The Northeast Copper Zone (Fortuna) occurrence is located on Mount Sicker, approximately 4.5 kilometres west of Westholme. The occurrence lies approximately 2 kilometres east-northeast of the Lenora-Tyee (Twin J) volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit (MINFILE 092B 001).

Regionally, the area is located within the Cowichan uplift and is underlain mainly by andesitic to rhyolitic volcanics of the Middle to Upper Devonian McLaughlin Ridge and Myra Formations (Sicker Group). The local stratigraphy is disrupted by folding, faulting (pre-Triassic as well as Paleogene–Neogene), intrusions of gabbro and diabase sills and dikes (known as the Mount Hall gabbro) that are coeval with the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group).

Locally, a sequence of quartz-sericite-pyrite– and chlorite–altered rhyolitic tuffs of the McLaughlin Ridge Formation are mineralized by pervasive disseminated pyrite and by conformable lenses of massive pyrite accompanied by lesser chalcopyrite. The mineralized area measures approximately 12 by 5 metres.

Approximately 250 metres to the northwest of the zone is what is thought to be the old Fortuna adit, which was driven into a package of interbedded chert and variably sericitized and chlorite felsic ash tuff and contains abundant stockwork chalcopyrite mineralization. In 2010, grab sampling yielded values up to 1.88 per cent copper and 4.6 grams per tonne silver (sample C479638; Assessment Report 31677).

A second shaft, located approximately 250 metres to the east of the Fortuna adit, exposes quartz-sericite-pyrite–altered quartz-feldspar phyric rhyolite that contains abundant pyrite and trace chalcopyrite mineralization in the form of disseminations (1 to 2 per cent) and stringers up to 15 centimetres in thickness. Massive pyrite with trace chalcopyrite was found in the mine dump below this shaft. In 2010, samples of this material contained up to 0.39 per cent copper, 5.7 grams per tonne silver and 0.82 grams per tonne gold (sample C479633; Assessment Report 31677).

Approximately 100 metres east of the Fortuna adit, sericite-altered, grey-green felsic ash tuff contains blebby chalcopyrite and pyrite stringers, as well as disseminations. In 2010, grab samples assayed up to 1.01 per cent copper and 3.4 grams per tonne silver (sample CC479632; Assessment Report 31677).

Work History

In 1989, the Fortuna tunnel had been driven for approximately 39.6 metres and was reported to have crosscut approximately 2 metres of copper ore.

In 1972, Duncanex Resources completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping and a 34.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the CF Group. The following year, Mt. Sicker Mines Ltd. conducted an 8.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the CF Group of claims.

During 1978 through 1980, S.E.R.E.M. Limited completed programs of geological mapping, ground geophysical surveys and soil sampling. Selected specimens assayed as high as 2 per cent copper and 10.28 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 7875).

In 1986, Falconbridge Copper completed a 23.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area. Also at this time, four diamond drill holes (MTS-11, -12, -14 and -16) were completed on the adjacent Rocky 5, CF Group 3 and CF Group 5 claims to test the Northeast Copper Horizon downdip of previous drill intersections by Duncanex.

During 1987 though 1990, Minnova completed programs of geochemical sampling and one diamond drill hole (MTS-92), totalling 172.5 metres, on the area as the Rocky 2 claim of the Mount Sicker property.

In 2008, Westridge Resources completed a 440.3 line-kilometre airborne geophysical (magnetic and electromagnetic) survey on the area as part of the Fortuna property. In 2010, Westridge Resources conducted a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Big Sicker Mountain property.

In 2020, 911 Mining Co. conducted a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock and silt) sampling on the area as the Mount Sicker property. Three samples (S62, S63 and S66) from the Northeast Copper zone yielded from 0.17 to 5.45 per cent copper with 0.04 to 1.33 per cent zinc, and two samples (S64 and S65) from the Fortuna adit and dump yielded 0.23 and 1.01 per cent copper with 0.12 and 0.13 per cent zinc, respectively (Portable-XRF assays; Assessment Report 39405). Also at this time, two samples (S67 and S68) from the area of a 5-metre long shaft, located approximately 200 metres southeast of the Northeast Copper zone, yielded 1.04 and 0.29 per cent copper (Portable-XRF assays; Assessment Report 39405).

In 2021 and 2022, Scenc Resources Corp. completed a minor program of geological mapping, rock sampling, a 1.8 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and four backpack drill holes, totalling 14.9 metres, on the Mount Sicker property. Five outcrop samples of sulphidic cherts and schistose volcanics hosting 15 to 75 per cent sulphides including pyrite and chalcopyrite from the Fortuna adit area yielded from 0.24 to 2.07 per cent copper and 0.05 to 0.81 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 40298).

Later in 2022, Sasquatch Resources Corp. completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping, drillcore and rock sampling and a 418.2 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic survey on the Mount Sicker property.