The Anaconda occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 680 metres on a northeast-facing slope, south of the Nicola River and approximately 2.8 kilometres west of the community of Merritt.

The area is underlain by the Upper Triassic Nicola Group comprised of andesitic, locally porphyritic flows, minor basaltic flows, volcaniclastics, interbedded sediments and Jurassic(?) granitic intrusions.

Mineralization is evident in highly silicified and chloritized andesite. Workings expose specular hematite in quartz-calcite veins. Minor chalcopyrite is also evident. The mineralized zone is reported to be steeply dipping and trends to the northwest.

Two other zones of mineralization, referred to as the Roof Pendant and Watt zones, are reported in the area. The Roof Pendant zone is located approximately 400 metres west of the Anaconda workings and comprises an east-trending carbonate-specular hematite±quartz vein zones with chalcopyrite. The Watt zone is located approximately 300 metres south of the Anaconda workings and comprises fracture zones with specular hematite, fine disseminated to blebby chalcopyrite and minor chalcedonic quartz.

Work History

Two historic adits, dating to the early 1900s, and a shallow shaft are reported to have been originally developed on the occurrence area. The adits are up to 61 metres long, whereas the shaft, which is located approximately 54 metres above and 120 metres west of the main adit, is approximately 4.5 metres deep. Numerous other test pits and trenches are also reported.

In 1961, Canford Explorations Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling and ground magnetometer and self potential surveys on the area as the Mint 1-6 claims. Both adits were reported to have collapsed by this time. In 1965, Merritt Copper Syndicate completed a 14.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Bell, Bill, Mickey and Keith claims.

In 1980, Harlin Resources Ltd. completed a soil sampling program on the area immediately southwest of the occurrence as the Cathy and Jane claims.

In 1993, Conlon Copper Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Jean and Paul claims of the Jesse Creek property. A 1.5-metre chip sample (21973) from a trench on the main Anaconda zone assayed 1.02 grams per tonne gold, whereas a sample (21979) from a small pit exposing fractured andesite with carbonate, specular hematite and chalcopyrite assayed 0.22 per cent copper and 0.095 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 23024). Also at this time, a chip sample (21968) from the Roof Pendant zone yielded 0.226 per cent copper over 1.0 metre, whereas grab samples from the zone yielded up to 0.547 per cent copper and 7.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 23024).

In 1997 and 1998, Estey Agencies Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, prospecting, trenching and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the Jesse property.

In 1997, a repeat sample (136907) from the same trench sampled previously sampled in 1993 on the main Anaconda occurrence yielded 0.87 gram per tonne gold, whereas a nearby float sample yielded 0.588 per cent copper (Assessment Report 25403). Also at this time, a float boulder sample (136910) from the Roof Pendant zone yielded 0.218 per cent copper, whereas a sample (136904) of quartz breccia vein from the Watt zone yielded 0.320 per cent copper (Assessment Report 25403).

The following year, a grab sample (131296) over a 2.0- by 0.3-metre area, located approximately 30 metres north of the Anaconda shaft, yielded 0.404 per cent copper and 6.6 grams per tonne silver, whereas a chip sample (131295) of carbonate stockwork veining with disseminated chalcopyrite, located at the junction of north- and east-striking structures and approximately 250 metres southwest of the Anaconda shaft, yielded 0.814 per cent copper (Assessment Report 131295). A 0.15-metre chip sample (131259) from a northeast-striking quartz-carbonate breccia vein with trace chalcopyrite, taken approximately 300 metres northwest of the Anaconda shaft, assayed 0.583 per cent copper and 5.6 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 25880). Also at this time, a trench (no. 11), located approximately 200 metres west of the Anaconda workings, exposed a narrow, west-trending quartz vein stockwork with specularite hematite yielding 0.76 gram per tonne gold over 0.7 metre, whereas to the south of the trench a fracture zone with malachite yielded 0.162 per cent copper over 0.7 metre (Assessment Report 25592).

In 2007, the area was examined and sampled by Elan Developments Inc. as the Copper Belle property. A sample (341577) from a 10- by 25-metre area of blasted rock from the Anaconda occurrence area yielded 6.52 per cent copper, 157.5 grams per tonne silver, 0.28 per cent zinc and 0.99 per cent antimony (Property File - 895120).

In 2012, the area was prospected and sampled by Christopher Delorme. The following year, a 3.6 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey was completed by Dot Resources Ltd. In 2014, a program of structural analysis was performed.