A British-headquartered junior miner was honoured by the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association for having the top exploration play in 2016.
Landore Resources Canada received the Bernie Schnieders Discovery of the Year Award for its BAM East Gold Deposit at the prospector group’s annual awards dinner in Thunder Bay, April 4.
The deposit, located within the company’s Junior Lake Project, 75 kilometres northeast of Armstrong, has a maiden mineral resource estimate of 301,000 ounces of gold.
With the potential to be a low-cost, open-pit mine with bulk tonnage, Landore has been working with area First Nation communities since 2007 on the large 31,603-hectare Junior Lake property, which also hosts nickel and copper deposits.
Since 2001, the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association has been presenting awards recognizing lifetime achievements, mineral discoveries and mine developments.
Harte Gold was selected as Developer of the Year Award for its Sugar Zone Deposit.
Located 20 kilometres north of White River, Sugar Zone will be Ontario’s newest gold mine with full production permits expected by this year’s third quarter. The company has budgeted $15 million to do more exploration on its property.
The Dan Calvert Distinguished Service Award, acknowledging exceptional service to the exploration community, went to Michael MacIsaac.
The project geologist began with Noranda in 1989 exploring for gold and base metals in the northwest before shifting over to become North American Palladium’s exploration manager in 1998 overseeing the Roby Zone expansion and the discovery of the Offset Zone at Lac Des Iles Mine. He currently works for Metals Creek on the Flint Lake Project near Cameron Lake and the Ogden Gold Project near Timmins.
The Dave Christianson Lifetime Achievement Awards, recognizing long-time prospectors and supporters of the exploration sector, went to three winners:
- Ray Bernatchez, a consulting geologist of 31 years, has established two exploration companies, taught prospecting courses, and is an expert tour guide of the former Steep Rock Mines near Atikokan.
- James Martin, a full-time prospector since 1987, has optioned deals with many companies and is currently working with Wesdome Gold Mines on the expansion of the Eagle River Mine, Mishi Pit and Moss Lake Deposit.
- Al Mowat has 49 years of experience in exploration, management, and administration through his work with nickel, copper, gold, uranium discoveries with various companies from Kenora to Kirkland Lake. He’s been exploration manager for Emerald Fields Resource Corp/Pacific Iron Ore since 1997.
Also at the awards dinner, Lakehead University presented the Bernie Schnieders Memorial Award to Vittoria Smith.
