The Mal (Malachite 1-2 and Chalcocite 1-2) occurrence covers a showing of copper mineralization in skarn-altered volcanic rocks, east of the historical Aspen Grove copper camp, between Merritt and Princeton. The occurrence is located on access road number 5116, 1 kilometre south of Quilchena Creek, 11.5 kilometres east-northeast of the community of Aspen Grove.

The occurrence is hosted in the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, which regionally consists of alkalic and calc-alkalic volcanics and intrusions of island arc origin, and which is the principal component of the Quesnel terrane in southern British Columbia (Geological Survey of Canada Maps 41-1989, 1713A). This belt has been of major economic interest because of its potential for porphyry copper-gold mineralization.

The occurrence lies in the northern assemblage of the Eastern belt or facies of the Nicola Group (after Preto, Bulletin 69). This assemblage mainly consists of well-bedded submarine volcaniclastic rocks and volcanic flows. The main Aspen Grove copper camp lies several kilometres to the west in the Central belt, separated by the north-striking Kentucky-Alleyne fault system (Bulletin 69).

The area of the occurrence is underlain by dark-green, augite porphyritic andesitic to basaltic volcanics and fragmental rocks, with subordinate black argillite with local limy horizons, and feldspar porphyry (Assessment Reports 449, 1586). Some volcanic flow breccia contains pink trachytic fragments (Assessment Report 9590). Stratified rocks strike north-northwest and dip moderately to steeply west (Geological Survey of Canada Map 41-1989). Within 1 or 2 kilometres to the north of these rocks is the east-trending contact of the Lower Jurassic Pennask Batholith, a large intrusion of medium-grained granodiorite to quartz diorite.

The volcanics and sedimentary rocks have been altered, probably the result of hydrothermal activity related to the Pennask Batholith. Epidote alteration is common; potassium feldspar alteration is more restricted. Skarn alteration is most characteristic of this occurrence, as it hosts the main mineralization. It is closely associated with limy rocks and is marked by epidote and garnet. North-trending gossanous shear zones have been exposed in trenches near the skarn zones (Assessment Report 449).

Copper mineralization is concentrated in the skarn zones. Pyrite and subordinate magnetite and chalcopyrite are associated with quartz-calcite veins or are disseminated in variable amounts (Assessment Report 1586). Chalcocite and malachite are also present at the main showing (Assessment Report 8453). Finely disseminated pyrite is common in most rocks, particularly the argillaceous rocks (Assessment Reports 1718, 9590). A zone of massive, medium-grained pyrite between 1 and 13 metres thick, in altered volcanic rocks, has been found below the surface by diamond drilling; the paragenesis is epidote, magnetite, pyrite (Assessment Report 9590).

The high magnetite and pyrite content of the rocks at this occurrence is reflected in significant magnetic and induced polarization anomalies, respectively, over the mineralized zones (Assessment Reports 1586, 8453).

The mineralized skarn zone has been traced (2017) over an area of approximately 200 metres with the main zone exposed over a 15 by 20 metre area.

In 1962, diamond drilling is reported to have yielded up to 1.62 per cent copper over 6 metres; this section contained at least 50 per cent magnetite and pyrite in a skarn host (Assessment Report 449, page 6). Other drilling intercepts included 1.19 per cent copper over 6.15 metres (from 29.70 to 35.85 metres down hole) in DDH 3, 1.45 per cent copper over 6.6 metres (from 53.7 to 60.3 metres down hole) in DDH 6 and 1.10 per cent copper over 6.0 metres (from 45.0 to 51.0 metres down hole) in DDH 8 (Property File 801130). Other reports indicated sludge samples from drilling yielded intercepts of 0.49 per cent copper over 30.0 metres (from 9.0 to 39.0 metres down hole) in DDH 3 (Property File 801232).

By 1965, drilling is reported to have identified a magnetite-chalcopyrite-pyrite lens striking north-northwest and dipping 60 degrees west, with a 36-metre strike length, a 54 metre dip length and a probable true width of 5.4 metres, yielding an estimated indicated tonnage and grade for the plunging elliptical oreshoot of 25 400 tonnes grading 1.48 per cent copper with approximately 25 per cent magnetite (Property File – 801029).

In 1980, a grab sample from the main trenched and drilled area assayed 0.34 gram per tonne gold, 3.4 grams per tonne silver and 0.2 per cent copper (Assessment Report 8453).

In 1981, diamond drilling intercepted a series of massive pyrite lenses, up to 13 metres wide, in an andesitic volcanic breccia yielding up to 0.37 per cent copper and 6.8 grams per tonne silver over an unknown length (Sample 576R; Assessment Report 9590). The pyritic zone(s) is reported to be flat dipping to the east, striking slightly south of west and is open to the south.

In 2000, a sample (11868) of epidote-altered basalt with clots of pyrite-chalcopyrite and malachite staining from a historical trench yielded 0.097 gram per tonne gold, 22.3 grams per tonne silver and 1.31 per cent copper (Assessment Report 26469).

In 2002, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of 0.58, 0.47 and 0.79 per cent copper with 0.21, 0.21 and 0.14 gram per tonne gold over 0.76, 1.07 and 3.05 metres, respectively, in hole DM-1 (Assessment Report 27039).

In 2017, a sample (J488628) of massive epidote with malachite staining assayed greater than 1.00 per cent copper and 0.396 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 37096).

Work History

Initial work, in the early 1960s, consisted of diamond drilling and trenching on the main showing (Malachite 1,2 and Chalcocite 1,2 claims), on which the occurrence is centred.

In 1961 and 1962, Skeena Silver Mines Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, soil sampling, stripping and/or trenching, 19 diamond drill holes, totalling 1196.7 metres, and ground magnetic and self potential surveys on the area as the Malachite and Chalcocite groups of claims.

During 1966 through 1969, Consolidated Skeena Mines Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, soil sampling, drilling, a 71.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey, a 37.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 637 line-kilometre airborne geophysical (magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric) on the area as the Boot, Malachite, Chalcocite, Echo and Toe claim groups.

In 1980, Abaton Resources Ltd. completed a program of trenching and a 29.6 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area as the Sol claims. The following year, seven diamond drill holes, totalling 616.1 metres, were completed on the claims.

In 2000, Commerce Resources Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and silt) sampling on the area as the Au property.

In 2002, Lateegra Resources Corp. and Commerce Resources Corp. completed a program of soil sampling, ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey and six diamond drill holes, totalling 466.6 metres, on the area as the Au/Wen property.

In 2009 and 2010, Victory Resources Corp. completed photogeological (lineament) structural analysis programs on the area as the Toni property.

During 2017 through 2019, Victory Resources Corp. completed minor programs of prospecting, geological mapping and geochemical (rock, soil and till) sampling on the area as the Mal-Wen and Wen-Toe properties.