The Fiddler occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1270 metres near the northeast bank of Dupuis Creek and approximately 2 kilometres northeast of the north end of Leroy Lake.
The area is situated immediately east of the eastern border of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek batholith. To the east are rocks of the Upper Triassic Gump Lake quartz monzonite stock. The area to the west is underlain by leucocratic hornblende-biotite quartz diorite to granodiorite of the Highland Valley phase of the batholith. Pegmatitic granite lenses within this unit have quartz-epidote knots, some containing magnetite and chalcopyrite.
The main showing is underlain by fine- to coarse-grained biotite granodiorite with gneissic foliations striking north and dipping steeply. Approximately 125 metres to the southeast in the South zone, layers of foliated and gneissic or schistose granodiorite alternate. Pyritic aplite is present as stringers and lenses lying within the metamorphic foliation and as larger crosscutting bodies with biotite-rich and leucocratic layers.
Mineralization is not obviously related to the sericitic and limonitic alteration of the aplite and the granodiorite. Chalcopyrite occurs as disseminations in relatively fresh quartzose or biotite-rich zones in the granodiorite, as disseminations in biotite aplite, and in veins or pockets with quartz, alone or with pyrite, potassium feldspar or epidote. Some veins parallel foliation, others dip gently. Some molybdenite was reported when the showing was first discovered (1915). By 1956, the mineralized zone had been traced by trenching over a length of 9 metres and a width of 4.5 metres on the former F 3-6 claims.
Post-mineralization shears cut both the aplite and country rock. The most prominent fault zones are 2.7 metres wide, strike north and dip steeply subparallel to foliation. Lesser shears strike southeast and dip moderately to the southwest. Malachite or copper oxides are usually present.
Another zone of mineralization is reported approximately 120 metres south of the main zone and comprises a granodiorite hosting granitic pegmatite veins with scattered aggregations of chalcopyrite and molybdenite, preferentially following northeast-southwest trending structures. Approximately 60 metres southeast of the previous zone, along a creek bank, sparse chalcopyrite and malachite occur along northeast-southwest fractures in a granodiorite.
In 1956, select samples from the main zone yielded values of up to 2.5 per cent copper with samples generally yielding less than 0.75 per cent copper over 3.6 metres (Assessment Report 140).
In the early 1970s, a chip sample across a 75-centimetre, veined, rusty mineralized zone assayed 0.35 per cent copper with traces of gold and silver (Geology, Exploration and Mining in British Columbia 1974).
Work History
In 1956, Deerhorn Mines completed a program of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area as the Rod claims. Also at this time, Anuwon Uranium Mines completed a program of geological mapping and trenching on the Rod, Fiddler and FB claims. Trenching was performed on an area of historical pits. The following year, Shield Mining Surveys Ltd. completed a 15.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the Fiddler property.
In 1958, Northwestern Explorations Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, soil sampling and a 128.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the JB claims.
In 1968, Cannoo Mines completed a 16.0 line-kilometre induced polarization and self-potential survey on the area as the Aug and Cal claims.
In 1972, Teck Explorations completed a program of soil sampling and a 63.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the MLM property. Also at this time, a 1112 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey was completed on the area as the MLM and GCM claims.
In 1981, Cominco Ltd. completed an induced polarization survey and ground magnetic survey on the area as the MJC and Antler claims of the Gump property. The following year, an induced polarization survey was completed on the area as the Antler, Buck, Elk, Lake and Score claims of the Gump property.
In 1987, Robert Curnow completed a single diamond drill hole, totalling 53.9 metres, on the area as the Tom 1 claim. Drilling intersected a diorite and granodiorite hosting sparse molybdenite and chalcopyrite mineralization associated with pegmatite veining and patchy potassium feldspar flooding. Assay results were negligible.
In 2008, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed a 278.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as part of the Rateria property.
During 2009 through 2011, the area was examined by Highbank Resources Ltd. and Moag Copper-Gold Resources Inc. as the Highland Valley property. Programs of geological mapping, soil sampling and an induced polarization survey were completed during this time.
In 2013, Christopher and Guy Delorme completed a photo-geological interpretation program on the area as the Bertha property.
In 2017, a program of prospecting and rock sampling was completed on the area immediately north of the occurrence as the Gump property.
In 2018 and 2019, Granby Gold Inc. completed programs of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area as the Mamit Lake property.