The Elk (North-Discovery) occurrence is located approximately 1 kilometre west-southwest of the south end of Siwash Lake and 5.6 kilometres north of the confluence of Siwash and Galena creeks. The Elk (South showing) occurrence (MINFILE 092HNE261) is 1 kilometre south-southeast.

The Elk (North showing) is hosted in the northwestern margin of the Middle Jurassic Osprey Lake Batholith, approximately 200 metres southeast of andesitic volcanics of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. The intrusion is cut by Neogene(?) andesitic dikes in the vicinity of the showing.

Trenching has uncovered a quartz vein cutting granite and andesitic dikes. It strikes 055 degrees for 200 metres and averages 25 centimetres wide. Vein widths vary from 15 to 80 centimetres due to structural deformation. The vein is comprised of medium- to light-grey quartz containing up to 20 per cent disseminated pyrite, and minor chalcopyrite and galena. The vein had been exposed over a strike length of 78 metres by 1987. A few gold-bearing quartz stringers occur in the vicinity of the vein.

In 1987, a grab sample of quartz float with extensive pyrite boxwork assayed 297 grams per tonne gold and 489 grams per tonne silver, whereas a chip sample assayed 8.71 grams per tonne gold and 43.9 grams per tonne silver across 1.10 metres (Assessment Report 16644, page 14). Also at this time, a trench (NS87-4) to the southwest of the main vein exposure exposed minor quartz veins cutting a granite yielded 18.1 grams per tonne gold and 30.1 grams per tonne silver over 0.40 metres (Assessment Report 16644, page 14).

In 1995, drilling yielded up to 10.50 gram per tonne gold over 0.68 metre in hole DSD95-159 (Assessment Report 24374).

In 2012, drilling confirmed a southwest trend to the mineralized zone and intercepted a quartz vein crosscut by numerous pyrite veinlets and yielding 3.55 grams per tonne gold over 0.5 metre in hole DSD12-236 (Assessment Report 34382).

Work History

The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Elk (MINFILE 092HNE096) occurrence and a complete exploration history of the area can be found there.

The occurrence was discovered by Fairfield Minerals Ltd. in 1986 after hand trenching in an area of abundant quartz float. In 1987, the company conducted various geophysical, geological and soil geochemical surveys, and 553 metres of trenching. Additional geophysical surveys were completed over the showing by Placer Dome Inc. in 1989. During 1991 through 2000, Fairfield Minerals completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, diamond drilling and geochemical sampling on the area. During 2002 through 2012, Almaden Minerals completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, ground geophysical surveys and six diamond drill holes, totalling 471 metres. In 2019, a 1108 line-kilometre airborne magnetometer survey was completed on the Elk Gold property. In late 2020 and early 2021, Gold Mountain Mining Corp. completed 42 diamond drill holes on the Elk Gold property. This work centred on the 2500 zone and adjacent veins of the Siwash North (MINFILE 092HNE096) deposit.