The Hed prospect is on the south side of the Similkameen River, about 5.3 kilometres west of Hedley.

The deposit is underlain by rocks from the Whistle Creek Formation, which is divisible into three stratigraphic sequences, with the oldest being well-bedded massive tuffs of andesitic to basaltic composition. Higher in the unit, ash tuffs with minor lapilli tuffs and volcanic breccias predominate.

A carbonate-quartz breccia vein cuts argillite, tuff and chert in the lower Whistle Creek Formation. Fine-grained to coarse porphyritic diorite dykes of the Hedley Intrusive suite crosscut the strata and locally contain disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite. The vein strikes 158 degrees, dips vertically and is up to 15 metres wide (core length). Diamond drilling has traced the vein over a strike length of 55 metres. The vein is comprised of graphitic argillite clasts in a matrix of carbonate and quartz.

The breccia commonly contains 1 to 5 per cent disseminated pyrite, with occasional massive pyrite sections up to 15 centimetres in width. Minor black sphalerite occurs in areas with 3 to 20 per cent coarse pyrite. Gold values encountered in drilling varied up to 3.4 grams per tonne over 0.6 metre (Assessment Report 6060, page 17, hole 1-76, 16.8 to 17.4 metres). A grab sample of leached gossan developed over the vein assayed 70.15 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 6060, page 17).

In 2009, a chip sample (26836) from trench 8 yielded 2.05 grams per tonne gold and 4.7 grams per tonne silver over 0.3 metre, while a discontinuous chip/channel sample (26849) of outcrop assayed 1.26 grams per tonne gold over 1 metre (Molak, B.B. (2011-01-11): Report of Exploration on the Gold Hill Prospect).

Work History

The occurrence was first identified in 1973 and through 1976, Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, soil sampling and geological mapping and three diamond drill holes on the area.

During 1982 through 1989, Philex Gold and Energy Corporation carried out programs of soil sampling, geophysical (magnetometer) surveys, geological mapping and sampling over the old workings.

During 1998 through 2001, Philex and Primo Resources International Inc. continued programs of geological mapping and ground geophysical surveys.

During 2002 through 2010, Vega Gold Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, rock and soil sampling and trenching on the area.