The HN-WEN occurrence consists of copper mineralization in an area east of the historical Aspen Grove copper camp, between Merritt and Princeton. The occurrence is centred on the lower (No. 1-Main) adit located at an elevation of approximately 1260 metres on a north-northwest–facing slope, between Quilchena and Pothole creeks and approximately 8 kilometres west of Boot Lake.

The occurrence is hosted in the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, which regionally consists of alkalic and calc-alkalic volcanics and intrusions of island arc origin, and which is the principal component of the Quesnel terrane in southern British Columbia (Geological Survey of Canada Maps 41-1989, 1713A). This belt has been of major economic interest because of its potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization.

The occurrence lies in the northern assemblage of the Eastern belt of the Nicola Group (after Preto, Bulletin 69). This assemblage mainly consists of well-bedded submarine volcaniclastic rocks and volcanic flows. The main Aspen Grove copper camp lies several kilometres to the west in the Central belt, separated by the north-striking Kentucky-Alleyne fault system (Bulletin 69).

The area of the occurrence is underlain by augite porphyritic volcanic flows of andesitic to basaltic composition, fragmental rocks including tuff and breccia, and argillites (Assessment Reports 1586, 4230). The argillites are dark grey to black, well bedded, and locally limy. They are somewhat carbonaceous and pyritic. Minor rock types present include feldspar porphyry and locally lenses of diorite. Approximately 2.5 kilometres to the northeast is the contact with the Early Jurassic Pennask Batholith, a large intrusion of medium-grained granodiorite to quartz diorite.

The contact between the volcanic rocks and the argillites passes through the centre of the mineralized area. The contact is parallel to bedding, striking 130 degrees and dipping 40 degrees southwest, with the volcanic rocks on the northeast side (Assessment Report 4230).

The mineralization is restricted to the volcanics and is exposed in three adits and at least eight trenches. The mineralization is marked by alteration, mainly epidotization, silicification, carbonatization, moderate chloritization and local pyritization. Chalcopyrite is the only copper mineral; it is disseminated or concentrated in quartz and calcite veins and veinlets between 0.3 and 30 centimetres thick, usually approximately 8 centimetres thick. Pyrite, pyrrhotite and rare specular hematite are also present in the veins. Locally oxidation has produced abundant malachite, azurite and limonite.

The main mineralized zone measures 760 by 90 metres and has a depth of about 75 metres. Diamond drilling indicates that it strikes 160 degrees and dips vertically or steeply east, so it is not parallel to the volcanic-sedimentary contact, indicating that the contact is not the controlling factor. Rather, the veins hosting the mineralization are structurally controlled by numerous faults and fractures which consistently strike 160 degrees and dip 85 degrees east (Assessment Report 4230). Incidentally, the Echo occurrence (MINFILE 092HNE059) lies on this trend, 2 kilometres to the north-northwest, and the mineralization may also extend south-southeast of the HN-WEN occurrence (Assessment Report 4230).

Later work, in 1996, identified three zones of mineralization, referred to as the Main vein and the Upper and Stockwork zones. The Main vein is located approximately 40 metres west of the Lower (No. 1) adit, and the Upper and Stockwork zones are located to the east-northeast and southeast, respectively, of the No. 1 adit. The Main vein comprises a chalcopyrite-pyrite±tetrahedrite–bearing quartz vein, averaging approximately 1 metre in width but varying up to 4.4 metres true thickness. The Stockwork zone comprises chalcopyrite-specular hematite±pyrite–bearing quartz-carbonate veinlets containing locally high-grade copper mineralization in a fine-grained porphyritic gabbro and adjacent to quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes, whereas the Upper zone comprises an epidote-carbonate matrix hydrothermal breccia with clasts of basalt and rare gabbro and erratically distributed chalcopyrite mineralization.

Further work, in 2008, identified the Adit vein, obscurely exposed near the portal of the Lower adit, which is up to 3 metres wide and indicated to strike east-west with a steep dip to the south. The Main vein was originally indicated to strike north-south but this later work indicated the vein may also strike east-west, paralleling the Adit vein approximately 35 metres to the south.

More recent work, in 2010, indicated that pods of primarily copper mineralization are hosted within three parallel en-echelon shear zones within a 100-metre wide northwest-trending structure, which is in part controlled or influenced by an andesite-sediment contact.

Historical trenches, located several hundred metres northwest of the lower adit, expose an altered and brecciated gabbro hosting quartz-carbonate±specular hematite veinlets with occasional blebs of chalcopyrite and frequent malachite staining.

Another zone of undescribed copper mineralization is reported on the former Wen 1 claim near the southwest edge of a small lake approximately 1.3 kilometres south-southeast of the HN-WEN occurrence.

In 1966, sampling of the adit yielded a weighted average of 1.5 per cent copper and 14.2 grams per tonne silver over 5.7 metres, whereas sampling of trench no. 3 yielded 1.30 per cent copper and 23.9 grams per tonne silver over 1.2 metres (Property File 801604).

In 1972, a chip sample from the No. 1 adit yielded 6.05 per cent copper, 10.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.7 gram per tonne gold over 6 metres, whereas chip samples from 6E trench yielded an average of 1.72 per cent copper, 37.6 grams per tonne silver and 0.7 gram per tonne gold over 4.5 metres (Assessment Report 4230). Both samples were from oxidized material and may not be representative of grade throughout the deposit. A grab sample from the dump of the No. 3 adit yielded 4.84 per cent copper, 46.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.7 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 4230). Also at this time, drilling yielded intersections of up to 0.08 per cent copper over 86.9 metres, including 1.12 per cent copper and 3.4 grams per tonne silver over 1.5 metres (81.0 to 82.5 metres down hole) and 0.84 per cent copper with 6.8 grams per tonne silver over 3.0 metres (34.1 to 37.1 metres down hole) in hole HNS 72-1 on the main zone (Assessment Report 4230).

In 1996, diamond drilling on the Main vein yielded 16.58 grams per tonne gold, 12.9 grams per tonne silver and 0.75 per cent copper over 6.57 metres (62.18 to 68.73 metres down hole) in hole W96-1; 0.13 per cent copper and 1.78 grams per tonne gold over 5.18 metres in hole W96-10 and 3.95 grams per tonne gold, 9.86 grams per tonne silver and 1.12 per cent copper over 2.36 metres in hole W96-16, whereas drilling of the Stockwork and Upper zones yielded 2.11 per cent copper, 20.1 grams per tonne silver and 2.61 grams per tonne gold over 3.35 metres in hole W96-3 and 27.7 grams per tonne gold over 0.53 metre in hole W96-15, both on the Stockwork zone, and 1.12 per cent copper with 13.0 grams per tonne silver over 0.76 metre in hole W96-13 of the Upper zone (Assessment Report 24800). Also at this time, grab samples from a historical trench (G) on the Upper zone yielded greater than 34 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 24800).

In 2000, a grab sample (11854) from a historical trench, located to the northwest of the lower adit, yielded 0.616 gram per tonne gold and 0.145 per cent copper (Assessment Report 26469).

In 2008, a drillhole (VRW08-02) on the Adit vein yielded up to 8.6 grams per tonne gold and 0.24 per cent copper over 1 metre of the hangingwall section of the vein, whereas the footwall of the vein yielded 1.1 grams per tonne gold and 0.09 per cent copper over 1.0 metre (Assessment Report 30728). Other drillholes testing the vein along strike and at depth yielded up to 4.6 grams per tonne gold over 0.75 metre in hole VRW08-05, 1.32 grams per tonne gold over 2.77 metres in hole VRW08-04 and 0.14 gram per tonne gold with greater than 1.00 per cent copper over 1.26 metres in hole VRW08-03 (Assessment Report 30728). Drillcore recovery was reported to be poor due to a high degree of pyrite.

In 2010, drilling yielded up to 1.06 per cent copper and 0.317 gram per tonne gold over 15.69 metres of highly altered, brecciated and silicified andesite flow, including 1.76 per cent copper over 9.15 metres and 4.317 grams per tonne gold over 0.46 metre in hole 10-5 on the South zone and 1.85 per cent copper over 1.2 metres in hole 10-4 on the Main (Lower Adit) zone (Assessment Report 32160).

In 2017, a float sample (J488625) of altered and brecciated gabbro hosting clots of chalcopyrite from a historical trench, located several hundred metres northwest of the lower adit, yielded 0.773 per cent copper, whereas an outcrop sample (J488626) of gabbro(?) with carbonate-specular hematite-pyrite veinlets, located approximately 550 metres south-southeast of the lower adit, assayed 0.425 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 37096).

Work History

Four adits were driven on the occurrence around the turn of the 19th century. The first (Lower-Main) adit is located at an elevation of approximately 1260 metres near the valley bottom and was driven for over 30 metres on a bearing of south 40 degrees west. The other two adits are located approximately 60 metres and 120 metres up hill to the southeast of the first adit and are approximately 9 metres long, each.

In 1961, Skeena Silver Mines Ltd. completed a 42.3 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the HN and Wen claims.

During 1966 through 1969, Consolidated Skeena Mines Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, soil sampling, a 71.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey and a 637 line-kilometre airborne geophysical (magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric) on the area as the Boot, Malachite, Chalcocite, Echo and Toe claim groups.

In 1972, Nitracell Cananda Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, ground magnetic, electromagnetic and induced polarization surveys, trenching and five diamond drillholes, totalling 885.0 metres, on the area as the Hill group of claims.

In 1980, Azora Minerals Incorporated completed programs of soil sampling and ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys on the surrounding area as the Salt claims.

In 1996, George Resources Co. Ltd. completed 16 diamond drill holes, totalling 1636.8 metres, on the Wen claim.

In 2000, Commerce Resources Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and silt) sampling on the area as the Au property.

In 2002, Lateegra Resources Corp. and Commerce Resources Corp. completed a program of soil sampling, ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey and six diamond drill holes, totalling 466.6 metres, on the area as the Au/Wen property.

In 2006, Victory Resources Corp. completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Wen claims. In 2008, Victory Resources Corp. completed a five diamond drill holes, totalling 271.7 metres, on the area as the Wen claim of the Toni property. In 2010, a further program of six diamond drill holes, totalling 702.5 metres, were completed on the Wen claim.

In 2015, Victory Resources Corp. completed a program of photogeological interpretation (lineament) analysis and a 1.2 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Snow 5 claim of the Toni property.

During 2017 through 2019, Victory Resources Corp. completed minor programs of prospecting, geological mapping and geochemical (rock, soil and till) sampling on the area as the Mal-Wen and Wen-Toe properties.