Ashton resumes work at NWT properties

Armed with $1.3 million from a private placement, diamond-hunter Ashton Mining of Canada (ACA-T) has begun ground geophysical surveys on three properties in the Northwest Territories.

At the 17,600-ha Cross property, 200 km southwest of the Ekati diamond mine, Ashton stands to earn a half-interest from Pure Gold Minerals (PUG-T) and Tenajon Resources (TJS-V).

Between 1994 and 1996, Ashton discovered three diamondiferous kimberlites, which it dubbed Cross, Ursa and Orion. Further exploration on the property has revealed indicator minerals with fresh abrasion characteristics. These samples were recovered from heavy mineral samples collected down-ice from five lakes.

Airborne geophysical anomalies coincident with the indicator mineral fan have been detected under three of the lakes. Follow-up ground geophysics will be completed over all of the lakes this winter.

Adjoining Cross Lake to the north is the Star property, 180 km southwest of Ekati. Here, heavy mineral sampling has defined a potential source area at the junction of three lakes. A ground geophysical program is under way on a 1-sq.-km area around the lakes.

Ashton holds a 56% interest in the 720-sq.-km Star property; Pure Gold has a 24% stake; and the remainder is held by Tenajon.

Meanwhile, at the 19,400-ha Roundrock property, 130 km west of Ekati, four large areas are scheduled for ground geophysical surveys during the winter. The sub-economic diamondiferous Aquila kimberlite was discovered on the property in 1996, and Ashton reports that there are still many unexplained indicator mineral trains present.

Ashton holds a 53% interest in Roundrock; Tahera (TAH-T), 25%; Pure Gold, 12%; Paramount Ventures & Finance (PVF-V), 8%; and Silverarrow (SVI-V), 2%.