The Spring Lake (Ho 2 Ho 2) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 570 metres on a north-south-trending ridge, approximately 2.5 kilometres south of Tin Hat Mountain.
The area is underlain by multi-phased granodioritic intrusions of the Mesozoic Coast Plutonic Complex. Locally, the granodiorite is chloritized with epidote-coated fractures. Several west-northwest–trending leucocratic felsic dikes, of the same general age as the host rock, and late mafic dikes are present.
Mineralization occurs in four zones located within 500 metres of each other. In zone A, disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite occur in siliceous granodiorite. Minor mineralization is also present as fracture coatings. A sample assayed 0.32 per cent copper and 0.014 per cent molybdenite (sample number 7606165 in Assessment Report 6433, page 15).
Zone B contains molybdenite and magnetite in thin quartz veinlets. A sample assayed 0.71 per cent copper and 0.47 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 6433, page 14).
Zone C, considered the most significant, contains finely disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite in a felsic dike. Chalcopyrite, molybdenite and magnetite are also present in quartz veinlets in granodiorite near a felsic dike. Locally, the zone contains azurite and malachite on fracture surfaces. A sample assayed 0.46 per cent copper and 0.005 per cent molybdenite (Assessment Report 6433, page 14).
Zone D contains disseminated molybdenite and minor chalcopyrite and pyrite in a leucocratic felsic dike. Some rusty pyrite occurs on fractures. A sample assayed 0.07 per cent copper and trace molybdenite (Assessment Report 6433, page 14).
Reserves of 82 000 000 tonnes grading 0.3 per cent copper are reported for the Hi-Mars occurrence (MINFILE 092F 292) on the National Mineral Inventory card 92F/16 Cu1. This calculation may include the Spring Lake occurrence and the Ho 5 occurrence (MINFILE 092F 371).
Work History
In 1975, Newvan Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area as the IN and HO claims. In 1976 and 1977, Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. completed programs of geochemical sampling, geological mapping, test pitting and ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys on the area as the HO, IN and Spring claims.
In 2017, Straightup Resources Inc. completed a program of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Hi-Mars property. Two samples (No. 30 and 31) of malachite-stained rocks from an old exploration pit on the main (C) zone yielded 0.534 and 0.179 per cent copper, respectively, whereas a sample (No. 20) from a diorite outcrop located approximately 500 metres north-northwest of the previous samples yielded 0.216 per cent copper (Straightup Resources Inc. [2018-06-24]: Technical Report, Hi-Mars Mineral Property, Southwest British Columbia, Canada).
