Newrange Gold Corp. (TSXV: NRG) has acquired a 100% interest in the Argosy Gold Mine in the Red Lake Mining Division of northwestern Ontario from Great Panther Mining Limited through the acquisition of its subsidiary, Cangold Limited.
The Argosy Gold Mine is the most significant past-producing gold mine in the Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt, having produced 101,875 ounces of gold and 9,788 ounces of silver at a gold grade of 0.37 ounces per ton (oz/t) (12.7 grams per tonne (g/t).
It closed in 1952 due to high operating costs and a $35/oz gold price. Production came from only four veins, although more than 12 are now known, and only to a maximum depth of 900 feet (270 metres). The property consists of 43 patented claims and 17 Mining Licenses of Occupation comprising 604 hectares.
“The Birch-Uchi Belt is rapidly becoming an area of significant exploration focus and the acquisition of a past-producing, high-grade mine only 10 kilometres northwest of the Springpole Deposit being advanced by First Mining Gold Corp. and less than a kilometre from our North Birch Project establishes Newrange Gold as a major player in the region,” saids Robert Archer, Newrange President and CEO.
“The Argosy Gold Mine has seen minimal exploration below the old mine workings and there is excellent potential to extend the mineralisation to depth and to discover new veins elsewhere on the property.”
History
According to records in the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines assessment files, gold was discovered on the Property in 1929, with mine site development and limited production beginning the same year. Through several years of start-up difficulties, ownership of the Property changed hands several times and New Jason Mines Ltd. eventually became owners of the Property in 1948. Most production occurred between 1948 and 1952. The mine closed in 1952 after producing 101,875 ounces of gold and minor amounts of silver from 276,573 tons of ore at an average grade of 0.37 oz/t (12.7 g/t) Au.
The best ore mined on the Property is reported to have come from the ‘P’ vein during the later stages of mining. The ‘P’ vein lies in the footwall, and south, of the No. 1 vein and was found in and around a body of quartz feldspar porphyry which appears to have intruded the volcanic tuffs in this part of the mine.
The No. 1 Vein is reported to have a length in excess of 1,500 feet (457 m) and had an ore shoot approximately 200 feet (61 m) long. This vein assayed 0.69 oz/t (23.7 g/t) Au over 3.3 feet (one metre) on the 900 foot (270 m) level, while the best ore mined came from the ‘P’ vein between the 600 and 800 foot (183 m and 244 m, respectively) levels.
A 235 foot (72 m) section of the ‘P’ vein on the 700 foot (213 m) level assayed 2.21 oz/t (75.8 g/t) Au over 22 inches (56 cm). A Noranda Exploration compilation map indicates that below the lowest level mined, the ‘P’ vein returned gold values from diamond drill core of 0.14 oz/t (4.8 g/t) Au over 3.5 m, 0.43 oz/t (14.9 g/t) Au over 2.7 m and 0.34 oz/t (11.7 g/t) Au over 1.6 m. Cangold drilling in 2003 and 2004 below the old workings in this area intersected 10.46 g/t Au over 2.98 metres and 14.15 g/t over 1.65 metres indicating that the gold mineralization continues to depth. The deepest significant intersection known on the property lies at a vertical depth of only 400 metres.
After the mine closed, the Property lay dormant until 1974 when Casummit Lake Mines Ltd. optioned the Property, who in turn optioned it to Bonnacord Explorations Ltd. Bonnacord conducted a five-hole diamond drilling program totaling 1,606 feet (490 m) on the No. 5 vein. In 1975, Grand Bay Exploration took over ownership of the Property and completed a diamond drilling program in 1978. This was reasonably successful and in the early 1980’s, Noranda Exploration Company Ltd. optioned the Property from Grand Bay and completed a 12-hole diamond drill program totaling 1,188 metres. While the drilling programs by Noranda and Grand Bay Exploration did intersect significant gold values, the Property lay dormant once again until 2001 when it was acquired by Wolfden Resources who subsequently optioned a 51% interest to Cangold.
Cangold conducted airborne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys over the entire property, an Induced Polarization survey on the southern block and drilled 5,650 metres in 24 holes. Cangold bought out the joint venture in 2009 to hold a 100% interest, subject to underlying royalties of 2.5%. Historically, there has been a total of 10,573 metres drilled in 72 surface holes on the current property (only limited records exist for the underground drilling).
Next steps
Newrange geologists are compiling all available historic data and a 3D model is being constructed using LeapFrog software in order to gain a better understanding of the vein system.
Once the modelling is complete, detailed planning for a winter drill programme will be carried out. At present, it is anticipated that drilling will follow the North Birch drill programme and commence on the Argosy Project in late February. Initial targeting is likely to be on the depth extension of the #1 and ‘P’ veins at the Number 1 Mine although other targets may also be tested.
For further information please visit: https://newrangegold.com/
