Partners gain North Shore ground

Partners First Western Minerals (VSE) and Virginia Gold Mines (ME) have acquired three nickel-copper prospects northeast of Sept-Iles, Que.

The properties, which occupy 23 sq. km, are near Magpie Lake, north of the Nipisis property of Soquem and Iron Ore Co. of Canada, where a $4-million exploration program has just been finished. The properties were staked in an area where gabbro and anorthosite intrude gneisses, and both companies note the potential for Labrador-type nickel-copper deposits. Lake sediment samples taken in earlier government geochemical programs in the area had high concentrations of nickel, copper and cobalt.

Also, Virginia and Placer Dome (TSE) have discovered a mineralized occurrence on their Wakeham property, about 300 km east of Sept-Iles. Samples from the 100-by-150-metre surface showing had an average copper content of 0.77%.