The Smith Copper (Main) occurrence is located on the south side of Storey Creek, approximately 1.6 kilometres northeast of the creek mouth on Nimpkish Lake and at an elevation of about 305 metres.

The region is underlain by volcanics and sediments of the Upper Triassic Vancouver Group (Karmutsen, Quatsino and Parson Bay formations) and by volcanics of the Lower Jurassic Bonanza Group. These rocks have been intruded by the Early-Middle Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite which are cogenetic with the Bonanza Group.

Locally, Karmutsen Formation andesitic and basaltic flows are overlain by Quatsino Formation limestone, which are overlain by Bonanza Group argillites, tuffs and quartzites. These are intruded by medium-grained intrusives varying from quartz diorite to granodiorite. The volcanic and sedimentary rocks are cut by numerous dikes varying in composition from diabase and andesite to feldspar porphyries.

In the Main zone, lead-zinc-copper replacement mineralization follows the contact between Quatsino Formation limestone and Karmutsen Formation andesite. This is concentrated along a 1 to 2.5 metre band of massive sulphides within the skarn. Mineralization consists of galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite in a gangue of epidote, pyroxene, garnet, calcite, quartz and chlorite. The zone strikes 340 degrees and dips 35 degrees west. Surface and drill data indicates the skarn ranges from a maximum of ten metres and to less than one metre near its western and southern margins.

In 1981, diamond drilling intersected mineralized sections yielding up to 0.67 per cent copper, 0.25 per cent lead, 10.87 per cent zinc and 17.1 grams per tonne silver over 4.5 metres in DDH J-3-81. Another drill hole (DDH J-9-81) intersected 0.17 per cent copper, 5.08 per cent lead, 8.88 per cent zinc and 106.3 grams per tonne silver over 0.8 metre. Chip sampling (CI-62642), performed during same year, yielded up to 1.18 per cent copper, 19.4 per cent lead, 11.5 per cent zinc and 101.5 grams per tonne silver over 0.6 metre. All of these are from the west end of the mineralized section. Other intercepts, on the eastern end can be found in the Smith Copper (092L 037) occurrence, located immediately to the southeast (Assessment Report 10337).

In 1988, drilling intersected 1.1 metres assaying 1.2 per cent copper and 17.0 per cent zinc in hole N88-03 on the western edge of the occurence (Assessment Report 18704).

Drill indicated reserves are 83,906 tonnes grading 64.4 grams per tonne silver, 1.69 per cent copper, 3.7 per cent lead and 12.5 per cent zinc (George Cross News Letter December 7, 1988).

Another narrow, 0.3 to 0.6 metre magnetite-rich skarn with copper and zinc values is reported to outcrop 190 metres west of the main zone. In 1988, a drill hole (N88-05) was completed but failed to encounter the skarn mineralization (Assessment Report 18704).

Work History

The area was originally explored in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s by Cominco. In 1961, BHP-Utah Mines completed a program of geological mapping and a ground magnetometer survey on the area as the Martha and Storey claims. In 1965, Cominco completed a ground magnetometer survey on the area as the Zip claim. In 1969, Trizec Development completed a program of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area immediately south as the Trizec property. In 1969 and 1970, Archeron Mines, completed programs of geological mapping and silt and soil sampling. In 1971 and 1972, Wavecom Development completed programs of soil sampling and ground magnetometer surveys. In 1979, Minas De Cerro Dorado Limited completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the Ricky claim.

In 1981, Mar-Gold Resources completed a program of geological mapping and 9 diamond drill holes, totalling 816.3 metres, on the area as the Joe 1-4 claims. In 1982, Imperial Metals completed a program of geochemical sampling, geological mapping and 4 diamond drill holes, totalling 242.2 metres.

In 1988, Hercules Ventures completed 5 diamond drill holes, totalling 535.5 metres. In 1998, Doublestar Resources completed a program of geochemical sampling, geological mapping, ground geophysical surveys and trenching on the area as the Storey 1-8 and Joe 1-4 claims.

During 2010 through 2012, Selkirk Metals Corporation completed programs of prospecting and geochemical sampling on the area as the Storey Creek property. The main showing was reportedly covered during road construction during 2010.

In 2017 and 2018, Selkirk Metals Corp. completed programs of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the Storey Creek property.