne gold (Bird, S. (2019-01-22): NI43-101 Technical Report - Gallowai-Bul River Resource Estimate).

Refer to Bull River (082GNW002) for details of the greater Bull River property which contained the Copper King past producer and a minimum of 25 documented mineral occurrences as of October 2022.