The Nik (East) showing is located on the east bank of Nikwikwaia Creek, approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Kamloops and 18 kilometres north of Chase.
Regionally, the area is underlain by sedimentary, igneous and volcanic Paleozoic rocks of the Kootenay terrane, deposited on the distal margin of the ancestral North American craton.
Locally, the area is underlain by a sequence of pyritic chlorite schist, quartz sericite schist and sericite schist of the Devonian to Mississippian Woolford Creek unit of the Eagle Bay assemblage. Massive greenstone is also found within this sequence. Felsite dikes are common.
Massive pyrrhotite with associated sphalerite and galena and minor chalcopyrite occur as lenses, 5 to 10 centimetres wide and 5 to 10 centimetres long, hosted in chlorite schist. The lenses have significant amounts of silica.
Malachite staining occurs along joint planes and fractures at several locations on the west bank of Nikwikwaia Creek.
In 1970, strong geochemical anomalies were discovered in the Corning and Nikwikwaia Creeks, in the area of the occurrence. Follow-up exploration found multiple mineralized outcrops of massive and disseminated pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite.
In 1971, grid soil and magnetometer surveys reported by K. Daughtry and A. Wynne were completed on the area containing the occurrence.
In 1980, Canadian Nickel Company Ltd. completed geological mapping, VLF and magnetometer surveys and soil and rock sampling. Selected grab samples assayed a maximum of 0.27 per cent copper, 0.97 per cent lead and 2.55 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 8800).
In 1985, Utah Mines Ltd. conducted geological mapping; rock, silt and soil sampling; and VLF and magnetometer geophysical surveys.
In 1989, Teck Corp. became the operator of the property and completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling. Highlights of the rock sampling include maximum values of 0.23 per cent copper and 1.4 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 19632). Teck Corp. did not complete any further work and allowed the claims to lapse.
