The Independence copper-molybdenum prospect outcrops about 1 kilometre southwest of the summit of Mount Henning, along the divide between Henning (Holm) Creek and the Coquihalla River, 18 kilometres northwest of Tulameen.

The area in the headwaters of Henning Creek is underlain to the west by foliated granodiorite of the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Eagle Plutonic Complex and to the east by andesitic to basaltic metavolcanics (foliated greenstone) of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. The contact between the two units strikes north- northwest (approximately 150 degrees).

The metavolcanics and granodiorite are intruded along the contact by an early Tertiary dike-like body of quartz-feldspar- biotite porphyry of intermediate composition. The body trends north-northwest for 4 kilometres and is up to 380 metres wide. This intrusion is in turn cut by feldspar porphyry dikes. These dikes strike northwest, dip southwest and are less than 1 metre to 6 metres wide. All units are cut by postmineral quartz deficient dikes ranging from syenite to gabbro in composition.

The feldspar and quartz-feldspar-biotite porphyries are mineralized with disseminations of pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor molybdenite. These sulphides also occur in quartz stringers and along fractures. Pyrrhotite, sphalerite, chalcocite, tetrahedrite and cuprite are also reported. The feldspar porphyry dikes are much less mineralized than the quartz-feldspar-biotite porphyry. Stronger mineralization occurs along the walls of barren feldspar porphyritic syenite dikes, where they cut disseminated sulphides.

Copper mineralization underlies an extensive area but generally grades less than 0.2 per cent copper (Assessment Report 55, page 6). A hole drilled 200 metres south of the main adit intersected 149.0 metres averaging 0.119 per cent copper and 0.011 per cent molybdenum (2.4 to 151.5 metres), including 57.9 metres grading 0.125 per cent copper and 0.020 per cent molybdenum (93.6 to 151.5 metres) (Assessment Report 707, hole no. 4). A second hole located 1530 metres north of the previous hole intersected 0.135 per cent copper and 0.0056 per cent molybdenum over 45.7 metres (9.1 to 54.9 metres) (Assessment Report 707, hole no. 2). Gold values in the order of 1.7 grams per tonne were reported in the past (Geological Survey of Canada Memoir 26, page 167). More recent work failed to obtain anomalous gold values (Assessment Report 17431).

Higher grade mineralization (0.4 to 1 per cent copper) is confined to zones of shearing or brecciation cutting the quartz-feldspar-biotite porphyry. Breccia zones are developed adjacent to and between feldspar porphyry dikes that intrude the main porphyry body. The porphyry is partially altered to carbonate, sericite and clay, and mineralized with pyrite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, malachite and azurite in these zones. A chip sample across one such zone, trending 140 degrees, analysed 0.54 per cent copper over a width of 12 metres (Assessment Report 55, page 6). A second sample across a silicified and carbonate-altered breccia zone with pyrite, chalcopyrite, malachite and azurite assayed 0.609 per cent copper over 9 metres, with silver and gold values of up to 9.8 and 0.126 grams per tonne respectively (Assessment Report 17431, page 8).

In 1958, drilling near the main adit is reported to have yielded up to 4.84 per cent copper over 3.3 metres and 0.80 per cent copper over 12.0 metres (Assessment Report 17431).

In 1972, two 6-metre chip samples from areas of stripping are reported to have yielded 1.12 and 0.94 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 17431).

In 1988, percussion drilling near the old workings is reported to have yielded up to 0.64 per cent copper over 6.1 metres in hole PDH-88-B (Assessment Report 24984).

In 2016, rock chip samples from outcrop near the historical workings of the Independence occurrence yielded up to 0.47 per cent copper and 0.016 per cent molybdenum (sample Q980327; Assessment Report 36939).

A second zone of mineralization, referred to as the Homestead zone, is located approximately 400 metres southeast of the Independence workings and comprises an altered quartz-feldspar-biotite porphyry and volcanic dikes hosting disseminated and fracture-filling pyrite, chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization. In 1997, chip sampling of trenches on the Homestead zone yielded 0.154 and 0.100 per cent copper over 6 and 18 metres in trenches 97-4 and 97-5, respectively, whereas drilling on the zone yielded 0.123 and 0.107 per cent copper over 7.62 and 45.72 metres in holes 580-RC1 and 580-RC2, respectively (Assessment Report 25293).

Another zone of mineralization is reported approximately 2.1 kilometres southeast of the Independence workings and comprises a shaft exposing a 7.5-metre wide zone of quartzose porphyry hosting low (approximately 0.1 per cent) copper values (Assessment Report 55 ). In 1965, a drillhole (No.1) located near this zone yielded 0.13 per cent copper over 15 metres, near the end of the hole (Assessment Report 707 ).

Work History

This copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit has been periodically assessed by various operators since first being staked in 1901. The deposit was extensively explored underground by Granby Mining, Smelting and Power Company Ltd. between 1906 and 1908.

As of 1913, the main workings on the Independence Crown grant included 305 metres of underground tunnels and drifts, 81 metres of shafts and a number of surface opencuts and pits. The main tunnel was approximately 152 metres long, with a 38-metre long raise driven to surface at the 119-metre mark of the tunnel. At the 110-metre mark of the tunnel, drifts totalling 148 metres were driven into each of the wall and one drift contained a winze descending for approximately 16 metres.

In 1948, St. Eugene Mining Corp. Ltd. purchased the property. In 1951, a geological mapping program was completed on the Independence property. In 1957 and 1958, Panamerican Ventures completed programs of geological mapping and six diamond drill holes, totalling 788.4 metres, on the property.

In 1964, Fort Reliance Minerals Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling and a 53.1 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the FRM claims. The following year, Bethex Explorations Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, surface stripping, 35.5 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveys and four diamond drill holes, totalling 550.0 metres, on the Independence property.

In 1972, Fort Reliance Minerals Ltd. re-staked the area and conducted a program of trenching and surface stripping.

In 1980, Nufort Resources Inc. staked the area as the CL claims and completed a soil sampling program the following year. In 1987, Grant Crooker completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Indy claims. Later that year, Odessa Explorations Inc. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the Indy claims of the Mount Henning property. In 1988, Odessa is reported to have completed three percussion drill holes near the old workings.

In 1995, Amex Exploration Services Ltd. completed an 8.2 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area. In 1996 and 1997, Nufort Resources Inc. completed programs of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, trenching and 10 reverse circulation drill holes, totalling 531.9 metres, on the property.

During 2014 through 2018, Tech-X Resources Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, 29.5 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveys and a 548.9 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey and on the area as the Thinne and LC claims of the Lawless Creek property.