The Crow phosphate occurrence is located approximately 15 kilometres southeast of Sparwood in the Crowsnest Pass area, approximately 2.5 kilometres north of the pumping station on Highway 3.

Regionally, the area is underlain by a series of generally north-trending sedimentary rocks including dolomitic carbonate rocks of the Mississippian Etherington, Mount Head and Livingstone Formations (Rundle Group) and Pennsylvanian to Permian Rocky Mountain Group, fine clastic sedimentary rocks of the Triassic Spray River Group, undivided sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic Fernie Formation and undivided sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Kootenay Group.

Locally, pelletal phosphorite is contained in two beds separated by phosphatic shale at the base of the Jurassic Fernie Group. The top of the phosphate horizon is marked by a thin yellowish weathering cherty limestone bed. The phosphate generally strikes north with shallow to moderate dips to the west. Thrust faulting complicates the distribution of the phosphate, causing the repetition of beds at some localities and causing the same beds to disappear in other locations. The horizon is locally structurally thickened to 4.8 metres. Individual phosphorite beds are 0.7 to 1.0 metre thick and contain 25.1 to 27.0 per cent P2O5 (Open File 1987-16, page 94, samples SBB86-4A to E). A sample analyzed by x-ray fluorescence contained 5.34 per cent SiO2, 1.11 per cent Al2O3, 0.53 per cent Fe2O3, 0.40 per cent MgO, 47.72 per cent CaO, 0.34 per cent Na2O, 0.15 per cent K2O, 0.07 per cent TiO2, 0.01 per cent MnO, 29.81 per cent P2O5 and 1.45 per cent sulphur (Fieldwork 1989, page 490, sample VM89-3).

In 1989, sampling of trenches exposing phosphorite located near a historical adit yielded values of up to 26.60 per cent P2O5, 0.095 per cent yttrium, 0.022 per cent cerium and 0.051 per cent lanthanum over 1.0 metre (sample SB86-4B; Assessment Report 19942).

In 1996, sampling of a quarry exposing phosphate beds yielded 23.62 and 26.20 per cent P2O5 over 15 and 19 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 27045). Also at this time, a small stockpile of 42.0 tonnes of phosphorite grading 22.30 per cent P2O5 and 0.157 per cent rare earth elements was present in the quarry, with an estimated 2500 tonnes averaging 23.6 per cent P2O5 and 0.189 per cent rare earth elements possibly available in the quarry (Assessment Report 27045).

In 2022, samples from the quarry area yielded values of up to 28.3 per cent P2O5, 0.030 per cent cerium, 0.040 per cent lanthanum and greater than 0.050 per cent yttrium (Assessment Report 41308).

Work History

The Crow deposit has been explored periodically by Cominco Ltd. between the 1930s and the mid-1970s. The company shipped an 1800 tonne bulk sample to Trail in 1931 and completed 600 metres of underground development work. The underground workings are reported to be inaccessible.

In 1989, Formosa Resources conducted a program of prospecting, geological mapping and rock sampling on the area immediately to the north as the High Rock 1-4 claims. In 1996, the area was acquired by Doug Allen. The following year, a minor program of diamond drilling was completed on in the vicinity of the historical adit. In 1998, a bulk sample was collected from a phosphate occurrence located approximately 500 metres south of the adit. In 2002, a program of geological mapping and rock sampling was completed.

In 2015, High Brix Manufacturing Inc. completed a program of trenching and eight diamond drill holes, totalling 263.9 metres, on the area as part of the Cro property. Also at this time, approximately 1500 to 2000 tonnes of phosphate rock were extracted from the south quarry. By 2020, it is reported that approximately 5000 tonnes of phosphate-bearing rock had been removed for bulk sampling.

In 2020 and 2021, High Brix Manufacturing Inc. conducted a program of water sampling and four rotary drill holes, totalling 15.2 metres. Also at this time, a resource estimate was reported on the Cro quarry, located south of the historical adit, with 3000 tonnes within the present pit area from the loadout bench elevation, 13 000 tonnes with extending the current pit 150 metres to the north from the loadout bench elevation and 20000 tonnes extending down dip to approximately 1360 metres elevation over the 150 metre north extension (Assessment Report 39751).

In 2022, High Brix Manufacturing Inc. conducted a further program of prospecting and rock sampling on the Cro property.