"Recent exploration by AWX within a recently identified Miocene porphyry copper-gold belt on northern Vancouver Island has resulted in the discovery of a significant new porphyry copper occurrence," the company said.

Assays from grab samples are pending.

The headline copper result was from a grab sample, which also contained 2.42g/t gold and 143g/t silver, from ArcWest's Nighthawk prospect at its Eagle copper-gold project.

The project generator describes Eagle as 55km west of Centerra Gold's Mount Milligan mine and 46km southeast of Serengeti Resources' Kwanika deposit.

ArcWest also reported grab samples from its Sparrowhawk copper-gold project in north-central BC, acquired in April for shares and C$5,000 cash, including 0.008g/t gold, 1.9g/t silver and 0.74% copper from the DCA zone.

The company, which had C$1.5 million (US$1.1 million) in working capital at March 31, has other properties in BC including Oxide Peak.  

Its shares closed up 10% to C5.5c - half-a-cent above a 52-week low of 5c - to capitalise it at $3.3 million (US$2.5 million).