Avalon finds tantalum at Raleigh Lake

Avalon Ventures (AVL-V) has discovered tantalum mineralization in pegmatite dykes at the Raleigh Lake property, near Ignace in northwestern Ontario.

One grab sample yielded a value of 0.22% Ta2O5 plus anomalous lithium, rubidium and cesium values, whereas another five yieded grades greater than 0.04% Ta2O5.

In late September, the company will carry out preliminary diamond drilling to delineate several dykes in the Raleigh Lake pegmatite field.

Avalon can acquire a 100% interest in the 648-ha, 7-claim Raleigh Lake property from three prospectors by issuing 20,000 shares, paying $100,000 in cash and spending $400,000 on exploration over four years.

Avalon has also staked ground outside the optioned area, bringing its total holdings in the area to 7,391 ha in 35 claims.

Meanwhile, at the Separation Rapids petalite project, north of Kenora, Ont., Avalon has negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Wabaseemoong First Nation band regarding development of the Big Whopper deposit, 30 km northeast of the Wabaseemoong settlement at Whitedog, Ont. The band agrees to support any mine development at Separation Rapids provided the environment is protected and the band receives benefits such as job opportunities and training.

Avalon is awaiting approvals for an advanced exploration permit and an aggregate permit to complete an access road and begin bulk-sampling.

At Avalon’s Dubenski gold project, near Sioux Narrows in northwestern Ontario, Bema Gold (BGO-T) affiliate Consolidated Westview Resource (CWS-V) has completed a program of ground geophysical surveying and geological mapping. Exploration later this year will include geological mapping and trenching, followed by drilling to test continuation of the East Cedartree gold mineralization as well as other geophysical anomalies. Westview can earn a half-interest in Dubenski from Avalon by spending $2.5 million on exploration over five years and paying half of the cash due to the underlying property owners.