The Neil (JR) occurrence is located on a northeast-facing slope in the western headwaters of Embree Creek, approximately 1 kilometre northeast of Mount McCusker.

Regionally, the area is underlain by a folded sequence of Silurian Nonda Formation dolostone, Lower Devonian Muncho-McConnell Formation dolostone, Lower to Middle Devonian Stone Formation dolostone, Middle Devonian Dunedin Formation limestone, and Devonian to Carboniferous Besa River Formation shale. This sequence is overthrust from the west by a panel of Nonda Formation dolostone.

The mineralization, occurring within the Nonda Formation thrust panel, comprises scattered aggregates of reddish-brown sphalerite and minor galena, hosted within a 1-metre wide, sparry white, dolomite-healed fault breccia. Bornite-mineralized dolomite talus-blocks occur at the base of a ridge that is geochemically anomalous in copper.

In 1973, a rock sample (4029R) assayed 0.400 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 4203). The following year, a grab sample of the mineralization yielded 1.74 per cent zinc and 0.22 per cent lead (Assessment Report 5350).

Work History

Sphalerite was discovered in float samples in 1972 in the Neil area. This, along with the discoveries of copper mineralization and weak but persistent silver anomalies, led to the staking of the Bertha Group the same year. During 1972 through 1974, British Newfoundland Exploration Ltd. completed programs of prosecting, geological mapping and geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling on the area as the Brin, JR, Lau and Toll claims.