THUNDER BAY, ON, ----- April 2, 2009 ---- The Magma Metals Current Lake Strike has grown from the finding of a boulder on the south west side of Current Lake which showed promising grades of Platinum and Palladium to one of the areas most active exploration zones. RFK explorations, a small Kirkland Lake exploration company states “RJK considers the Magma Metals Platinum-Palladium Thunder Bay North Discovery to be one of the more significant discoveries in Ontario over the last few years”.
Magma’s discovery led to extensive exploration of the area, beginning first with and aerial electromagnetic survey of the claim area. On the map shown above further exploration has begun the work of defining an ancient lava flow which filled the gaps when the earth’s crust split open hundreds of millions of years ago. The black peridotite rock of this flow is hosting some serious deposits of what is known as PGE or platinum group elements. There are also significant quantities of copper and nickel associated with this deposit. Naturally Magma metals has been busy trying to option of gain control of the mining claims in the area while at the same time raise funds for an ambitious drilling program.
Meanwhile other companies such as RJK are taking a closer look at the area. They are searching for similar formations that may host similar peridotite rock with the hopes that it also contains similar deposits of these minerals. On April 2nd this company announced that they have gained access to a number of claims in Dorion, and that they have just flown and aerial electromagnetic survey of these claims which include a number of electro-magnetic anomalies worth investigation. Reading from RJK’s recent news release, “The prospects for the discovery of other similar deposits in mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the area along the East-West trend are considered to be excellent”.
The blocks shaded dark grey in the map above indicates RJK’s mining claims in Dorion Township. There has been exploration activity on these properties going back to the late 1940’s. The red numbered circles on this map indicate occurrences of mineralization or drill holes. Three holes south of the others intersected peridotite rock, which in this area can really get a geologist excited.
RJK is a small mining exploration company dedicated to searching for valuable deposits of petroleum and mineralization in Canada. These claims are close to North American Palladium’s Lac Des Isles PME mine, and to the recently discovered Magma Metals number one prospect. In the next few years I expect RJK to spend some serious time studying their recent electromagnetic survey results, and then selecting some of the more promising places to drill. They still have a long ways to go before their claims become investor compliant. They are buoyed by the fact that historic drill holes from 1965 have intersected peridotite rock showing signs of mineralization. They are also encouraged that recent drill results at the Magna properties 19 kilometers to the west are showing signs of “massive” metal sulfides of these base and precious metals.
It is strange how events that may have happened 240 million years ago could be at work shaping the economy of North Western Ontario over the next few years. This region could become a powerhouse in the mining of PME resources with Las des Isles mine, the Magma property which so far shows so much promise and the hope for further discoveries in Dorion.
Mining will become one of the key drivers in Ontario’s future economy. With the potential for so much development in this area we should look at further developing mining infrastructure as well. A smelter which is proximal to the areas producing mines could make it more economic to operate, since concentrate would not have to be shipped long distances for refining. This could impact our communities in two ways, first the added jobs would be welcome, but it also created added stability, having a facility close at hand could make the difference of a mine such as Lac des Isles coming back into operation sooner than later. To anticipate a new smelter our community planners need to asses a prime location where environmental impact will be minimal, a site where roads, rail, and natural gas supplies are available. Poignantly this is a timely reminder that now is the time to create permanent industrial power structures for this province rather than the fluff industry must tolerate today. Industrial planning takes place over long periods of time and having the security of competitive rates for electricity is no greater a demand of the government than the governments demand that labour give up wages and benefits to secure their jobs. By placing all our marbles in a row we can secure a brilliant future for the district.
New potential mines such as Magma metals Current Lake project are attractive because they are close to communities and the infrastructure that they have. Time will tell if Dorion will play a role.
Our province has invested heavily in our region over the past 10 years. While most of us have been busy with work and family we may not have had time to notice the changes in our region. Sure the forest industry is not what it once was, but then neither is the economy. When all of the fake value is removed from the economy, and mechanisms in place to make sure that such extravagances don’t re-occur our economy will grow once more. At the time the real value of our forests will once again have meaning and so will the real value of our non renewable mining resources. The province knows that the primary wealth of the province always has been generated outside of its population centres. They are investing in our region with the hope that Northern Ontario will lead this province on the road to recovery.
Bert Rowson
LakeSuperiorNews.com