The Sunshine (Zone 3) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1560 metres on a southwest facing slope and northeast of Tolman Lake.
The Tolman Lake area is underlain by intermediate volcaniclastic and flow rocks of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. These are intruded by the Guichon Creek batholith 5 kilometres to the west and the Nicola batholith 9 kilometres to the east, both of which are granitic in composition and Lower Jurassic in age. A strongly brecciated shear zone within Nicola Group andesite strikes 045 degrees, dips steeply to the northwest and is apparently continuous over a strike length of 2000 metres. This structure hosts three zones of mineralization.
In Zone 3, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite occur in a brecciated zone with a quartz-calcite matrix. The hangingwall consists of bleached and pyritic andesite which grades into numerous quartz and calcite veins carrying sphalerite and galena. The footwall consists of highly silicified andesite containing unmineralized quartz and calcite veins. The mineralized brecciated zone varies in width up to 6.5 metres and is cut and slightly offset by several near-vertical, north trending faults.
Zone 3 has been tested by diamond drilling and underground development to a depth of 50 metres over a length of 165 metres. In 1971, unclassified reserves are 258,5233 tonnes averaging 1.69 per cent lead, 4.8 per cent zinc, 0.18 per cent copper and 12.34 grams per tonne silver. The grade is difficult to determine due to very poor drill core recovery. The grade is based on drill core and adit sampling (Elwell, 1971).
Work History
In 1965, Vastlode Mining Co. Ltd. completed several open cuts and trenches on the Zone 1 occurrence. They also completed 900 metres of diamond drilling. In 1966, an additional five drill holes were completed on the Zone 2 occurrence.
In 1967, San Doh Mines Ltd. completed a program of trenching and 18 drill holes on the Zone 2 and 3 occurrences. Also at this time, Highland Lode Mines completed a program of additional stripping, trenching, 16 diamond drill holes, totalling 900 metres, and an adit on the central (Zone 3) occurrence. The adit was driven for 325 metres, of which 130 metres was drifted along the mineralized zone. Drilling highlights included 39.3 grams per tonne silver, 2.70 per cent lead, 8.07 per cent zinc and 0.22 per cent copper over 6.6 metres in hole 67-7 (Turner, J.A. (2012-09-17): Technical Report NI 43-101 for the Lucky Mike Copper-Tungsten Property).
During 1969 through 1972, Highland Lode Mines completed programs of geological mapping and six diamond drill holes, totalling 648.6 metres, on the area.
In 1976, Ruskin Development conducted a program of electromagnetic (VLF) surveys and geochemical sampling on the Zone 1, 2 and 3 occurrences. In 1977, four diamond drill holes, totalling 207 metres, were completed on the Zone 3 occurrence. Drilling highlights included 8.2 and 6.2 grams per tonne silver, 2.02 and 3.17 per cent lead, 5.62 and 8.16 per cent zinc with 0.35 and 0.36 per cent copper over 4.35 and 3.60 metres in holes 77-1 and 77-2, respectively (Turner, J.A. (2012-09-17): Technical Report NI 43-101 for the Lucky Mike Copper-Tungsten Property).
In 1979, C.D.R. Resources Inc. (formerly Highland Lode Mines Ltd.) completed 12 diamond drill holes, totalling 507 metres, on the Zone 2 and 3 occurrences. Drilling highlights included 1.43 per cent copper and 0.16 per cent zinc over 1.8 metres in hole H-5, 1.01 per cent lead, 4.75 per cent zinc and 0.28 per cent copper over 2.25 metres in hole H-6 and 0.43 per cent lead with 2.27 per cent zinc over 4.35 metres in hole H-7 (Turner, J.A. (2012-09-17): Technical Report NI 43-101 for the Lucky Mike Copper-Tungsten Property).
In 1988, Corona Corp. completed an airborne geophysical survey on the area.
In 1998 and 1999, Ahura Mining Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, rock sampling and a 27.2 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the Andy 1-2 claims of the How property. Two rock samples (M-24 and -25) from the occurrence area yielded 15.8 and 90.6 grams per tonne silver, 0.56 and 1.00 per cent copper, 1.35 and 2.11 per cent lead with 1.77 and 0.49 per cent zinc, respectively (Assessment Report 26068).
During 2011 through 2016, Plate Resources Corp. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, airborne and ground geophysical surveys and diamond drilling on the area as apart of the Lucky Mike property. In 2011, a 0.3 metre chip sample (80986) assayed 0.426 per cent copper, 4.29 per cent lead, 8.34 per cent zinc and 18.2 grams per tonne silver (Turner, J.A. (2012-09-17): Technical Report NI 43-101 for the Lucky Mike Copper-Tungsten Property).
