Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/428696
Drill rig testing northwestern extension of copper- molybdenum-gold mineralization at Hushamu. Photograph : Government of British Columbia W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 87 PRECIOUS METALS Gold exploration in southwestern British Columbia was gen- erally quiet in 2014. Several companies reported extensions of option agreements. New Carolin Gold Corp. reached an agree- ment to acquire interests in the Carolin Mine. PORPHYRY (COPPER-GOLD, COPPER-MOLYBDENUM, MOLYBDENUM) PROJECTS The only major porphyry exploration project was Northisle Copper and Gold Inc.'s four-hole step-out drill program at Hushamu, a porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold prospect. Initial results indicate an induced-polarization target northwest of the resource area that includes copper mineralization. A fifth hole in the resource area was for metallurgical testing. POLYMETALLIC BASE AND PRECIOUS METALS For the past five years, Nyrstar N.V.'s Myra Falls Operations has conducted resource definition and near-infrastructure exploration programs. As a consequence, reserve replacement has kept pace with mining. Development also continued at more distant western ore bodies. IRON AND INDUSTRIAL MINER ALS Pioneer Explorations Inc. (for Canadian Dehua International Mines Group Inc.) carried out ground magnetic surveys and mapping at several iron-skarn properties (Head Bay, Argonaut and Pacific Iron). Burnco Rock Products Ltd. revised the Burnco Aggregate Project to include a processing area and loading facility, and now estimates a maximum pro- duction rate of 1.5 million tonnes per year and a mine life of 16 years. The project remains in the pre-application phases of federal and provincial environmental assessment. COAL Comox Joint Venture partners Compliance Energy Cor- poration and LG International (Canada) Ltd. acquired Itochu Corporation's 20 per cent interest in the Raven Underground Coal project. Compliance will resubmit an application for environmental certification of the proposed 1.9-megatonnes- per-year semi-soft coking coal mine. Thermal coal producer Quinsam Coal Corporation has explored on site and proposed exploration off site at Quinsam South. SOUTH AND WEST COAST