Drilling tests Schumacher property

The re-interpretation of drill cores from the Schumacher property east of Timmins, Ont., suggests the claim group may host two sets of flat-lying veins, in addition to the nearly vertical, east-striking structures that Pentland Firth Ventures (TSE) has been drilling since the summer.

Mineralization found at depths of between 35 and 82 metres, with grades averaging 1.7 grams gold per tonne, was originally believed to be part of the known V-1 vein system on the Schumacher property and Black Hawk Mining’s (TSE) Vogel property, immediately to the east. Pentland geologists, noting the relatively wide and lower-grade intersections, began to see open-pit potential.

Contact angles visible in drill cores suggest that some veins are not vertical, and three more holes have been drilled to investigate. Two vertical holes, and a scissor hole (a hole drilled across the dip of earlier holes, in this case south across north) appear to cut veins that strike north and dip about 30! to the east.

Near-surface veins with shallow dips, in addition to the vertical structures already known, would increase the average grade of any open pit because there would be less barren rock to mine from a similarly sized pit. The new evidence of flat veins points to a better potential for an open-pit mine on the Schumacher property. While other mines in the Timmins camp have relied mainly on vertical structures for ore, many also had flat or nearly flat veins, notably the Dome-Preston-Paymaster deposits. Among newer Timmins mines, the Hoyle Pond deposit has some flat veins.

In Pentland’s new interpretation of the drill data, eight sets of near-vertical, east-west veins and two sets of gently east-dipping veins occur above 80 metres. Another vertical set appears at greater depth.

Pentland and Black Hawk Mining have concluded an agreement to exchange information, so that the companies — which are drilling the same mineralized system on adjacent properties — can design more effective drill programs.

Thunderwood Resources (TSE) and Kinross Gold (TSE) have started drilling their joint-venture property, east of Black Hawk’s property. Earlier drilling there has discovered gold mineralization grading between 4 and 19 grams over core lengths of 1 metre or longer. The drill program has a budget of $302,000 and will be operated by 65%-owner Kinross.