Getty, Noranda to go underground at Tundra

A $25-million underground exploration program has been proposed for the Tundra gold project by partners Noranda Exploration (51%) and Getty Resources (49%). Located in the N.W.T., the Tundra deposit, is believed by many to represent the largest undeveloped gold resource in Canada.

Mobilization for the large program, which includes the sinking of a 1,500-ft shaft, will follow the completion of drilling this winter. By Christmas, the partners expect to have completed almost 120,000 ft of diamond drilling, Reg Comeau, project geologist with Getty, told The Northern Miner.

During a meeting with Getty and Noranda officals at Noranda’s head office in Toronto, both parties stressed to The Northern Miner the magnitude and importance of the endeavor to each company. John Harvey, president of Noranda Exploration and a person of few, but well chosen words, stressed that “Noranda has always been encouraged (at Tundra), even more so today. We are looking forward to going ahead with the underground program.”

The added note of encouragement comes from additional drill results. Hole 64, the most northerly hole drilled to date, cut gold mineralization at a depth of 3,707 ft. The best section graded 0.26 oz gold per ton across 23.2 ft. As is typical with this deposit, each hole has cut multiple mineralized zones. Narrower sections in hole 64 include 8.4 ft grading 0.3 oz and 6.3 ft assaying 0.22 oz.

Other important results came in hole 61 which intersected 31.5 ft grading 0.28 oz. Included in that section is 11.4 ft grading 0.43 oz. Noranda notes that the sections are close to true width.

To date, the drilling has delineated a wide zone hosting mutiple mineralized zones, striking for 4,300 ft and extending to a depth of 3,500 ft. Widths exceed 30 ft. Based on parameters such as these, the Tundra deposit has the potential to be Hemlo-like in size (N.M., July 6/87).

“What’s most encouraging is that we’re getting good continuity between wide spaced holes,” Mr Harvey explained. “That’s one reason for going underground, to see if that continuity is there.” Commenting on the potential for immense tonnages at the Tundra project, Mr Harvey noted that “it’s obvious to anyone plotting the holes, that there is substantial tonnage there.” However, Noranda and Getty have purposely avoided calculating a new reserve figure until appropriate cutoff grades are determined.

Getty President Richard Atkinson commented that “given the dimensions of the deposit, one could continue drillng for sometime.” The partners are at the stage “where we need access to the mineralized zones to gain more information,” he added.

Following completion of the current drill program, the partners will require several months to review and assess the voluminous amount of drill data, Jim Gibson, an evaluation engineer with Noranda said. During this time, the companies will also be mobilizing to take advantage of winter road facilities from January to March, 1988. Noranda and Getty anticipate a 2-year underground program.

Mr Gibson also discussed the metallurgical work in progress. The Tundra material contains a high percentage of arsenic which precludes the use of conventional milling for gold recovery. To this end, Noranda has contracted with Sherritt Gordon Mines to conduct studies on pressure oxidation and roasting. The latter method is commonly employed to treat arsenic-rich gold ores. The partners also plan to explore bioleaching technology. At the nearby Salmita mine, a Vancouver company has reported good results using bioleach methods which employ sulphide-munching bacteria.