Staking active near Kirkland Lake

The discovery of eight microdiamonds on Sudbury Contact Mines’ (TSE) Diamond Lake project east of Kirkland Lake, Ont., has sparked a staking rush in the area.

Although it is too early to determine the magnitude of the rush, mining recorder Martin Cuda says he has already received claim applications for McVittie Twp. At least four local prospectors are involved in the staking, said prospector Carl Forbes, who has personally staked 150 claims. (Under Ontario’s year-old Mining Act, prospectors have up to 30 days to register their claim applications with the local mining recorder.) At the beginning of April, Sudbury Contact announced the discovery of eight microdiamonds, four of gem quality, in

a kimberlite pipe on its Diamond Lake project (T.N.M., Apr. 06/92). Results of a second batch of six samples are pending.

Sudbury Contact is earning a 60% interest in 51 of its 329 claims from Panthco Resources (CDN) in exchange for cash payments totalling $110,000 and exploration expenditures of $500,000. The Mary-Ann property, as Panthco calls it, lies in Gauthier and McVittie twps.

Although Sudbury has not yet disclosed the exact location of the discovery, Panthco President Ken McLay says it lies outside the Mary-Ann property. Forbes says the townships attracting the most activity include McVittie, Gauthier, Katrine, Arnold, Morrisette, Melba, and Bisley.