The Phil (Margurete Breccia) occurrence is located near a small knoll on a ridge separating Gray Creek and Margurete Lake, at an elevation of approximately 675 metres.
The area is underlain by a persistent band, greater than 12 kilometres long, of stratified metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Quatsino and Karmutsen formations (Vancouver Group). The band trends northwest and separates Jurassic to Cretaceous Coast Plutonic Complex rock of two different compositions, diorite and granodiorite.
Locally, a silicified, brecciated and highly pyritic diorite plug hosts massive molybdenum mineralization.
In 1997, two grab rock samples yielded highly anomalous values: sample RS4 assayed 0.5032 per cent molybdenum; sample 6-04-04 (grab sample from the quarry) assayed 0.2817 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 25098).
In 1998, a rock sample (MS1-1) assayed 0.55 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 25673).
The area was originally explored in the late 1890’s in conjunction with the nearby Doratha Morton (MINFILE 092K 023) mine. The two adits, located approximately 550 metres to the east on the Champion-Commonwealth claims, were driven in 1899.
In 1980, Corpac Minerals Limited optioned the Alexandra group and the adjacent Enid-Julie property. Work by Corpac in 1980 included a geochemical soil survey (105 samples) and rock sampling. The following year, a program of geological mapping and soil sampling was completed. This work traced the mineralized Doratha Morton vein south east along strike to the Enid-Julie (MINFILE 092K 024) adits and identified quartz veins along strike to the northwest towards the Commonwealth (MINFILE 092K 025) occurrence.
In November 1982, Charlemagne Resources Ltd. optioned 17 reverted Crown grants. Falconbridge Limited entered into an agreement with Charlemagne and in 1985 and 1986 carried out geochemical surveys comprising 1687 soil and 440 rock samples, airborne magnetometer and electro-magnetic surveys over 300 kilometres, and a ground electromagnetic survey over 200 kilometres on the Alexandra and adjacent ground. In 1985, a geophysical anomaly was identified approximately 550 metres to the west of the adits on the Commonwealth claim during a geophysical program conducted by Falconbridge on the nearby Alexandria mine (MINFILE 09K 028) and adjacent ground.
The area was prospected as the Cordero property in 1991 and 1992 by Ripple Creek Resources. During 1997 through 2000, Thurlow Resources conducted exploration programs on the area, renamed the DM and Picton properties, on the HY, LO and FILL 2-19 claims. The programs consisted of soil sampling, rock sampling, and geological mapping. In 2008, Cuda Capital completed a 561.4 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey on the area.
In 2015, BRS Ventures Ltd. completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping, rock sampling and 12 short diamond drill holes, totalling 7.6 metres, on the Margurete property. Rock chip samples yielded values of up to 0.22 per cent copper and 0.21 per cent zinc (Harrington, E. (2016-06-02): National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Margurete Property).
