The What occurrence is located on the west side of the Coldwater River, approximately seven kilometres north of the Coquihalla Lakes and about 1 kilometre northwest of the Keystone mine (092HNW024).

The geology of the upper Coldwater River area is characterized by Late Triassic Nicola Group metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks derived thorough the emplacement of granitic rocks assigned to the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous Eagle Plutonic Complex to the west. Along the Coldwater River, the Nicola Group comprises amphibolite, foliated diorite, mylonite and chlorite schist with minor marble in contact with gneissic granodiorite. A quartz diorite stock of Early Tertiary age has intruded the plutonic rocks west of this contact.

The What occurrence is situated just north of the quartz diorite (Keystone) stock. Trenching undertaken by El Paso Mining and Milling Company between 1973 and 1974 exposed propylitically altered, pyritic (less than 1 per cent average) granodiorite hosting numerous barren quartz veins and pyritic aplite dykes. A narrow quartz vein with chalcopyrite striking 050 degrees and dipping 80 degrees (?) was also encountered. Minor molybdenite mineralization is reported to occur locally.

Approximately 750 metres to the north, at the Blue Gold showing, several 1 to 5-centimetre wide quartz-pyrite veins hosting chalcopyrite and molybdenite strike 120 to 160 degrees and dip vertically. Pegmatitic veins have been observed to occur in association with these veins, which have been offset by northeast trending chlorite-hematite filled shears.

In 1978, five samples (K-19-3 through -7) from the Blue Gold zone yielded from trace to 0.059 per cent molybdenum, 0.002 to 0.190 per cent copper and 0.8 to 4.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 7135).

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Keystone (MINFILE 092HNW024) occurrence and a complete exploration history of the area can be found there.