The Coke (KR) copper prospect is situated atop the plateau overlooking the steep east-facing slope of the Summers Creek valley, 31.5 kilometres north of Princeton. The Rum occurrence (MINFILE 092HNE099) is 950 metres to the south.

This region along Summers Creek 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 range from diorite to monzonite in composition 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.

Locally, the area is underlain by andesitic to basaltic flows, with lesser lapilli and crystal tuffs and minor sediments of the Nicola Group (Central Belt, Bulletin 69). This sequence is intruded by a north-trending, sill-like body of hornblende augite microdiorite, 3000 metres long and 600 metres wide. The stock is truncated to the east by the north-northeast–striking Missezula Mountain fault, a branch of the Summers Creek fault to the east, which juxtaposes steeply dipping lapilli and crystal tuffs with minor limestone lenses against the diorite. Rocks along the fault are strongly fractured and gossanous.

Mineralization occurs near the fault in the microdiorite and consists of pyrite as disseminations and fracture coatings and lesser chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite in fracture fillings and quartz-carbonate veins. Chalcopyrite also occurs as disseminations and in calcite and epidote veinlets. Malachite and azurite accompany limonite in surface exposures. Trenching and drilling has intersected significant copper mineralization in a zone up to 150 metres wide, trending north for 450 metres along the west flank of the Missezula Mountain fault.

Later work (circa 2015) is reported to have identified significant alteration and mineralization within the Coke system over 1.6 kilometres of strike length, including the Rum (MINFILE 092HNE099) occurrence to the south. Styles of alteration in intrusive rocks include pervasive quartz-sericite-pyrite, sericite-chlorite-pyrite to chlorite-pyrite, chlorite-epidote-calcite-pyrite (propylitic) and remnant potassic alteration (quartz-magnetite veins and possible potassium-feldspar). In the southern part of the system, quartz-sericite-tourmaline alteration and quartz-tourmaline breccias outcrop out over a width of greater than 200 metres. Approximately 250 metres east of the tourmaline breccias, heterolithic breccias overprinted by hydrothermal breccia may represent part of a diatreme. Hydrothermal breccias appear to be widespread and associated with silica-pyrite. A strong fault along the east side of the system (part of the Summers Creek–Alleyne fault system) overprints porphyry style alteration with strong quartz-carbonate and chlorite veining. Slickensided fault planes are common. Copper mineralization occurs as disseminations with pyrite, sulphide stringers and clots, and quartz-chalcopyrite veins and is associated with all alteration patterns except propylitic. The occurrence is interpreted to represent a calc-alkalic porphyry system.

In 1966, drilling yielded intercepts including 0.27 per cent copper over 18 metres (42 to 60 metres down hole) in hole A3 (Assessment Report 985).

In the mid-1970s, chip sampling of trenches is reported to have yielded 0.20 and 0.41 per cent copper over 51 and 24 metres, respectively, in trench 1 and 0.28 per cent copper with 9.9 grams per tonne silver over 24 metres in trench 4 (Assessment Report 6036). Also at this time, a diamond drillhole (K-4) is reported to have graded 0.23 per cent copper over 83.2 metres (29.6 to 112.8 metres down hole; Property File - L. Sookochoff, 1975, page 11).

In 1985, two rock samples (2039 and 2040) from the occurrence area yielded 0.449 and 0.237 per cent copper, 3.1 and 2.3 grams per tonne silver with 0.105 and 0.010 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Assessment Report 14141). Also in 1985, a sample (R8) of microdiorite with pyrite, chalcopyrite and malachite assayed 0.35 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 14304).

In 2002, drilling yielded intercepts including 0.19 per cent copper and 0.07 gram per tonne gold over 20.0 metres (16.8 metres true thickness, 94.3 to 114.3 metres down hole) and 0.13 per cent copper with 0.105 gram per tonne gold over 9.1 metres (6.2 metres true thickness, 80.8 to 89.9 metres down hole) in hole 2-11 (Assessment Report 26944).

In 2010, a grab sample (55104) from an outcrop of crystal tuff with pyrite and lesser chalcopyrite assayed 0.556 gram per tonne gold and 0.671 per cent copper (Assessment Report 31916).

In 2013, four samples were collected from outcrops and trenches at the Coke prospect and assayed up to 0.652 per cent copper, 0.233 grams per tonne gold and 52.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 34718; Press Release, West Cirque Resources Ltd., June 11, 2013).

In 2015, a sample (M457303) from the northern end of the mineralized zone assayed 0.990 per cent copper, 5.7 grams per tonne silver and 0.273 gram per tonne gold, whereas four samples (J486280, M457301, M457953 and M458626) taken to the south of the previous sample yielded from 0.351 to 0.666 per cent copper, 1.9 to 2.9 grams per tonne silver, 0.085 to 0.862 gram per tonne gold and 0.005 to 0.103 gram per tonne palladium (Assessment Report 36184). Also at this time, a chip sample from an outcrop with malachite staining yielded 0.36 per cent copper and 0.29 gram per tonne gold over 15.5 metres (Assessment Report 35886).

Work History

The occurrence was discovered by Plateau Metals Ltd. in 1962 and staked as the KR claims. The following year a program of soil sampling and a 4.6 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed. This was followed by an unknown amount of trenching and diamond drilling.

In 1966, Adera Mining Ltd. optioned the claims and completed a program of soil sampling, a ground magnetic survey and diamond drilling the following year before dropping the option. In 1970, Amax Exploration Inc. restaked the area as the Rum claims and completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys and percussion drilling. In 1971, Amax Potash Corp. completed a program of geological mapping, soil sampling and ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys on the Rum claims. In 1972, Kalco Valley Mines Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and trench sampling. Three percussion holes, totalling 235 metres, and two diamond drillholes, totalling 229 metres, were drilled by the previous companies between 1966 and 1972. In 1976, Ruskin Developments Ltd. completed a soil sampling program on the Rum claims.

During 1979 through 1981, Cominco Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and a 17.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the Rum claims.

During 1985 through 1987, Peter Peto completed minor programs of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and a ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the Coke 1-8 claims of the Rum property. Also during 1985 through 1987, Vanco Explorations Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area immediately north of the occurrence as the Bloo, Climax and Thor claims, and Laramide Resources Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping and geochemical (soil and rock) sampling on the area immediately southwest of the occurrence as the Sadim 1-6 claims.

In 1994, Harlow Ventures Inc. and Vanco Explorations Ltd. completed a program of rock sampling, trenching and a 50.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the Rum 1-8 and Sadim 2-4 claims.

In 2000, Max Investments Ltd. and Toby Ventures Inc. completed a program of trenching, sampling and a 27.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Rum and Sadim claims. In 2002, 12 diamond drillholes, totalling 1385.4 metres, were completed on the claims.

In 2004, William Richard Bergey completed reconnaissance geological mapping on the Aspen Grove property. Also at this time, Copper Hill Exploration Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and photogeological interpretation on the area as the Ketchan property. In 2009, Orofino Minerals Inc. completed a 922.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometer survey and minor sampling on the area as part of the Allison Lake property. The following year, Orofino Minerals Inc. completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling and 57.0 line-kilometres of ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys on the Allison Lake property.

In 2011, Moag Copper Gold Resources Inc. completed a program of soil sampling on the area as part of the Ketchan property.

In 2013, West Cirque Resources Ltd. acquired the Aspen Grove property, which consists of 37 mineral claims, totalling 5629 hectares, including the Coke prospect, and proceeded to complete an exploration program of geological mapping and rock sampling throughout the property. During 2014 through 2016, KZD Aspen Grove Holding Ltd and Colorado Resources Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and 27.4 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveys on the area as the Hit and Aspen Grove properties. In 2017 and 2018, Colorado Resources Ltd. completed programs of rock sampling and a historical induced polarization processing and inversion on the area as the Hit property.