The Mouse occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1470 metres on a northeast-trending ridge, south of Nicola Lake and approximately 4 kilometres northeast of Sugarloaf Mountain.
The area is located in a north-trending, fault-bounded belt of interbedded volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. Locally, these consist of andesitic to basaltic plagioclase-augite porphyries, intermediate pyroclastic breccia, agglomerate and tuff, with interbedded limestone and conglomerate. Bedding appears to strike northeast, though orientations are variable. The volcanic sequence is intruded to the north by the Lower Jurassic granitic Nicola Batholith. Related feldspar porphyry dikes outcrop on the property. Propylitization of the volcanics and intrusives varies in intensity and consists of chlorite, epidote, calcite, albite, prehnite and saussurite. Andesitic rocks are silicified in the vicinity of the intrusive. Malachite and mariposite are also present. Disseminated pyrite, specularite and magnetite occur in decreasing abundance.
Regional faults trend northwest to northeast and associated fracture patterns appear to control quartz and quartz-calcite veining. Veins are up to 12 centimetres wide, striking predominantly west to southwest and are spaced two per metre. Numerous randomly oriented stringers flood the 25-metre wide alteration zone. The narrow vuggy veins carry blebs of tetrahedrite, galena, chalcopyrite and bornite. The mineralized zone has been traced over an area of approximately 120 by 45 metres. A second area of similar mineralization is reported approximately 240 metres west of the previous zone and has been traced over an area of approximately 120 by 60 metres.
In 1961, grab samples from this zone of mineralization are reported to have yielded an average of approximately 0.9 per cent copper, 0.15 to 2.60 per cent lead and 20.5 to 66.7 grams per tonne silver (Property File - 10497).
In 1968, a sample (no. 10) of granitized diorite with disseminated pyrite yielded 13.7 grams per tonne silver (Property File - 10496). The exact location of this sample is not known.
A second zone of copper mineralization is reported on the former Mouse 20 claim, located approximately 1.5 kilometres southwest of the first. The zone comprises stringers of copper sulphides (chalcopyrite?) exposed over an area of approximately 15 metres.
In the late 1960s, three grab samples from this zone are reported to have yielded from 1.15 to 3.75 per cent copper (Property File - 10502).
Another zone of mineralization, located approximately 1.5 kilometres south of the previous zone, comprises a limestone hosting calcite-filled fractures with chalcocite, bornite, chalcopyrite and tenarite with trace covellite in contact with an andesite (breccia) hosting hematite and calcite with chalcocite veinlets.
A fourth zone of minor mineralization, comprising pyrite, chalcopyrite and malachite in andesite or basalt flows proximal to the contact with an argillic- after phyllic-altered quartz monzonite, is located on the west side of a hill, approximately 1.3 kilometres east-southeast of the first mineralized zone.
In 2014, a grab sample (7630) from this zone yielded 0.757 per cent copper and 8.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 35198).
Work History
In 1961, the area was explored as the Ding claims. A program of trenching was performed at this time and a historical shaft was identified.
In 1966, Nicola Lake Mining Co. Ltd. completed a program of soil and rock sampling, geological mapping, trenching and an induced polarization survey on the area as the Mouse claims. This work identified six target areas for future work. In 1968, a further program of geological mapping and a 17.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey were completed.
In 1980, American Energy Corp. completed a program of soil sampling on the area as the Mick 1-8 claims. The following year, a 11.8 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey was completed on the claims.
In 2014, Tech-X Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Augusta claims of the Nicola Lake property. The following year, a 12.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed.
