Troymin cuts copper and nickel in Quebec

Early drill results from the Hawk Ridge property have convinced Troymin Resources (TYR-M) that high-grade, copper-nickel deposits can be found in the Ungava region of northern Quebec.

The company holds a 170-sq.-km exploration permit and 21 mining claims with joint-venture partner International Butec Industries (IB-V). Two low-grade copper-nickel-cobalt deposits, as well as two smaller high-grade deposits, have been outlined on the property, which has been explored intermittently by Falconbridge and others since 1961.

Troymin, as operator, has begun a $5.9-million, 8,000-metre drill program on the Hopes Advance I North occurence, where trench sampling encountered 17.3 metres of 6.34% copper and 1.09% nickel. A 3-hole section was drilled 36 metres southeast of the occurrence, intersecting a zone of massive and disseminated sulphides in hole HR 96-3. The hole cut 14.4 metres grading 3.24% copper and 0.67% nickel at a depth of 34.7 metres, and 24.1 metres grading 4.23% copper and 1.2% nickel at 71 metres, including 12.2 metres grading 6.73% copper and 2.28% nickel. Assay results for cobalt and precious metals values are pending.

Four holes drilled southeast of the discovery hole cut generally narrower widths of lower-grade mineralization in holes 5, 6 and 7: the best results were encountered in hole 6, which intersected 29.2 metres of 0.7% copper and 0.29% nickel, including 1.4 metres of 5.42% copper and 0.49% nickel. All mineralization intersected is contained within sheared gabbro and sediments.

Troymin has moved the drill 1 km to the south, where it is testing the Hopes Advance I Main occurrence. Here, in the early 1960s, Falconbridge identified a resource of 20 million tonnes grading 0.59% copper and 0.16% nickel. The company has completed an HLEM ground survey over the Hopes Advance I North site, where it plans to test specific geophysical targets.

Meanwhile, Abitibi Mining (ABB-V) and Sedex Mining (SDN-V) have jointly acquired two exploration permits in the area for cash and work committments totalling $500,000. (One of the directors with both companies has a minority interest in the syndicate that is vending the property.)

The Hopes Advance permit surrounds the Hawk Ridge property and hosts five sills containing both massive and disseminated copper-nickel sulphides. The second, the False Bight 986 permit, is 7 km north of the first permit.