Ontario staking hits 4-year high

Ontario recorded a 56.8% increase in claim-staking last year to make 1992 the most active year since 1988.

According to the Mines and Minerals Weekly Bulletin, the number of claim units staked in the province jumped to 30,653 from 19,544 in 1991. In Porcupine Mining Division, the number of units staked shot up by 123.7% to 10,734, mainly as a result of a rush to the James Bay Lowlands diamond region and to the area surrounding Noront Resources’ (VSE) Hurdman Twp. base metal property.

The Kenora division also recorded a significant (86.2%) increase in activity following a copper-nickel discovery east of Mine Centre, a gold discovery by Western Troy Capital Resources (ASE) near Sioux Narrows, and staking by Noranda (TSE) around Vermilion Bay.

Other active areas included Larder Lake, up 59.2%, and Thunder Bay, up 47.5%. The only divisions which saw decreases in staking were Red Lake and Patricia.