Aurora busy in Ontario, Quebec

Vancouver — Junior Aurora Platinum (ARP-V) is exploring seven projects in Ontario and Quebec, while, at the same time, seeking partnerships with major companies.

At its Foy project, near Sudbury, Ont., Aurora recently discovered nickel-copper mineralization 400 metres below Nickel Lake within the Foy Offset and adjacent to Inco‘s (N-T) Nickel Lake deposit.

Mineralization is hosted in the Foy Offset quartz diorite dyke, and down-hole geophysics suggest the presence of a strong conductor north of the sulphides that were recently intersected. Airborne electromagnetic survey data indicate that the conductor extends along strike for 400 metres and is connected to the Nickel Lake deposit. Further drilling will attempt to define the full extent of mineralization.

At the Footwall project, near Sudbury, operator Falconbridge (F-T) drilled three 1,500-metre-deep holes into the footwall of the Falconbridge and Falconbridge East mines along a 1.2-km strike length. Subsequent down-hole electromagnetics detected strong off-hole conductors in all three holes at an estimated depth of 1,000 metres. The major is currently interpreting the bore hole data in preparation for additional drilling.

Along the western edge of the Footwall property, near Inco’s Garson deposit, down-hole electromagnetics identified strong off-hole conductors in two of three holes surveyed. The holes are close to the extension of the Garson fault, which controls the mineralization at the nearby Garson deposit.

At the North Range property, along the northern range of the Sudbury igneous complex, Aurora recently completed an airborne geophysical survey. Results indicate two conductive zones, one of which is nearer the surface that the other. The combined strike length of these two conductors is 1.3 km. Fieldwork has revealed several mineralized Sudbury breccia boulders, as well as stockwork copper-nickel mineralization within the footwall gneisses.

Lansdowne House

At the 14,368-ha Lansdowne House property, 180 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ont., platinum and palladium mineralization was intersected in hole LH-2. The hole was collared in a transition zone between the ultramafic and mafic portions of the 14-km-long Lansdowne intrusive complex. The hole cut elevated platinum-group-metal (PGM) values over a 4.5-metre section, including 1.4 metres grading 2.1 grams combined platinum and palladium. Petrographic studies indicate a Stillwater “reef” style of mineralization. This style of mineralization is associated with a plagioclase layered metagabbro. Aurora reports that this rock type is common along the southwestern portion of the transition zone.

In addition to the reef targets, Aurora has identified 15 airborne conductors in the project area. Three holes were drilled along one of these conductors and yielded narrow zones of massive sulphides within 20-to-50-metre-thick sequences of net-textured disseminated sulphides. Most of the conductors have yet to be tested.

Meanwhile, in Quebec, at the Midrim-Belleterre project, Aurora has discovered a nickel-copper-PGM sulphide zone at Patry, 3 km south of the Midrim and Alotta deposits.

Two holes collared 30 km apart, were designed to test a small gossan exposed at Patry. Hole BT-36 cut 1.45 metres grading 6.2% nickel, 2.91% copper and 0.1% cobalt, plus 0.28 gram platinum and 0.45 gram palladium per tonne, starting at 51.55 metres down-hole. The mineralization was cut by a porphyry dyke.

Hole BT-40 intersected 17.5 metres grading 0.52% nickel, 0.85% copper, 0.04% cobalt, 0.2 gram platinum and 0.4 gram palladium per tonne, starting at 79.2 metres down-hole.

Soil and humus geochemical sampling extended the zone by 600 metres along strike. In addition, down-hole geophysics defined a deeper, off-hole conductor that will be tested shortly.

Aurora is conducting an airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey over the Midrim-Belleterre and Angliers area. The survey system being employed has been successful on other Aurora projects, and the company hopes it will define additional targets.

At Midrim, recently completed borehole geophysics on the No. 6 zone has identified the presence of additional mineralization at depth. In addition, borehole geophysics has defined a drill target at the Lac Croche prospect, north of Midrim. Aurora believes that the Midrim and Lac Croche mineralized zones are all part of the same mineralized horizon that extends for 2 km.

At the AEM project, in Ontario, Aurora has received the first contoured magnetic maps and electromagnetic data from 20% of the project area along the southeastern block. The data point to three potential layered mafic-ultramafic complexes within the same belt that hosts the Lansdowne complex. Aurora geologists are investigating these areas for their mineralization potential. Magnetic contour maps have aided in the definition of structures that control kimberlite emplacement in that part of the Canadian Shield. Preliminary targets are being investigated.

At the Twin project, also in Ontario, Aurora has also staked a previously unrecognized layered mafic-ultramafic complex, which has been traced over a distance of 10 km. The intrusive is hosted in the same structure that hosts the Lansdowne complex. Prospecting is under way.