The Skookum showing is located 13 kilometres northwest of Vernon on the north side of Newport Creek.

In the area, the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Nicola Group is in probable unconformable contact with the Devonian to Triassic Harper Ranch Group. Middle Jurassic granitic rocks intrude these sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Outliers of Eocene Kamloops Group volcanic rocks are present.

A shear zone and associated quartz vein within Nicola Group argillites and phyllites host silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper mineralization. A saccharoidal quartz vein, up to 4 metres thick; quartz stringers; quartz-filled tension gashes; and a graphitic shear zone host pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and native gold. Some sericite alteration is associated with the quartz veining.

The highest values came from the main quartz vein; high grade samples, containing 30 to 40 per cent sulphides (mainly galena and tetrahedrite), assayed up to 10,998 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 17928). Selected samples assayed up to 3 per cent copper, 10 per cent lead and 7 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 17928). Small shipments, from 1936 to 1969, totalling 195 tonnes returned grades of about 430 grams per tonne silver and 6 grams per tonne gold. Systematic channel sampling averaged assays of 150 grams per tonne silver and 0.4 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 17928).

The occurrence was first described in 1930; by 1933 a 15-metre inclined shaft and 9 metres of drifts and crosscuts had been completed. Small shipments, totalling 195 tonnes, were reported from 1936 to 1969 producing 84,414 grams of silver, 1,182 grams of gold, 45 kilograms of copper and 315 kilograms of lead. In 1980, M. Boe conducted a drill program. In 1988, Canova Resources Ltd. carried out geological mapping, trenching and drilling.