EXPLORATION ’93 — Timmins an active exploration camp

There may not be a lot of major new discovery announcements coming out of the historic Porcupine gold mining camp these days, but that doesn’t mean the area is being ignored.

In fact, in comparison with other mining districts in Ontario, the Porcupine or Timmins camp is still one of the busiest around. Perhaps the most exciting news in the camp these days is the incredible turnaround accomplished at the 84-year-old Dome mine of Placer Dome (TSE). The company settled a 6-month strike Oct. 31, 1990. At the time, the mine was reporting annual losses of close to $4 million. The mine cut its workforce in half, laying of 350 production and office workers.

Today, Dome is reporting pre-tax earnings of $9 million for all of 1992. The mine is reporting record production figures while slashing costs. All of this has been accomplished with no compromises in safety and a low average price for gold.

The success has attracted a lot of attention, according to assistant human resources manager Domenic Rizzuto. “I’d say there’s a different mining operation here every other week,” Rizzuto said.

Mining companies from around the world, he said, are looking to duplicate or learn from the Dome success formula.

Elsewhere in the camp, a late February announcement by Noranda (TSE) that it intends to reduce its total zinc concentrate by 40,000-45,000 tons has the community wondering what kind of an impact it will have on the Kidd Creek operation.

The news is tempered somewhat by two separate exploration projects. White Star Copper Mines (CDN) reported that Falconbridge had intersected sulphide mineralization, primarily pyrite, in drilling on its Kidd Twp. claim group near the Kidd Creek base metal mine.

Since February, 1992, Falconbridge has drilled 29,000 feet of core in 14 holes on the property. The company will be spending at least $600,000 on the property in 1993.

Falconbridge has an option to earn a 100% interest in the property by paying White Star $100,000 annually for 5 years. White Star retains a net smelter royalty.

Falconbridge also has five drills exploring the old Kam-Kotia mine base metal property in the west end of Timmins, which was closed during the Second World War. The exploration program is the first in the area since the closure. The biggest unknown in the Porcupine camp is the intention of Royal Oak Mines (TSE) as it relates to the company’s enviable land position. Royal Oak now has a continuous property line of about 17 miles straddling the historic Porcupine-Destor fault. As yet, the company has not indicated its plans for the property, which includes former high-grade producers such as the Hallnor, Broulan Reef and Coniaurum Gold Mines.

Black Hawk Mining (TSE) has yet to launch a down-dip extension exploration program for its recently acquired Redstone nickel mine. Black Hawk paid Timmins Nickel (TSE) $150,000 for ownership of the property, the infrastructure and 63 related claims.

Two other companies, Band-Ore Resources (CDN) and Kingswood Resources (ASE) have tied up claims in west Timmins as well. The two companies are negotiating exploration agreements with majors in the hope the claims are part of a splay off the Porcupine-Destor fault.

Last year was an extremely busy year for the number of mining claims and claim

units recorded in the Porcupine camp; the 10,474 recorded claims were the most since 1986 when 17,889 were recorded.

Almost 29,000 claims were being worked in the camp in 1992, again, the highest number since 1988. About $2.3 million was spent on assessment work in the camp last year.

Great White Minerals of Timmins is using a $58,000 contribution from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund in a feasibility study of silica deposits in the Timmins area. The project involves market analysis, research, development and bulk sampling of the quartz-rich silica deposits located south of Timmins. Random assaying indicated the deposits show potential for high purity quartz used for tiles, architectural panels, crucibles and fibre optics. The company, spearheaded by prospector David Larche, is targeting the export and domestic markets.

Another story out of the Timmins area these past months has been the announcement by Robert Ginn that a new company has secured permission to conduct exploration in the downtown core of Timmins. Ginn was in Timmins last month outlining his plans to drill on old railway lands that lie in the heart of the city.

The property has never been explored. It sits adjacent to the historic highgrade Hollinger gold mine site. Ginn explained at a public meeting that it makes sense to explore the property because “it’s a natural place to look.” About 15 acres of land has been sitting idle since the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission removed its railway tracks and roundhouse from downtown Timmins in 1989.

— Kevin Vincent is a writer from Timmins, Ont.