The Primer (North Zone) occurrence is located approximately 1.4 kilometres east of the south end of Missezula Lake and 34.5 kilometres north- northeast of Princeton.

This region in the vicinity of Missezula Lake is underlain by the Eastern volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising mafic to intermediate, augite and hornblende porphyritic pyroclastics and flows, and associated alkaline intrusions. The intrusions vary in composition from diorite to monzonite and are thought to be comagmatic with the Nicola Group, ranging in age from Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic. Much of the copper mineralization and associated alteration frequenting this portion of the Nicola Belt can be attributed to the emplacement of such intrusions.

The deposit is largely hosted in variably plagioclase and hornblende porphyritic andesite of the Nicola Group (Eastern Belt, Bulletin 69). A body of diorite and microdiorite, possibly related to the andesite, lies immediately northwest of the deposit. Short sections of schist and occasional hornblende porphyritic diorite dikes occur at depth in the andesite.

The hostrocks are hydrothermally altered in areas of stronger shearing and fracturing. Secondary minerals include chlorite, epidote, albite, carbonate, sericite and kaolinite. The andesite is cut by a prominent set of steeply dipping, north-northwest–striking shears and fractures. Numerous northwest- and northeast-striking shear zones are also evident. Gypsum (selenite) veins are frequent, while quartz and calcite veins are less common.

Mineralization consists of pyrite and chalcopyrite, generally as veins and fracture fillings, but also as disseminations and blebs. Gossanous zones of stronger shearing, fracturing and alteration contain 3 to 20 per cent pyrite, 1 to 3 per cent magnetite and trace to 1 per cent chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite to pyrite ratios are approximately 1 to 3. Malachite and azurite accompany chalcopyrite and pyrite in trenches with intensely fractured and sheared andesite. These surface exposures suggest stronger mineralization is controlled by shearing. Disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite are also found in chloritized andesite. Magnetite occurs as veinlets and is present in chalcopyrite seams in minor amounts. Chalcopyrite is also associated with epidote alteration and to a minor extent, carbonate-quartz veining.

Exploration work has outlined a zone of erratic copper mineralization with anomalous gold values that trends west-southwest for 850 metres and varies from 150 to 170 metres wide over most of its length. Diamond drilling intersected significant copper mineralization to depths of 200 metres.

In the creek canyon of Dillard Creek, approximately 1.1 kilometres west of the main mineralized zone, a series of east-west–trending and intensely oxidized and pyritized shear zones in altered and fractured andesites hosts minor malachite mineralization.

In 1962, eight continuous chip samples from trench 8A yielded an average of 0.24 per cent copper, whereas two separate but converging sections of six and four continuous chip samples from trench 7A yielded an average of 0.46 and 0.70 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 493).

In 1965, an angled drillhole (65-1) in the eastern part of the deposit yielded 0.47 per cent copper over 30.5 metres (L. Manning and Associates Ltd, 1968). The following year, drillholes 66-4 and 66-3, located approximately 90 metres west and 130 metres north of hole 65-1, yielded 0.28 and 0.34 per cent copper over 65.7 and 30.0 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 2354). In 1967 and 1968, two other holes (67-7 and 68-2), drilled approximately 130 metres north and 440 metres west of hole 65-1, yielded 0.495 and 0.119 per cent copper over 43.1 and 128.0 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 2354).

Unclassified reserves are 23 000 000 tonnes grading 0.20 per cent copper (CIM Special Volume 15, Table 1, Occurrence No. 20). Gold values in drillcore ranged from nil to 1 gram per tonne (Assessment Report 2354).

In 1987, a select sample (K0106) of copper (malachite?)-stained volcanics assayed 0.708 per cent copper, 0.033 per cent molybdenum, 3.1 grams per tonne silver and 0.149 gram per tonne gold, whereas a 3.0-metre chip sample (K0107) assayed 0.382 per cent copper, 2.6 grams per tonne silver and 0.210 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 17077).

A grab sample of brecciated calcic volcanics with abundant chalcopyrite assayed 4.81 per cent copper, 2.7 grams per tonne gold and 51.1 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21198, section 11.0 - analytical results, sample PN-R3).

In 2007, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of up to 0.19 and 0.17 per cent copper over 24.0 and 32.0 metres in holes 694-018 and 694-016, respectively (Assessment Report 31709). The holes were located on the southwestern end of the mineralized zone.

In 2008, chip sampling of a historical trench yielded 0.894 per cent copper over 20 metres, including 2.33 per cent copper and 1.39 grams per tonne gold over 2 metres, whereas chip sampling of a roadcut from the western end of the mineralized zone yielded 0.265 and 0.112 per cent copper and 0.17 and unknown gram per tonne gold over 7.5 and 10.0 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 31709).

In 2013, drillhole PR13-01, collared to test historical hole 67-7, yielded 0.10 per cent copper and 0.043 gram per tonne gold over its entire length of 460.9 metres (7.7 to 468.6 metres down hole), including 0.25 per cent copper and 0.085 gram per tonne gold over 123.6 metres (345.0 to 468.6 metres; Assessment Report 34889). The hole was terminated in a mineralized potassium feldspar–altered monzonite when further advancement became impossible. A second hole (PR13-02) collared at the same location as the previous hole, intercepted an andesite/diorite with monzodiorite sections hosting disseminated bornite from approximately 400.0 to the end of the hole at 821.3 metres down hole that yielded 0.075 per cent copper and 0.016 gram per tonne gold over 807.3 metres (14.0 to 821.3 metres down hole), including 0.206 per cent copper and 0.045 gram per tonne gold over 153.0 metres (668.3 to 821.3 metres down hole; Assessment Report 34889).

In 2018, two samples (D22 and D23) from a historical trench yielded greater than 1 per cent copper each, and up to 0.785 gram per tonne gold, whereas two samples (D7 and D10), taken approximately 450 metres west and 450 metres east, respectively, of the main trenched area yielded 0.117 and 0.110 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 37988).

Work History

The occurrence was initially staked and trenched by local prospectors during 1937 through 1941 as the King George group of mineral claims.

Primer Group Minerals Ltd. acquired the Primer property in 1961 and optioned it to McIntyre Porcupine Mines Ltd. in 1962. McIntyre Porcupine Mines Ltd. completed various geological, soil geochemical and ground geophysical surveys before giving up the option. During 1965 through 1968, Primer Group Minerals continued to explore the occurrence area as the Prime claims and completed programs of geological mapping, 15 diamond drill holes, totalling 1402 metres, and seven percussion holes, totalling 390 metres. Additional geological, soil geochemical and airborne magnetometer surveys were completed by the company in 1969.

During 1977 through 1984, Giant Piper Exploration Inc. (formerly Piper Petroleums Ltd.) completed programs of geological mapping, trenching, geochemical sampling and ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys on the area as the Prime claims. In 1987, Consolidated Silver Butte Mines Ltd. completed a program of soil and rock sampling program on the Prime claims on behalf of Giant Piper Exploration Inc.

In 1997, Discovery Consultants completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Prime North property.

During 2007 through 2010, Candorado Operating Co. Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (soil and rock) sampling, a 56.1 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey and 35 diamond drill holes, totalling 6881.3 metres, on the area as the Prime/Man property.

In 2012, Questex Gold and Copper Ltd. completed a program of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and an 18.4 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area immediately north of the occurrence as the Hit Aspen Grove North property.

In 2013, Sunrise Resources Ltd. completed two diamond drill holes, totalling 1289.9 metres, on the occurrence as part of the Man Prime property.

In 2018, Rene Bernard completed a minor program of rock sampling on the area as the Man-Prime property.