The Nik occurrence is located on a plateau north of Nicola Lake and approximately 5 kilometres northeast of the community of Nicola.
The area lies astride a northwest-striking contact between Upper Triassic Nicola Group intermediate volcanics and minor sedimentary rocks to the southwest and Lower Jurassic Nicola Batholith granite to the northeast. In the contact zone, lithologies consist of massive to weakly foliated andesitic tuffs and flows, gneissic granodiorite, variably porphyritic quartz diorite, chlorite schist and quartz-mica schist. Foliation strikes approximately 030 degrees and dips 50 to 80 degrees to the west. Faults, fractures and shear zones strike northwest to northeast and have variable dips. Alteration includes strong chloritization with moderate amounts of epidote and sericite.
Pyrite occurs as disseminated grains, clots and bands parallel to foliation, locally up to 5 to 10 per cent in the metavolcanic and plutonic rocks. The granodiorite is intruded by aplite dikes and pods that are generally concordant with faults and joint patterns. The leucocratic rocks are mineralized with disseminations and fracture-fillings of malachite, chalcopyrite and lesser bornite. Veining in the contact zone consists of sulphide-bearing quartz- calcite stringers approximately 5 centimetres in width.
Work History
The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Turnlight (MINFILE 092ISE055) occurrence and further information regarding the region’s exploration history can be found there. Historical trenches and pits, likely dating to the early to mid-1900s, are reported in the occurrence area.
In 1970, CKN Exploration and Development Co. Ltd. completed a ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area as the Nik 1-12 claims. At least seven separate copper-bearing veins had been identified on the Nik 5, 6 and 8 claims by this time. Also around this time, sampling of a series of blast pits exposing mineralized quartz veins over a strike length of 18 metres yielded 0.34 per cent copper over 1.58 metres, including 2.68 per cent copper over 0.08 metre in pit 1, 0.24 per cent copper over 0.25 metre in pit 2 and 1.64 per cent copper over 0.1 metre in pit 3 (Property File - 10697). Another pit is reported approximately 135 metres east of the previous pits; a sample from this pit assayed 1.10 per cent copper, 18.5 grams per tonne silver and 1.0 gram per tonne gold (Property File - 10697).
In 1978, Bethlehem Copper Corp. completed three percussion drill holes, totalling 73.2 metres, on the area as the GC 1-4 claims. Drilling yielded up to 0.13 per cent copper over 3 metres in hole GC78-3 (Assessment Report 7121).
In 1981, G.F. Cressey completed a lone diamond drill hole, totalling 152.4 metres, on the area as the Kelly claim of the Hennessey property. Drilling yielded intercepts of up to 0.105 per cent copper over 1.5 metres (Assessment Report 10147).
In 1983, Acqualin Resources Ltd. completed a program of rock and soil sampling, ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys and a single diamond drill hole on the area.
In 1992, Lord River Gold Mines prospected the area as the NL 1-3 and Riva claims of the Nic property.
