The AL occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1340 metres on a northeast-trending ridge, south of Nicola Lake and approximately 7 kilometres northeast of Sugarloaf Mountain.

The area is underlain by a belt of volcanic and minor sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. These consist of red to green-grey andesitic and basaltic flows that are either fine-grained and massive or porphyritic with augite phenocrysts. Epidote alteration is locally intense. Volcanic rocks strike north dip 60 to 80 degrees to the east and carry sparse pyrite and chalcopyrite. The regional Quilchena fault strikes northeast and appears to have been the locus of up to 3 kilometres of horizontal displacement.

Locally, quartz veins with copper mineralization (chalcopyrite, native copper, malachite and azurite) associated with calcite, epidote and magnetite appears to be related to microdiorite intrusions. Native gold has also been reported. Diamond drilling, in 1987, led to the recognition of three types of microdiorite. The first is siliceous, very fine-grained and finely porphyritic and carries 2 to 8 per cent disseminated fine pyrite. The second and third types contain subhedral feldspar phenocrysts in a grey-green matrix with sparse pyrite and chalcopyrite. Vein shears are offset by post-mineral faults, which are subordinate to the Quilchena fault.

In 1961, sampling of a 9-metre long trench is reported to have yielded 3.4 grams per tonne gold and 0.70 per cent copper, whereas drilling on the trenched area yielded up to 3.8 grams per tonne gold, 32.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.24 per cent copper over 14 metres of a quartz-calcite–veined and sheared andesite (Assessment Report 15852 and 18887).

In the mid 1960s, drilling on the occurrence is reported to have yielded 6.5 grams per tonne gold, 23.9 grams per tonne silver, 0.23 per cent copper and 0.047 per cent molybdenum over 1.5 metres in hole no. 12; 19.0, 13.7 and 10.6 grams per tonne gold, 41.0, 32.5 and 51.3 grams per tonne silver with 0.25, 0.30 and 0.22 per cent copper over 1.50, 0.15 and 0.30 metres, respectively, in hole no. 8 and 5.5 grams per tonne gold, 38.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.30 per cent copper over 11.1 metres in hole no. 9 (Property File - 810696).

In 1986, four samples (no. 13A, 13B, 13C and 14) from a historical trench exposing a mineralized quartz vein over a strike length of approximately 250 metres yielded from 0.225 to 0.795 per cent copper, 0.4 to 9.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.270 to 14.040 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 15572). Also at this time, three samples (no. 8A, 8B and 8C) from a second mineralized quartz vein, located approximately 250 metres southwest of the previous vein yielded from 0.6 to 11.1 grams per tonne silver and 0.300 to 0.470 gram per tonne gold, whereas another sample (no. 18) from a mineralized vein exposed approximately 200 metres west of the first vein yielded 1.277 per cent copper and 0.290 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 15572).

In 1987, drillhole 87-1 yielded 0.25 and 0.26 gram per tonne gold over two separate 3.0-metre sections (Assessment Report 15852).

In 1989, a grab sample (89-IRC-012) assayed 1.89 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 18887).

In 2019, a rock sample (R4A) of banded quartz-calcite veining in a sheared andesite exposed in a historical trench yielded 1.27 grams per tonne gold and 16.0 grams per tonne silver, whereas a sample (R2A) of andesite with minor chalcopyrite from a historical opencut yielded 0.157 per cent copper (Assessment Report 39073).

Work History

In the early 1960s, programs of trenching, diamond drilling and sampling are reported to have been performed on the area.

In 1966, Rameda Mines completed a 61.7 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately southeast of the occurrence as the Ester and Ruth claims.

In 1980, Kum Resources Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling, geological mapping and a 14.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Vic claim. Also at this time, Cominco Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling, geological mapping and a 20.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the Payday claims.

In 1984, Futurtek Communications Inc. completed a program of soil sampling on the area immediately southwest of the occurrence as the Tor claim.

In 1986, Iota Explorations Ltd. completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping and sampling on the area as the G&G 1 claim. The following year, two diamond drill holes, totalling 244.5 metres, and an 8.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey was completed.

In 1989, Iota Explorations Ltd. completed a program of rock sampling and a 20.8 line-kilometres ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area as the Iota property.

In 2009, a program of prospecting and sampling was completed on the area by Julia Wang as the Iota property.

In 2014, Tech-X Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Augusta claims of the Nicola Lake property. The following year, a 12.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed.

In 2019, Christopher Delorme completed a minor program of prospecting and sampling on the area as the MVS property.