Boston deposit reveals bonanza grades

Infill drilling at the Hope Bay project, in the Hope Bay greenstone belt of northwestern Nunavut, indicates that the Boston gold deposit is richer than previously thought.

Partners Miramar Mining (MAE-T) and Cambiex (CBX-T) are in the midst of a 40,000-metre drill campaign for reserve development at the Boston and Doris deposits. Although they exist at separate ends of the belt, the deposits are part of a package Cambiex bought last summer from the Canadian arm of Australian-based Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP-N).

At Boston, three high-grade shoots are emerging in the B2 zone. BHP had attached to that zone an inferred resource of 4.2 million tonnes grading 12.2 grams gold per tonne within an overall inferred resource for the deposit of 5.7 million tonnes grading 13.2 grams.

At the Central lens, 15 infill holes have traced high grades over a strike length of 50-70 metres and to a vertical extent of 300 metres. Hole 286 yielded the highest grade: 80.12 grams over 2.92 metres (true width, starting aat 125.5 metres down-hole). Hole 270 cut the widest interval: 16.86 metres (starting at 76.88 metres down-hole) grading 40.37 grams. Other highlights include the following:

– 39.18 grams over 2.23 metres (from 49.5 to 53.5 metres) in hole 236;

– 69.61 grams over 4.51 metres (134-140.25 metres) in hole 275; and

– 43.86 grams over 0.79 metre (129.28-130.28 metres) in hole 285.

Drilling has defined the North lens over a strike length of 60-80 metres and to more than 250 metres vertically. The highest grade came from hole 282, which averaged 238.1 grams over 0.22 metre (starting at 183.82 metres down-hole). The widest interval was 5.24 metres, averaging 25.06 grams, which was cut by hole 251, starting at a down-hole depth of 59.8 metres.

The Boston South lens, which was discovered earlier this year as an extension to the previously known limits of the B2 zone (T.N.M., April 17/00), has been defined over a strike length of 60-70 metres and a vertical extent of 150 metres. Highlights include:

– hole 259, which averaged 148.7 grams over 0.89 metre (96.55-98.55 metres);

– hole 323, which cut 47.22 grams over 1.78 metres (48.13-50.1 metres);

– hole 241, which hit 29.5 grams over 1.1 metres (46.5-48 metres); and

– hole 240, which returned 19.92 grams over 1.62 metres (33-35 metres).

All mineralization drilled to date is within 350 metres of surface. Also, each of the high-grade zones remains open at depth, with the South lens being open to the south as well.

Meanwhile, at the Doris deposit, which lies at the northern end of the Hope Bay belt, the partners are continuing to infill BHP’s drill pattern in an attempt to outline a deposit with the potential to support a high-grade open-pit and underground operation. The major’s efforts outlined an inferred resource of 2.1 million tonnes grading 17.8 grams gold in two sections.

This year’s drill program also includes 5,000 metres slated for the South Patch zone, where up to 48.1 grams gold per tonne over 4.2 metres have been intersected. Further drilling in the area is expected to augment known resources at Doris.

To earn a half-interest in the project, Miramar paid Cambiex US$13.3 million last year and is required to spend another $2 million on work programs over the next six months. In addition, Miramar must arrange for third-party financing (no less than 60% of the total funds) to bring a mine into production.

Cambiex is managing exploration, whereas Miramar has agreed to act as operator during the feasibility and development phases, should the project advance that far.