The Black Hawk occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1120 metres near the crest of an east-facing slope, approximately 19 kilometres north-northwest of Vernon and 1.8 kilometres southwest of Madeline Lake.

Regionally, the area is underlain by basaltic volcanics, mudstone, siltstone, shale and fine clastic sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, which are in fault contact to the north with greenstone metamorphic rocks and sediments of the Lower Paleozoic Mount Ida Assemblage. To the south, the Nicola Group rocks are in probable unconformable contact with Devonian to Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Harper Ranch Group. Cretaceous granodiorite plugs intrude the Nicola Group and Mount Ida Assemblage rocks. Outliers of volcanic rocks of the Eocene Kamloops and Penticton groups locally overlie the older units.

Locally, three zones (East, West and Quartz) of quartz-veined and brecciated shear zones within Nicola Group argillites, andesitic tuff, hornblende porphyry andesite and amygdaloidal basalt host gold, silver, zinc, copper and lead mineralization.

The (main) East zone is between 2.0 and 6.0 metres thick, averages 3.3 metres and has a variable strike of 060 to 135 degrees with a moderate dip of 40 to 60 degrees to the southwest. The zone is traceable on surface for approximately 45 to 60 metres. Mineralization includes fine-grained, disseminated to semi-massive pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, variable sphalerite and minor chalcopyrite and galena. Sulphide content averages approximately 15 per cent but varies up to 75 per cent. Some shattered quartz-calcite veins also occur within the chloritized shear zone. The zone is oxidized, and limonite altered.

In 1919, surface sampling is reported to have yielded 19.2 grams per tonne gold and 7.8 grams per tonne silver over 1.8 metres (Assessment Report 4797).

In 1969, two samples averaged 19.7 grams per tonne gold, 13.7 grams per tonne silver, 1.85 per cent zinc and 0.15 per cent lead (Assessment Report 2516).

In 1973, two chip samples yielded 11.3 and 16.4 grams per tonne gold over 3.5 and 4.6 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 4797).

In 1979, diamond drilling failed to intersect the main mineralized zone but yielded up to 1.7 grams per tonne gold over 1.2 metres in hole No. 3 and 0.5 gram per tonne gold over 3.45 metres in hole No. 2 (Assessment Report 7837).

In 1986, a chip sample yielded 8.0 grams per tonne gold over 2.1 metres from a short adit near the western end of the East zone (Assessment Report 15093).

In 1994, two channel samples from the east end of the exposed mineralized zone averaged 5.5 grams per tonne gold and 0.12 per cent zinc over 2.0 metres, and two chip samples taken 42 metres northwest of the previous samples averaged 9.6 grams per tonne gold and 0.40 per cent zinc over 3.0 metres (Assessment Report 23434).

The West zone is located approximately 420 metres west-northwest of the East zone and has similar mineralization. Sheared and altered volcanics (andesitic tuff and hornblende porphyry) and/or greenstone(?) host a 0.6 to 1.0-metre wide quartz vein. The vein and adjacent country rock carry fine-grained, disseminated pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite with limonite alteration. The shear zone strikes 330 degrees west with a dip of 54 degrees to the west-southwest.

In 1922, a sample from the West zone is reported to have assayed 10.3 grams per tonne gold and 3.4 grams per tonne silver across 0.6 metre (Assessment Report 4794).

In 1973, a chip sample across 1.4 metres of sheared rock in the footwall of the zone yielded 16.1 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 4794).

In 1988, a quartz-ankerite vein in the vicinity of the West zone assayed 20.8 grams per tonne gold (George Cross Newsletter June 24, 1988).

In 1994, a channel sample from the western side of the adit yielded 1.2 grams per tonne gold over 1.0 metre (Assessment Report 23434).

The location of the Quartz zone is uncertain but it is thought to be located approximately 230 metres west of the West zone. The Quartz zone comprises a 15-metre thick zone of ankeritic carbonate-altered volcanics hosting a 3-metre wide zone of quartz veining, including a 1-metre thick fractured vein, with sparse or no sulphides. The vein(s) strike 140 degrees and dip 80 degrees east. Sampling of a trench exposing the zone is reported to have yielded 4.6 grams per tonne gold over 2 metres (George Cross Newsletter June 24, 1988).

The area was originally staked in 1899, and by 1902 a 3-metre shaft and 67-metre tunnel were completed. By 1919, two tunnels had been developed, one 92 metres long with a 12-metre long branch tunnel, and the other 30 metres long with a 15-metre long branch tunnel. Two short incline shafts, 1.5 and 4.5 metres long, are also reported. These workings were developed on the main (East) zone; a 3-metre long adit is reported at the West zone.

In 1960, the area was restaked and a limited amount of bulldozer trenching was completed. In 1969, Coin Canyon Mines Ltd. conducted a program of geological mapping, soil sampling and trenching on the area as the B.J. claims. During 1973 through 1987, Keda Resources Ltd., later called K.D. Resources Inc ., and its associated companies carried out programs of geological mapping, rock and soil sampling, at least 460 metres of trenching, ground magnetic and electromagnetic (VLF and Induced Polarization) surveys and three diamond drill holes, totalling 163.5 metres, on the area as the Au 1-19 and 100 claims. During 1988 through 1990, Antelope Resources Ltd. examined the property.

During 1994 through 1996, Coronation Mines Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, rock and soil sampling, a 3.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic (VLF) survey and a 164.0 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the FF 1-18 claim. In 1999, a 0.9 line-kilometre combined ground magnetic and electromagnetic (VLF) survey was completed. In 2004, a further 14.0 line-kilometre combined ground magnetic and electromagnetic (VLF) survey was completed.