Forbex accused of claim jumping

Rouyn-Noranda-based Forbex Resources (ME) has filed a notice of staking with the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Quebec concerning 54 claims it staked in Benoit Twp., Que., where Freewest Resources (TSE) announced a gold discovery last month. The recently staked Forbex claims are situated north of the Freewest discovery and cover ground previously staked by Freewest on Pusticamica Lake.

“Filing of the notice of staking will probably cause a dispute to occur under Quebec’s Mining Act,” said Forbex President Andre Depeyre. He said most of Forbex’s claims overlap claims previously recorded in the name of Freewest, including 14 claims immediately north of where Freewest is currently drilling.

Forbex originally sent its stakers to acquire the best possible ground available in the area after the discovery was made, said Depeyre. “Once on site, our stakers observed that the ground contiguous to the discovery was open for staking, so they immediately staked it.”

Shares of Forbex, of which there are nearly 4.9 million issued and outstanding, have traded recently at around 12 cents.

According to Freewest President Mackenzie Watson, however, his company had already staked most of its Lac Pusticamica property several years ago. He said he would be “very surprised” if the ministry accepts Forbex’s claim application.

Watson said the Freewest property was “properly and validly staked,” some claims in 1986 and the balance in 1989. The company’s ownership has never been disputed until the recent announcement by Forbex.

He called the Forbex staking a “frivolous act” designed mainly to take advantage of the recent stock market excitement generated by Freewest’s gold discovery in Benoit Twp. “This action by Forbex is purely opportunistic and without merit.”

Since the area is covered by the waters of Pusticamica Lake, witness posts are required when staking over the water-covered portions. The old Freewest witness posts may have been covered by snow at the time of Forbex’s staking, explained Watson. The stakers may not have been able to find the old snow-covered posts, and may have overstaked the claims as a result.

Watson said “Freewest will contest vigorously” any attempt by Forbex to record the Benoit Twp. claims.