The Betty Lou occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1470 metres, on a northwest-facing slope of the Promontory Hills.
Rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group exposed on the Promontory Hills are intruded by the Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith to the north and the Coyle stock to the south and are unconformably overlain by the Lower Cretaceous Spences Bridge Group to the west and the Upper Cretaceous Kingsvale Group to the east. A large, slightly overturned, sub-isoclinal anticline plunges gently northeast. Inferred faults have north-northwest and northeast trends. The occurrence is situated on the northern limb of the major fold and is underlain primarily by pyritic-altered greywacke, siliceous limestone, argillite and volcaniclastic rocks. The sedimentary unit is overlain by andesitic fragmental rocks. A quartz feldspar porphyry unit is believed to be Upper Triassic. Near the northwest boundary of the property the Nicola Group rocks are intruded by Guichon Creek hornblende diorite with considerable accessory magnetite.
Several types of alteration are present. The greywacke exhibits hornfelsing and biotite alteration and carries minor disseminated pyrite. Limestone grades to complete recrystallization within 1000 metres of the Guichon Creek Batholith contact. Patches of garnet-epidote skarn occur in the volcanics. Hematite and malachite also occur. Development of actinolite-magnetite skarn similar to that at the Craigmont mine (MINFILE 092ISE035) is also evident. Ore controls are the limestone hostrock, fold structures and proximity to the batholith. Minor copper mineralization (chalcopyrite) occurs in the skarn zones and is disseminated in the country rock.
A small occurrence of galena and sphalerite associated with epidote, quartz and calcite in a greywacke with bands of limestone occurs to the southeast of the main Betty Lou zone, near the top of the Promontory Hills.
Work History
In 1957, the Betty Lou claims were staked by Canadian Exploration Ltd. In 1958, Centennial Mines Ltd. completed a 5.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Domino property. The following year, Canex Aerial Exploration Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the Betty Lou and Lou claims.
In 1960 and 1961, Canex Aerial Exploration Ltd. completed programs of trenching and a ground magnetic survey on the Betty Lou and Lou claims. Also at this time, Craigmont Mines Ltd. completed a 32.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately east of the occurrence as the Willy claims. In 1963, Canex Aerial Exploration Ltd. completed a 5.6 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Betty Lou and Lou claims. Also during 1961 through 1965, five diamond drill holes (CAN-1 through -5), totalling 3910.6 metres, were completed on the Betty Lou claims. Sections of garnet-epidote skarn and actinolite-magnetite skarn associated with copper mineralization were reported to have been intercepted in hole CAN-3 and trace amounts of copper were reported in hole CAN-2. No assays are known. In 1968, Craigmont Mines Ltd. completed a 4.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Gayle claims.
In 1975, a program of geological mapping and a 11.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed on the Betty Lou claim. In 1977, a program of geological mapping was completed on the area as the Betty claim. The following year, Craigmont Mines Ltd. completed five diamond drill holes, totalling 2109.0 metres, on the area immediately east of the occurrence as the Willy group and a single 370.6-metre diamond drill hole on the Betty claim. No mineralized intersections were reported.
In 1981, Better Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and a ground magnetic survey on the area as the Gus and Betty claims of Key property. In 1987, three diamond drill holes, totalling 227.1 metres, were completed on the Gus claim. The following year, a program of geological mapping, a 21.8 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey and a single 288.9-metre diamond drill hole were completed on the Betty claim. In 1990, Better Resources Ltd. completed two diamond drill holes, totalling 629.9 metres, on the Betty claim.
In 1994, Better Resources Ltd. completed a ground magnetometer survey on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Huff 1-2 claims. The survey identified a magnetic anomaly on strike with projections of a limy horizon previously intersected by drilling (1978) to the east.
In 2000, Ahura Mining Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Gord 1-10 claims. In 2006, Christopher James Gold Corp. completed two diamond drill holes on the Betty claim. Drillhole CJG06-01 intersected upper and lower limestone bands with a 4-metre wide magnetite section at the bottom of the lower band yielding 17.9 per cent iron over 4.2 metres (Assessment Report 29449).
In 2012, Huldra Silver Inc. completed a 903 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the Thule property. This work isolated six magnetic anomalies (A through F) with the potential for magnetite skarn development, similar to the nearby Craigmont (MINFILE 092ISE035) deposit.
In 2015, Nicola Mining Inc. completed a program of rock and soil sampling on the area as the Thule Copper-Iron property. The following year, a program of rock sampling and three diamond drill holes, totalling 1063.7 metres, on the Thule property.
In 2016, Nicola Mining Inc. completed a program of prospecting, rock sampling, geological mapping and five diamond drill holes, totalling 1063.7 metres, on the Thule Copper property.
In 2017, Nicola Mining Inc. and Clibetre Exploration Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping; a 27.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey; a 24.5 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey; 29 rotary drill holes, totalling 392.0 metres, and 5 diamond drill holes, totalling 2994.7 metres on the Thule Copper property.
In 2018, Nicola Mining Inc. completed a 9.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey; 70 percussion drill holes, totalling 1540.0 metres, and 16 diamond drill holes, totalling 6438.5 metres, on the area as the Craigmont property.
In 2019, Nicola Mining Inc. completed a program of soil sampling and five diamond drill holes, totalling 3649.0 metres, on the area as the New Craigmont property. Also at this time, Calibre Exploration Ltd. completed a 6.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Betty claims.
