The Mint occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 900 metres on a west-northwest–facing slope, east of Quilchena Creek and approximately 6 kilometres east-southeast of Mount Nicola.
Regionally, the area lies in the Central Belt of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. Porphyritic quartz monzonite is the major rock type exposed on the east side of Quilchena Creek. A biotite-rich unit outcrops to the north. The intrusive is called the Quilchena pluton and is a subsidiary stock of the Lower Jurassic Pennask Batholith, which intrudes the Nicola Group volcanics. The Quilchena Creek fault is a major north-northeast–trending fault system that approximately parallels Quilchena Creek. To the west, the monzonitic pluton is overlain by Eocene sandstone and conglomerate, which are believed to be the basal member of the Coldwater Formation (Princeton Group). Farther to the west, these sediments are overlain by Pleistocene valley basalts.
The Quilchena pluton exhibits alteration and mineralization characteristics of porphyry copper environments. Three overlapping hydrothermal alteration zones compose an area with a 1500-metre radius. A central 800-metre-wide zone of intense potassic and kaolinitic alteration is characterized by close-spaced microveinlet fillings of quartz and potassium feldspar. Chalcopyrite and molybdenite occur as disseminations and are associated with fractures. The potassic zone grades into sericitized and kaolinized zones, which also host chalcopyrite but have less abundant veins. Occasional epidote-filled veins are suggestive of an outer zone of propylitic alteration. Pyrite occurs throughout the intrusive unit as disseminations and fracture-fillings, and it is usually weathered to limonite. Malachite and azurite are on fracture planes surrounding the veins.
Numerous chalcopyrite-malachite mineralized outcrops have been identified (1975) along the east slope of Quilchena Creek and its west-flowing tributaries for approximately 1 kilometre along a north-northeast trend.
In 1975, a sample (31726) from the south-southwest end of the exposed mineralized outcrops yielded greater than 0.400 per cent copper and greater than 0.050 per cent molybdenum, whereas three samples (31723 through 31725) from outcrops exposed along the central west-flowing creek yielded from 0.126 to 0.184 per cent copper and 0.009 to 0.046 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 5675). Also at this time, two samples (31648 and 31649) from the north-northeastern most exposure yielded from 0.106 to 0.132 per cent copper with 0.001 to greater than 0.050 per cent molybdenum (Assessment report 5675).
In 1987, rock samples (L4+ through L9+ and 89717-7 through 89717-10) from the central creek area yielded from 0.055 to 0.673 per cent copper, 0.002 to 0.196 per cent molybdenum and 0.1 to 7.2 grams per tonne silver, whereas other samples (89717-1 through 89717-3), taken from a trench several hundred metres to the north of the previous samples, yielded from 0.107 to 0.160 per cent copper, 0.008 to 0.031 per cent molybdenum and 0.9 to 2.1 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 17277).
Work History
Historical trenches, likely dating to the 1950s or 1960s, are reported in the occurrence area. At least one diamond drill hole was also completed during this time.
In 1966, Canadian Aero Mineral Surveys Ltd., on behalf of Aden Mines Ltd., completed a 16.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Hop, Joe, Moly and Toad claim groups. Several zones of anomalous polarization characteristics were indicated. In 1968, Amax optioned the property and completed a ground magnetic survey. During 1969 through 1971, Canadian Occidental Minerals Ltd. completed a number of percussion and diamond drill holes primarily on the lower benches to the west of Quilchena Creek.
In 1975 and 1976, Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, a 11.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey, a 56.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey and five diamond drillholes, totalling 783 metres, on the area as the Quil 1-19 claims. No drilling results are known. In 1977, Quintana Minerals Corp. completed a program of prospecting, sampling and a 12.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the Grassland and Axedental claims.
In 1984, Guardian Resources Corp. completed a ground magnetic survey on the area as the Moly 1 claim. In 1987, Iota Exploration completed a prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling program on the area as the Bonus claim group.
In 2001, the Douglas Lake Cattle Co. staked the area and completed a limited program of geological mapping and geochemical sampling in 2002. The claims were re-staked in 2005 and 2006 by R. Billingsley, G. Richards and G. Diakow. In 2007, Etna Resources Inc. completed a 366 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the Aspen Grove property. In 2009, a further program of geological mapping, soil sampling and 48.8 line-kilometres of ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys were completed on the property.
In 2013, New Chris Minerals Ltd. completed a program of rock and soil sampling on the area as the Aspen Grove property on behalf of Richard Billingsley.
