Eastmain cuts sulphides at Akweskwa project

Diamond drills are turning at the Akweskwa project of Eastmain Resources (CDN), 60 km southwest of Timmins, Ont.

Two holes have been drilled to date, for a total of 525 metres, and the program is expected to wind down before year-end.

Previous property holders had found gold mineralization in three stacked zones of pyritic quartz-muscovite schist. Eastmain used geological mapping and induced-polarization surveys to trace continuations of the zones, and the two drill holes intersected intervals of pyritic schist measuring up to 50 metres in length. Assays are pending.

Eastmain has also drill-tested electromagnetic conductors on its Kidd project, a joint venture with Falconbridge (TSE) in Wark Twp., northeast of Timmins. The first of two holes cut rhyolite with disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite. The second cut faulted, ultramafic and mafic volcanic rocks.

Eastmain is awaiting the resolution of an appeal to the Mining and Lands Commissioner before drilling another conductor on the property. The conductor is on a claim, currently registered by Falconbridge, that has been disputed by a third party.

In 1996, Eastmain plans to carry out more drilling on its Reservoir project in northern Quebec, where this year’s program encountered a 21-metre interval grading 1.79 grams gold per tonne.

Also situated in the Eastmain River area is the company’s Eau Claire project, a joint venture with Westmin Resources (TSE), which is under option to Soquem. The Quebec Crown corporation, which is earning a half interest in the project, sampled the B vein at Eau Claire in 1995; channel samples returned gold concentrations of 7-21 grams per tonne across widths of 0.45-1.45 metres. More drilling is planned for next year.