The Esp occurrence is located approximately 750 metres southeast of the south end of Ketchan Lake, 700 metres east of Ketchan Creek and 2.8 kilometres southwest of Missezula Lake.

The region southwest 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 from diorite to monzonite in composition 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.

Locally, small amounts of chalcocite and malachite occur along fractures in an outcrop of feldspar porphyritic andesite of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group (Central belt, Bulletin 69). The mineralized exposure measures 50 by 20 metres. Minor quartz, epidote and calcite veining occur in the vicinity.

Work History

In 1971, Peregine Exploration Ltd. held and examined the area as the ESP claims. In 1972 and 1973, Barrier Reef Resources Ltd. and ISO Explorations Ltd. completed programs of soil sampling, geological mapping and ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys on the area as the DEX, ESP and Red Box claims.

In 2002, Gary Brown completed a 26.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Ketchan claims.

In 2004, Copper Hill Exploration Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and photo-geological interpretation on the area as the Ketchan property.

In 2011, Moag Copper Gold Resources Inc. completed a program of soil sampling on the area as part of the Ketchan property. In 2013, West Cirque Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Aspen Grove property. During 2014 through 2016, KZD Aspen Grove Holding Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping and a 21.4 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Aspen Grove property.