The Tar showing is located south of Skuhun Creek approximately 6.4 kilometres from its confluence with the Nicola River.
The area is underlain by Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith Border phase monzonites, and to the east by Chataway phase granodiorites. The batholith intrudes Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanics and sediments to the southwest. Nicola Group outcrops are sparse and tend to be chloritized or schistose. Flat- lying Middle and Upper Cretaceous Spences Bridge Group porphyritic andesites form cliffs to the south.
Faulting and fracturing are common within the batholith and on its borders with Nicola volcanics. Its composition changes from biotite, plagioclase and orthoclase at the border to hornblende, plagioclase, orthoclase and minor biotite over approximately 120 metres from the border. Approximately 150 metres from the edge of the batholith a parallel zone of propylitic alteration comprises epidote-orthoclase veining and minor replacement of the host rock by orthoclase.
Sporadically disseminated chalcopyrite is associated with the alteration. To the southwest plagioclase is completely replaced by orthoclase in the host rock. Here chalcopyrite is more abundant, occurring in large irregular patches along joint faces and fractures within syenite. Minor chalcopyrite occurs in adjacent wallrock. In one location a 45 centimetre wide mineralized zone occurs along the northeast face of a feldspar andesite dike. One bornite crystal was reported but the location is not mentioned (Assessment Report 2011). Malachite staining is seen in various outcrops.
Work History
In 1969 and 1970, Highland Valley Mines completed programs of geological mapping and soil sampling on the area as the Tar group. Later the same year, Cominco completed a program of geological mapping and an induced polarization survey on the area immediately northeast as the Highland Queen property.
Also in 1969 and 1971, Croyden Mines completed program of soil sampling and a ground magnetometer survey on the area as the TN and Tan claims. In 1973, Highland Chief Mines completed a program of soil sampling and a ground magnetometer survey on the area as the Egg claims.
In 2007 and 2008, Appleton Exploration completed programs of prospecting and soil sampling on the area as the Clapperton property. In 2009, Christopher James Gold completed a program of geological mapping, prospecting and rock, silt and soil sampling on the area immediately east as the Craigmont West property.
During late 2008 through 2012, Happy Creek Minerals completed programs of geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, geological mapping, three diamond drill hole, totalling 740.9 metres, an induced polarization survey and a 1463.0 line-kilometre airborne gamma ray spectrometer and magnetic survey on the area as the West Valley and Abbott properties.
During 2013 through 2019, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, a 32.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and re-interpretating historical airborne geophysical data on the area as apart of the Rateria-West Valley property.
