Maude Lake drills Comtois

Montreal-based Maude Lake Exploration (MAU-M) has started a 4,000-metre drilling program at its 50%-held Comtois property near Lebel-sur-Quvillon, Que.

The program is aimed at increasing resources in the North and South zones, which collectively stand at 1.8 million tonnes grading 4.5 grams gold per tonne, including 695,485 tonnes at 9.05 grams. The program also will test geochemical anomalies along the northern extensions of the known zones, and seek to relocate two gold zones that had previously returned grades of 3.43 grams gold over 5.3 metres, 5.3 grams over 1.5 metres, and 10.4 grams over 2.6 metres. Possible extensions to these zones will also be evaluated.

Rubicon eyes Slate Bay target

A 1,500-metre drilling program by Rubicon Minerals (RMX-V) will test the Slate Bay gold target at the company’s extensive land package in the Red Lake camp of northwestern Ontario.

The Slate Bay project is 11 km from the producing Campbell and Red Lake gold mines, operated by Placer Dome and Goldcorp, respectively. These underground mines have jointly produced more than 13 million oz. gold since operations began decades ago.

Rubicon’s exploration efforts are being assisted by joint-venture partner AngloGold (AU-N), which can earn a 60% interest by funding US$3 million of exploration over five years. Previous sampling at Slate Bay returned 3.44 grams gold per tonne over 21.85 metres, including 5.6 grams gold over 6.1 metres, from mineralized sediments close to a felsic intrusive body. The mineralization is reported to be associated with a strong induced-polarization chargeability anomaly that is interpreted to reflect increased sulphide content over the target area. Rubicon and AngloGold also plan to test other priority targets on their land holdings.

In other news, former partner Billiton has dropped its option on Rubicon’s Point Leamington and Lewis Lake base metal properties in the Bathurst camp of New Brunswick. Billiton retains its 3.9% equity interest in Rubicon, which in turn retains a 100% interest in both projects.

Davidson Tisdale, Falco in talks

A deal has yet to be drawn up, yet Davidson Tisdale (YDD-V) plans to meet with Falconbridge (FL-N) to discuss geological and technical information pertaining to its land package in northeastern Tisdale Twp., north of Timmins, Ont.

Davidson Tisdale President Robert Norcott says the parties have made no commitment; nor have they entered into any discussion other than to disclose to Falconbridge “confidential information with respect to possible base metal potential on certain mineral properties in which Davidson Tisdale has an interest.”

WMC mulls offers for gold assets

The boards of Comaplex Minerals (CMF-T) and Cumberland Resources (CBD-T) expect Australian miner WMC to make a decision within the next few months on whether it will accept one of several offers for its gold assets, including the Meliadine West property, near Rankin Inlet in Nunavut.

Comaplex and Cumberland each have a 22% stake in Meliadine West, with operator WMC holding 56%. At last report, the project contained 22.1 million tonnes averaging 6.33 grams in five deposits. The juniors have a right of refusal with regard to a sale of the WMC interest, and may acquire the property if they match any offer accepted by WMC. WMC is also selling its producing gold mines in Australia.