The Free Silver claim (Lot 2902) was staked in June 1896 by J.M. McLaren and Crown-granted in 1902 to P.W. Thompson and Associates. Adjacent ground was subsequently staked as the Ruby, Silver Fr., Victor, Royal and Galena claims (Lots 2904–2906, 5322 and 4553, respectively). Further activity was reported in 1908 and 1915 when the property was owned by T. Bennett, J.H. Schofield and Associates; the only work reported is trenching.
The May Blossom claim (Lot 5666), which adjoins and lies east of the Free Silver claim, was staked in May 1897 by W. Birmingham. Subsequent staking included the May Day (Lot 13468), May Flower, Big Diamond and Electric claims. Early development work done was by American interests under the name May Blossom Mining & Milling Company. By 1915, the claims were held by J.F. Harbottle and Associates. Development work to that point included a 12-metre vertical shaft and a 69-metre adit on the May Blossom claim.
Washington interests, under the name Gibraltar Mining Company, optioned the May Blossom and Free Silver groups in 1921 but no work was reported. Harbottle and Associates held the May Blossom group until 1930 or later.
In 1977, the Free Silver claim was owned by R. Spain of Trail; prospecting of old trenches was reported.
In 1979, Jack and Eric Denny of Nelson purchased the Free Silver claim and conducted geochemical soil and silt sampling.
From 1979 to 1981, Shell Canada Resources Ltd. optioned the property and carried out a detailed evaluation over large areas that included geological mapping, magnetometer and impulse EM geophysics, soil geochemistry and diamond drilling.
From 1982 to 1984, Selco Inc., a division of BP Exploration Canada Ltd., conducted exploration on the Stewart property including airborne EM and magnetic surveys, rock-chip sampling, geological evaluations, ground geophysics and core drilling.
In 1995, Orvana Minerals optioned the Stewart property to classify existing showings and find new targets with a focus on gold and copper.
In 2001, Emgold Mining Corp. acquired the Stewart property, including the Free Silver claim, from Jack and Eric Denny.
In 2004, Emgold Mining Corp. completed a program of prospecting, rock and soil sampling and diamond drilling. Nineteen out of 29 samples from the Free Silver showing had grades ranging from 1.1 to 641 grams per tonne silver, zero to 18.3 per cent lead, and 0.03 to 25.89 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 27454).
In 2007, Emgold Mining Corp. conducted trenching and diamond drilling over several areas of the property, with the main focus being the Arrow Tungsten showing (MINFILE 082FSW311). The trenching at the Free Silver showing uncovered shear-hosted veins containing elevated values of silver, lead and zinc.
In 2012, Emgold Mining Corp. completed an 11 drillhole program focusing on the Stewart 2 showing (MINFILE 082FSW229), Free Silver showing and the Steward Creek showing (new). This was the first drill program to be conducted on the Free Silver claim. Six holes were drilled into the Free Silver showing, with the highlight being drillhole 12FS-01, which returned 17.55 metres of 0.34 per cent zinc and 0.11 per cent lead (Press Release, Emgold Mining Corp., April 8, 2013).
For full property history and regional geology, see Stewart 2 (MINFILE 082FSW229).
