The Marsellaise occurrence is located on the west fork of Jim Kelly Creek at 1478 metres elevation.
The area is underlain by sediments of the Lower to Upper Cretaceous Pasayten Group, which are composed of altered, fractured and fissured sandstone, conglomerate and pelite. These are intruded by foliated diorite of the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous Eagle Plutonic Complex. To the north of the showing, the upper Oligocene–lower Miocene Coquihalla Formation, composed of basalt, rhyolite, tuff and agglomerate, caps Coquihalla Mountain.
Locally, a quartz vein is exposed by a 6-metre open-cut and a short adit. The vein strikes 280 degrees and dips 60 degrees north in schistose rocks. It ranges from 12 to 66 centimetres in width and is mineralized with pyrite, chalcopyrite and traces of galena.
In 1913, a sample taken across 1.2 metres assayed 0.68 gram per tonne gold and trace silver (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1913, page 233).
In 1937, a sample, taken across 66 centimetres, assayed 3.5 grams per tonne gold and 68.57 grams per tonne silver (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1937, pages D21, D22).
In 1988, a sample (TP-88-30) assayed 3.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.17 gram per tonne gold (Property File - T. M. Parsons [1989-01-01]: Property Submission On Jim Kelly Creek, Wolfe Creek And Lone Pine Creek Mineral Claims).
The area has been explored since the late 1890’s. In 1909, copper-gold ore was reportedly removed by James Kelly but the exact location of this is unknown. In 1914, the John Bull, Spokane, Vancouver, Marsellaise, Superior and Gold Mountain groups were explored. In 1926, exploration was done on the Silver Bell and Belmont claims, thought to be the same vein as previously worked by James Kelly. In 1937, the Evening Star group was worked by W.B. Marks.
In 1965 and 1966, Bethex Explorations completed 32 trenches, totalling 5400 metres, and five diamond drill holes, totalling 850 metres, on an area of possible porphyry copper mineralization located approximately 900 metres to the south east on the P.R. and David claims. The following year, Atlas Explorations prospected and sampled the area. During 1982 through 1985, Minequest Exploration completed programs of prospecting and soil sampling the area as the Aura claims. In 1989, T.M. Parsons prospected and sampled the area as the Fortune and Great Scott claims.
