The Caper occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1320 metres on a northeast-facing slope, southwest of Broom Creek and approximately 4.2 kilometres northwest of the creeks’ mouth on Guichon Creek.
Regionally, the area lies near the southeastern border of the multiphase Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith, which intrudes Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanic rocks. The area is underlain by both Guichon and Chataway varieties of the Highland Valley phase of the batholith. The Guichon variety rocks are fine- to medium-grained quartz monzodiorites to granodiorites; the younger Chataway variety are medium- to coarse-grained granodiorite.
The granodiorite has been highly fractured, brecciated and sheared. Alteration mineralogy consists of chlorite, potassium feldspar, sericite, kaolinite, epidote and silica.
The main showing is part of a major fault system which strikes 130 degrees and dips 60 to 70 degrees to the southwest. Malachite, chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite occur in highly sheared granodiorite at surface.
The southwest adit is reported to expose an approximately 60-centimetre wide vein in a fractured and brecciated granodiorite with malachite. East-southeast of the southeast adit and east of Broom Creek historical trenches are reported to exposed a granodiorite with malachite.
In 1979, drilling yielded intersections of 0.16 and 0.14 per cent copper over 3.05 and 6.10 metres, respectively, in hole CP-1 (Assessment Report 7450).
Later work (2012) identified another zone of mineralization, located several hundred metres northeast of the Caper occurrence and southwest of Broom Creek, comprising a sheared granodiorite with malachite on fractures/shear planes.
In 2012, a sample (HS-10) from this zone yielded 4.2 per cent copper, 27.1 grams per tonne silver and 0.196 gram per tonne gold, whereas another sample (HS-5) taken approximately 100 metres east of the previous sample yielded 0.83 per cent copper (Assessment Report 34157).
A third zone of mineralization, referred to as the East zone and located to the east-northeast of the adits and near the northeast bank of Broom Creek on the former Wiz 71 (Rich 12) claim, comprises chalcocite and malachite mineralization.
A sample from the East zone is reported to have yielded 9.3 per cent copper, 54.7 grams per tonne silver and 0.3 gram per tonne gold (Property File – 10714).
Work History
At least two historical adits and/or shafts, of unknown age, are reported on the occurrence. The northwest adit/shaft is reported to be 12 to 15 metres deep. No description of the southeast adit/shaft is known.
In 1962, Eaglecrest Resources Ltd. completed a 1.8 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Resources, Rick and Strike claims.
In 1968, Torwest Resources Ltd. completed a magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area. Also at this time, King Resources Co. completed a program of geological mapping on the area immediately northeast of the occurrence as the Ant, In, Jay, Len, Rex, Rob, Sho, T.D.M. and Wiz-Dot claims of the Chataway property.
In 1972, Doral Resources completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Cap, Caper, PH and Pro claims. Also at this time, Robina Explorations Ltd. completed a soil sampling program on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Oxbow 1-40 claims.
In 1979, a single percussion drill hole, totalling 76.2 metres, was competed on the Caper claim.
In 1980, Heron Resources Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling on the Caper claim. Significant copper-silver-gold in soil anomalies were identified during this survey with values of up to 100 000 parts per million copper, 42.5 parts per million silver and 355 parts per billion gold (Assessment Report 8595). The following year, a further program of soil sampling and an induced polarization survey were completed. In 1983, a program of minor trenching and two diamond drill holes, totalling 202 metres, were completed on the claim. No mineralization was reported to have been intersected.
During 1991 through 1993, Aucumo Resources and Hudson Bay Exploration completed programs of geological mapping, soil and stream sediment sampling and an induced polarization survey on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the CVS property.
In 1995, Fintra Ventures Ltd. completed a photo-geological lineament array analysis on the area.
In 2006, Alhambra Resources completed 21.0 line-kilometres of induced polarization, magnetic and electromagnetic (very low frequency) surveys on the Dot claims. Further programs of geophysical surveys, geological mapping, geochemical sampling and 14 diamond drill holes, totalling 3097.4 metres, were completed in 2007 and 2008 by Dot Resources Ltd. Also in 2006, TNR Gold Corp. completed an induced polarization survey on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the AW claims.
In 2012, Guy and Christopher Delorme completed a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Brown claims of the Highland South property.
During 2013 through 2019, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, a 32.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and re-interpretation of historical airborne geophysical data on the area as part of the Rateria-West Valley property.
Also in 2016 and 2017, Granby Gold Inc. completed a programs of geological mapping on the area as part of the Highland Valley property.
