The Big Nic showing is situated approximately 10 kilometres west of the community of Hope. The property covers the Garnet Creek area, north of the Fraser River and south of the former Giant Mascot mine. The property was originally discovered in 2003 by Pacific Coast Nickel Corporation, later joined by Longview Capital Partners.

Regionally, the area consists of an ultramafic complex of hypersthene diorite and quartz diorites, norites and ultramafic rocks—the Pacific Nickel Complex—which intrudes schists and earlier intrusive rocks. Locally, the ultramafic complex is intruded by mid-Cretaceous and Oligocene to Miocene quartz diorite plugs and dikes associated with the Late Cretaceous Spuzzum pluton.

Mineralization comprises massive sulphides containing pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, similar to that of the Giant Mascot deposit, and disseminated sulphides containing chalcopyrite. For more information, see Giant Mascot (092HSW004).

Another anomalous zone, referred to as the RP zone, is located approximately 4.5 kilometres south- south west of the Big Nic occurrence. The RP zone comprises a 5-metre wide zone of pyroxenite, proximal to a diorite contact, hosting pyrite and chalcopyrite.

In 2003, abundant float of disseminated, semimassive and massive sulphides comprising pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite were discovered in boulders on the property. Preliminary analysis of selected float samples reported values of 2 to 3.7 per cent copper, 0.65 to 0.93 per cent nickel, 0.1 per cent cobalt and significant values of palladium (Property File, Pacific Coast Nickel Corp., 2005: Highlights - Big Nic).

In 2005, airborne geophysical surveys were performed and identified six induced polarization targets to be drilled the following year. Results from sampling of mineralized outcrops on the property ranged from 0.06 to 0.93 per cent nickel and 0.01 to 4.38 per cent copper (Property File, Pacific Coast Nickel Corp., 2006: Claim Map - Big Nic).

In 2006, Pacific Coast completed airborne geophysical surveys outlining a circular magnetic feature approximately 1.5 kilometres in diameter. This was followed up by detailed geophysical surveying over the Big Nic showing in 2007 and by drilling three short drillholes in 2008. The drilling resulted in low nickel and copper values over narrow widths. The property was dropped.

In 2011, the property was staked and optioned to APAC Resources. A small 3D induced polarization survey detected small, elongate and ovoid chargeability anomalies on the Big Nic grid. Based on this work, small pits 440 metres from the main Big Nic showing were dug, locating massive sulphide float. The predominantly pyrrhotite and pyrite boulders had minor chalcopyrite and pentlandite. Seven samples from the burrow pit yielded values from 0.84 to 4.38 per cent copper, 0.64 to 0.92 per cent nickel, 0.02 to 1.14 grams per tonne gold, 0.02 to 0.12 gram per tonne platinum and 0.09 to 0.17 gram per tonne palladium (MacIntyre, D.G. (2015-03-16): Technical Report - Lekcin Ni-Cu-PGE Property).

In 2012, APAC Resources contracted Coast Mountain Geological Ltd. to conduct soil sampling over the existing Big Nic geophysical survey grid. X-ray fluorescence analysis in the field seemed to show positive correlation between anomalous metal values and chargeability anomalies identified in the 2011 3D induced polarization survey (Assessment Report 33687).

In 2013 and 2014, programs of soil, silt and rock sampling, prospecting and geological mapping were completed. Two samples from the RP zone yielded values of up to 0.13 per cent copper, 0.037 per cent nickel and 0.011 per cent cobalt (MacIntyre, D.G. (2015-03-16): Technical Report - Lekcin Ni-Cu-PGE Property).