The Bethsaida (Tamarac) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1570 metres, 2.7 kilometres east of Little O.K. Lake and southwest of the Highland Valley Copper (MINFILE 092ISW012) open pit in the southwestern Highland Valley.

The area is underlain by Bethsaida phase quartz diorites of the Early Jurassic to Late Triassic Guichon Creek Batholith. Faulting and shearing are extensive, the strongest direction being 115 to 120 degrees with moderate to steep dips. Other fault directions are 055 to 060, 095 to 100, and 135 to 140 degrees. Intense sericite alteration and oxidation is associated with faulting.

Original workings (shafts and trenches) on the Tamarac claim were developed on a considerable number of parallel quartz veins carrying locally disseminated chalcopyrite, molybdenite, pyrite and trace bornite with abundant malachite on surface. The quartz veins strike northeast and vary in width up to 1.35 metres at the no. 2 shaft. Surface work, in1956, exposed a west-striking zone of sheeting, 4.5 to 6.1 metres wide, containing narrow quartz stringers mineralized with chalcopyrite and molybdenite.

In 1965, drilling on the Tamarac zone yielded 0.50 per cent copper over 4.8 metres, 0.30 per cent copper over 34.8 metres and 0.60 per cent copper over 13.2 metres in hole C-1, and 0.3 per cent copper over 12.0 metres, 0.4 per cent copper over 7.2 metres and 0.4 per cent copper over 3.9 metres in hole C-2 (Property File - Cominco Ltd. [1965-12-24]: C.G.'s, General Geology, D.D. Holes, Geophysics and Geochemistry Map - Bethsaida).

In 1966, a drillhole (C66-7) yielded intercepts of 0.64 per cent copper over 12 metres and 0.71 per cent copper over 14.1 metres (Property File - Cominco Ltd. [1967-12-21]: Plan of Diamond Drilling & Geology and Valley Copper IP Anomaly - Bethsaida).

In 1967, drilling on the Duke, Tamarac and Shamrock claims, from east to west, yielded 0.45 per cent copper and 0.018 per cent molybdenum over 27 metres in hole 9, 0.46 per cent copper and 0.011 per cent molybdenum over 69 metres in hole 6, 0.27 per cent copper and 0.023 per cent molybdenum over 48 metres in hole 16, 0.27 per cent copper and 0.219 per cent molybdenum over 48 metres in hole 5, 0.73 per cent copper over 27 metres in hole 4 and 0.17 per cent copper over 72.6 metres in hole 3 (Property File - Cominco Ltd. [1967-12-21]: Plan of Diamond Drilling & Geology and Valley Copper IP Anomaly - Bethsaida).

On the Osprey claim, located adjacent to the Tamarac claim, a 0.9- to 2.1-metre wide zone contains copper carbonates, chalcopyrite and bornite with lesser molybdenite. To the south-southeast, on the P.R. 50 claim, minor disseminated chalcopyrite and a 0.3-metre wide quartz vein hosting chalcopyrite are reported.

Work History

The area was originally staked in the early 1900s as the Tamarack and Osprey properties. By 1925, development on the Tamarac claim included three or four shafts, each sunk for approximately 7.5 metres, and several opencuts, whereas work on the Osprey claim included a 12-metre long crosscut.

During 1955 through 1958, Bethsaida Mines completed programs of ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling, trenching and drilling.

In 1963, Buttle Lake Minerals examined and completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the Bethsaida property. During 1965 through 1968, Cominco Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys and diamond drilling on the area.

In 2015, Teck Highland Valley Copper Corp. completed a program of diamond drilling on the area as part of the Highland Valley (MINFILE 092ISW012) pit expansion program. Three holes, totalling 1205 metres, were completed approximately 600 metres west of the occurrence and yielded intercepts including 0.36 per cent copper over 51.18 metres in hole V15-021 and 0.15 per cent copper over 70.38 metres in hole V15-022 (Assessment Report 36086).