The Bonanza Lake (NIM 19-22) limestone occurrence is located to the west of the Kokish River, approximately 5 kilometres south of the community of Beaver Cove.

The area is underlain by the Karmutsen, Parson’s Bay and Quatsino formations. Similar to the Nimpkish Lake area, the Karmutsen Formation comprises incompletely metamorphosed basaltic and andesitic flows, tuffs, agglomerates, and breccias, with minor interbedded limestone. The high-quality Bonanza Lake limestone occurrences are part of the Quatsino Formation of the Vancouver Group. The Parson’s Bay Formation generally consists of low-quality, light grey limestone with laminae and thin interbeds of calcareous black shale.

In 2009, sampling of the Bonanza Lake limestone returned values of 97.29 per cent calcium carbonate, 0.52 per cent magnesium carbonate and 0.72 per cent silica (Assessment Report 31443).

In 2013, 11 Quatsino Formation limestone samples of variable quality yielded values ranging from 72.50 to 97.99 per cent calcium carbonate, 0.44 to 5.82 per cent magnesium carbonate and 0.59 to 13.23 silicon dioxide (Assessment Report 34609).

Work History

During 2010 through 2019, Graymont Western Canada Inc. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, rock sampling and 561.8 line-kilometres of ground magnetic surveys on the area as part of the MQ, Nimpkish, Varney Bay and Bonanza properties.