The Primer (South zone) prospect is 3 to 4 kilometres east-southeast of the south end of Missezula Lake and 33 to 33.5 kilometres north-northeast of Princeton. The Primer (North zone) occurrence (092HNE056) is 1.5 kilometres northwest.

This region in the vicinity of Missezula Lake is underlain by the Eastern volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising mafic to intermediate, augite and hornblende porphyritic pyroclastics and flows, and associated alkaline intrusions. The intrusions vary in composition from diorite to monzonite and are thought to be comagmatic with the Nicola Group, ranging in age from Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic. Much of the copper mineralization and associated alteration frequenting this portion of the Nicola Belt can be attributed to the emplacement of such intrusions.

The occurrence is composed of two west-trending zones of copper mineralization. The northernmost zone is hosted largely in variably plagioclase and hornblende porphyritic andesite, and minor trachyandesite and dacite, of the Nicola Group (Eastern Belt, Bulletin 69). The southern zone lies almost entirely in variably hornblende porphyritic diorite, locally grading to monzodiorite and monzonite/micro-monzonite. The intrusives and volcanics are cut by feldspar porphyritic dikes. The andesite is highly altered, fractured and oxidized in places. Secondary minerals include chlorite, silica and epidote. Albite and rare orthoclase flooding are evident along calcite, pyrite and epidote stringers. The intrusions exhibit propylitic (chlorite, albite, epidote) and occasional sericitic and argillic alteration and traces of secondary orthoclase. This alteration assemblage is generally associated with stronger fracturing and shearing. Sericitic and argillic alteration is usually quite intense in the micro-monzonite. Both the andesite and the intrusions commonly contain veins of calcite and quartz. Gypsum (selenite/anhydrite (?)) veins are particularly abundant in the northern zone, and rare in the southern zone.

Mineralization consists of pyrite and chalcopyrite and trace pyrrhotite as disseminations, blebs, veins and fracture fillings. Chalcopyrite and pyrite commonly occur as disseminations along fractures and to a lesser extent as fine seams and blebs in andesite of the northern zone. The two minerals are also found in calcite and quartz veins and in association with chlorite, epidote and silicic alteration in this zone. Chalcopyrite blebs are sometimes rimmed by epidote or cored by magnetite. The sulphides occur primarily as disseminations and blebs in the southern zone. Chalcopyrite is also found here in calcite±pyrite and quartz veins and chlorite and epidote stringers. The chalcopyrite to pyrite ratio is approximately 1 to 5 for both zones. Malachite is developed along fractures in strongly fractured and gossanous andesite. One to three per cent fine disseminated magnetite is present in the andesite, which tends to increase with increasing amounts of chalcopyrite.

Diamond drilling and trenching in the northern zone has defined an area of copper mineralization trending west for 440 metres and varying up to 140 metres wide. The zone is developed along the northern margin of a largely barren, west-trending dike-like body of diorite. Drilling on the southern zone, located approximately 700 metres to the southeast of the northern zone, has intersected significant copper mineralization in diorite and altered micro-monzonite, within a zone trending west-northwest for 740 metres.

In 1966, an angled drillhole (66-1) on the northern zone yielded 0.22 per cent copper over 116.7 metres of andesite and diorite, whereas another drillhole (66-2), collared approximately 75 metres to the southwest of the previous hole yielded 0.15 per cent copper over 78.0 metres of hornblende porphyry (Assessment Report 2354). The following year, a drillhole (67-5), located approximately 100 metres east of hole 66-1, yielded 0.23 per cent copper over 90.3 metres, whereas another drillhole (67-4), located approximately 500 metres south-southeast of hole 66-1, yielded 0.24 per cent copper over 118.2 metres (Assessment Report 2354).

In 1969, an angled hole (69-1) drilled in the central part of the southern zone of mineralization, approximately 650 metres southeast of hole 66-1, yielded 0.26 per cent copper over 203.7 metres, including 0.40 per cent copper over 39.0 metres, whereas a second hole (69-5), drilled approximately 360 metres east-southeast of hole 69-1, yielded 0.11 per cent copper over 90.8 metres (Assessment Report 2354). Also at this time, a drillhole (69-7) located near the previous 1967 hole 67-4 yielded 0.17 per cent copper over 291.3 metres (Assessment Report 2354). Gold values in drillcore range from nil to 0.7 gram per tonne (Assessment Reports 2354, 22220).

In 1978, sampling of trenches TR6, TR8 and TR9 on the northern zone yielded up to 0.35, 0.37 and 0.71 per cent copper, respectively (Samples S-2, S-3 and S-5; Assessment Report 6877).

In 1991, diamond drilling yielded intercepts including 0.24 per cent copper and 0.097 gram per tonne gold over 187.1 metres in hole D91-2, collared close to the historical hole 69-1 on the southern zone; 0.28 per cent copper and 0.085 gram per tonne gold over 48.2 metres in hole D91-5, collared approximately 250 metres northeast of the historical hole 66-1 on the northern zone; 0.13 per cent copper over 180.4 metres in hole D91-8, collared close to hole 66-1 on the northern zone and 0.19 per cent copper with 0.071 gram per tonne gold over 138.1 metres in hole D91-10, collared close to the historical holes 67-4 and 69-7 (Assessment Report 22220).

In 2008, a rock sample (181887) from an outcrop along a logging road assayed 0.170 gram per tonne gold and 0.117 per cent copper, and a grab sample (694RRM002) of altered hornblende diorite yielded 0.13 gram per tonne gold and 0.283 per cent copper (Assessment Report 30318 and 31709).

In 2013, two drillholes (DI13-03 and -04) on the south zone intersected fine- to medium-grained andesitic volcanics and feldspar porphyries yielding 0.110 and 0.136 per cent copper with 0.055 and 0.072 gram per tonne gold over 201.0 and 403.0 metres, respectively, whereas two holes (DI13-05 and -06) on the north zone intersected hornblende porphyries and several generations of intrusive yielding 0.109 and 0.13 per cent copper with 0.041 and 0.081 gram per tonne gold over 377.1 and 48.0 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 34560).

In 2014, drilling between the south and north zones, yielded intercepts including 0.13 per cent copper and 0.091 gram per tonne gold over 30.0 metres (57.0 to 87.0 metres down hole) in hole DI14-11; 0.13 per cent copper and 0.050 gram per tonne gold over 57.0 metres (93.0 to 150.0 metres down hole) in hole DI14-12 and 0.20 per cent copper with 0.090 gram per tonne gold over 153.0 metres (105.0 to 258.0 metres down hole) in hole DI14-19, whereas drilling on the south zone and its extension to the south and southeast yielded intercepts of 0.17 per cent copper and 0.69 gram per tonne gold over 102.0 metres (19.0 to 121.0 metres down hole) in hole DI14-07 and 0.14 per cent copper with 0.058 gram per tonne gold over 129.0 metres (33.0 to 162.0 metres down hole) in hole DI14-09 (Assessment Report 35301).

In 2018, two grab samples (D12 and D18) from outcrop of andesite with pyrite, malachite and tenorite on the northern zone yielded 0.681 and 0.568 per cent copper with 0.171 and 0.133 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Assessment Report 37988).

Work History

This occurrence area was initially explored in 1962 by McIntyre Porcupine Mines Ltd., who optioned the Primer property from Primer Group Minerals Ltd. The company completed various ground geophysical and soil geochemical surveys before giving up the option. Primer Group Minerals continued to explore the deposit, conducting some stripping in 1965 and drilling 18 diamond drill holes totalling 2320 metres and three percussion holes totalling 201 metres between 1966 and 1969. Additional geological, soil geochemical and airborne magnetometer surveys were completed by the company in 1968 and 1969.

During 1977 through 1984, Giant Piper Exploration Inc. (formerly Piper Petroleums Ltd.) completed programs of geological mapping, trenching, geochemical sampling and ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys on the area as the Prime claims. In 1987, Consolidated Silver Butte Mines Ltd.completed a program of soil and rock sampling program on the Prime claims on behalf of Giant Piper Exploration Inc.

During 1988 through 1991, Fairfield Minerals Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, trenching and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Dill property.

In 1997, Discovery Consultants completed a soil sampling program on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the Prime North property.

During 2007 through 2010, Candorado Operating Co. Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (soil and rock) sampling, a 56.1 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey and 35 diamond drill holes, totalling 6881.3 metres, on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the Prime/Man property. Also in 2008, Almaden Minerals Ltd. completed a minor program of rock and silt sampling on the area immediately southeast of the occurrence as the Dill 2 claim.

In 2012, Fjodland Exploration Inc. completed a 11.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 23.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Dill property. The following year, a 293.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and radiometric survey, a 45.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey and seven diamond drillholes, totalling 2636.1 metres, were completed on the property.

In 2013, Fjordland Exploration completed a 293.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and radiometric survey, a 45.3 line-kilometre ground magnetic and induced polarization survey and seven diamond drill holes, totalling 2636.1 metres, were completed on the Dillard property.

In 2014, Fjordland Exploration Inc. completed a program of geological mapping, soil sampling, trenching and 14 diamond drill holes, totalling 5305.0 metres, on the Dillard property. The following year, a program of prospecting, geological mapping and rock sampling was completed on the property.

In 2018, Rene Bernard completed a minor program of rock sampling on the area as the Man-Prime property.