British Columbia is again becoming the promised land. Bear in mind that it tried two decades ago to discourage exploration and mining. The province has obviously seen the error of its old ways and is again encouraging companies to examine its considerable mineral wealth. In the last week alone, the following news items landed in CMJ's inbox, and there are undoubtedly many more.
Vancouver-based STRONGBOW EXPLORATION (60%) and ALMADEN MINERALS report high grade gold intersections from their Skoonka Creek property in the southern portion of the province. The first drilling ever done on the property hit 18.4 g/t Au over 12.8 metres. The property is bounded in part by the Fraser River, site of a gold rush in the late 1850s.
SEABRIDGE GOLD of Toronto says gold mineralization was cut at all six drill targets on its Kerr-Sulphurets property 65 km northwest of Stewart. The Iron Cap (best intersection 1.09 g/t Au and 0.23% Cu over 60.0 metres), West Mitchell (0.91 g/t Au and 0.22% Cu over 120.6 metres) and Icefields (1.64 g/t Au and 0.47% Cu over 8.0 metres) zones yielded the most encouraging results. The current exploration program is being conducted by FALCONBRIDGE, which can earn a 65% interest.
In southeastern B.C., high grade molybdenum mineralization has been drilled on the Steward property belonging to EMGOLD MINING of Vancouver. Mineralized breccia from one hole assayed 0.592% MoS2 over a 35.91-metre section. Emgold twinned its recent holes with those drilled by Shell Minerals in the early 1980s and came up with comparable grades.
Vancouver's SKYGOLD VENTURES (which is earning a 70% interest) and WILDROSE RESOURCES have expanded the open pit potential at their Spanish Mountain project in the Cariboo region. One hole intersected 35.05 metres of 1.08 g/t Au including 10.66 metres of 1.51 g/t Au. Another intersected 10.97 metres of 0.93 g/t Au within a larger lower grade interval. Both of these holes ended in mineralization. Skygold is pinning its hopes on a large-scale bulk minable gold system.
MANTLE RESOURCES of Vancouver has hit pay dirt with the first drill hole completed at the Akie zinc-lead property in northeastern B.C. Core assayed 10.98% Zn, 2.61% Pb and silver over 37.05 metres. That length included 23.83 metres at 15.02% Zn and 3.27% Pb plus 17.93 metres of 17.22% Zn and 4.20% Pb. Mantle is earning a 65% interest in the project from ECSTALL MINING CORP.
Last and by no means least, NORTHGATE MINERALS of Vancouver has confirmed the presence of a new mineralized system near the Kemess North development. Two holes in the Kemess North Offset returned 0.21% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au over 306.9 metres and 0.18% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au over 507.6 metres, respectively. Development of the Kemess North pit has the potential to double the feed available for the Kemess mill and extend the mine life to 2020.
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