Success in Republic camp spills into southern B.C.

Prospectors active in southern British Columbia are reporting a flurry of staking activity in the Okanagan district, a region considered prospective to host skarn-type or epithermal vein-type precious metals mineralization similar to that found in the Republic district across the border in Washington State. The Republic camp hosts several producing mines, including the Republic gold mine owned by Hecla Mining (NYSE) and the Kettle River gold mine owned by Echo Bay Mines (TSE) and Crown Resources (VSE).

In addition to these successful operations, the area also contains the advanced Crown Jewel gold property being explored by Crown and its joint venture partner, Battle Mountain Gold (NYSE).

Chris Herald, president of Crown, said the current staking activity rumored to be taking place near Oliver in southern British Columbia does not involve Crown Resources.

“We staked about 40,000 acres in Canada between our Crown Jewel property and the Nickel Plate gold mine about a year ago,” he told The Northern Miner. “We feel we already have a good ground position in Canada.”

Herald said Crown is exploring for gold skarns similar to Crown Jewel and to Corona’s Nickel Plate mine near Hedley, B.C. Battle Mountain is also reported to have acquired ground in southern British Columbia last year, including properties in the Greenwood camp east of Oliver.

The current staking activity is rumored to be linked to companies or individuals associated with Prime Equities (VSE). Management of Prime Equities would only say the group is “looking at the area.”