Category Archives: First Nations and mining

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KWG Mining Partners with Bold Ventures on Black Horse Deposit

Finally, after a month’s absence, I’ve returned to post the following article about KWG Resources and their exploration program in the Ring of Fire. The month was spent productively researching and writing articles for the March Issue of Mining Life and Exploration News Magazine, which will be released at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention. http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/

The stories I wrote in January will be appearing on A Northern Blog shortly…

Mining Life and Exploration News will also be launching an online site with the latest news and features from the world of mining….stay tuned. http://mininglifeonline.net/

Glenn Dredhart the publisher of Mining Life and Exploration News also puts on The Canadian Mining Expo the largest mining industry show in Northern Ontario http://www.canadianminingexpo.com/

As for this story- the top part of the story is original and published here for the very first time. The second part of the story appears courtesy of Glenn Dredhart and Mining Life and Exploration News Magazine.

Please let me know what you think of the article and your comments are always welcome.

KWG Resources Signs Agreement with Bold Ventures Inc. to Fund Drilling Program at Black Horse Chromite Discovery  Site

By Frank Giorno

KWG Resources is the third company in the Ring of Fire that has advanced the most towards exploration of mineral potential and  towards finishing its feasibility studies and environmental assessment studies. Along with Cliff Natural Resources and Noront Resources,  KWG Resources Inc. (KWG) has found major sources of chromite at its Big Daddy property.

KWG-Bold Ventures  Agreement to Explore Black Horse Site  for Chromite

However a recent announcement made on February 4, 2013 could be a game changer. KWG Resources and Bold Ventures Incorporated – a fast rising exploration company – announced an agreement that will see Bold Ventures drill the Black Horse chromite discovery in the Ring of Fire, starting as soon as the transaction with Bold Ventures Inc. closes.

KWG_Bold Ventures_Coper Lake

The intent of the program is to determine whether this  chromite mineral deposit is of  sufficient quantity and quality to make it  feasible for mining. KWG is advocating the construction of a rail line as the best, most cost-effective method for transporting the chromite for refining.

“The Black Horse discovery encountered 55 meters of 45% chromite, the richest drill core recovered in the Ring of Fire”, said KWG President Frank Smeenk.

“There is compelling geological and geophysical evidence to suggest that this mineralization could be part of an extensive continuous emplacement. If this drilling program is able to confirm that, we would be the first Canadian company to develop markets for the Ring of Fire chromite by providing transportation over Canada Chrome Corporation’s contiguous claims, ” Smeenk said.

Bold Ventures Obtains Option to Acquire Black Horse from Fancamp Explorations Ltd.

Earlier in December, 2012,  Bold Ventures concluded a four stage option to acquire the Black Horse claims from Fancamp Exploration Ltd., subject to Fancamp retaining a price variable gross metal royalty (the “Fancamp Option”).

Under the terms of the recent agreement between  KWG and Bold Ventures,  KWG can acquire up to 80% of Bold Venture’s interest in the Fancamp Option by funding 100% of Bold’s earn-in expenditures and option payments. The current program has budgeted $2 million to drill the chromite horizon. An additional $1 million has been budgeted to drill a contiguous possible nickel target.

KWG – Bold Ventures  Agreement to Explore for Nickel and Other Non-Chromite Minerals

A joint venture between KWG and Bold Ventures was formed  for nickel and other non-chromite minerals identified during the exploration programs, in which KWG has a 20% working interest. KWG will have a right of first refusal to purchase all ores or concentrates produced by such joint venture whenever its JV interest exceeds 50%.
The agreement with Bold Ventures  is subject to due diligence, all necessary approvals and is expected to close by February 21, 2013. Bold Venture’s interest in the 20% carried interest for chromite and the 80% participating interest for nickel and other non-chromite minerals is subject to Bold Venture Option Agreement with 2282726 Ontario Limited (“Bold Venture’s Co-Venturer”), a subsidiary of Dundee Corporation. Under the Option Agreement,  Bold Venturer’s co-venturer may earn a 33 -1/3% interest in Bold Venture’s Ring of Fire (ROF)activities around the area of Bold Venture’s Ring of Fire claims in Ontario (the “Bold Venture ROF Project”) by funding $2.5 million of exploration work, over $2.0 million of which has been expended to date.

 

KWG’s Big Daddy Site Received a National Instrument 43-101 Compliant Resource Estimate

KWG working towards developing its Big Daddy site in the McFauld’s Lake area received a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate from Sibley Basin Group over the summer of 2012.
The report was based on an update of a 42-hole core-drilling program at the Big Daddy Mine in the Ring of Fire totaling 13,459 metres that was completed in March, 2012.

Objective of the Drilling Program

The objective of the program was to upgrade resources to the indicated and measured categories, suitable for use in mine design at Big Daddy.  The drilling program was managed by Cliffs Chromite Far North Inc. who are also developing the Black Thor chromite mine.

The results show that at a 15% cutoff, the measured resource is 29.5 MT (megaton), grading 29% chromium oxide (Cr2O3) the indicated resource is 7.9 MT grading 26.7% Cr2O3, and the inferred resource is 4.8 MT grading 25.0% Cr2O3.

“We are pleased to note that this updated resource calculation has now confirmed a measured resource category, an important step in determining feasibility of the Big Daddy deposit,” said Frank Smeenk, KWG President.

Helicopter landing at Big Daddy Site

Helicopter landing at Big Daddy Site – photo courtesy of KWG

“The overall size of the deposit has increased without drilling deeper. We are now presented with different options as to how best to mine the Big Daddy, including the possibility of ore sorting or selectively mining the high-grade massive domains with the potential for high-grade direct ship,” he added.

Previous Resource Estimates

The previous resource estimate prepared by Micon International (KWG PR, May 3rd, 2010) also modeled the deposit at a 15% cutoff and produced an indicated resource of 26.4 MT grading 39.37% Cr2O3. The Micon report indicated resource corresponds to the Sibley combined measured and indicated of 37.4 MT grading 28.5% Cr2O3. The lower grade and higher volume of the new model contemplates the use of a less selective approach to mining and incorporates lower grade material, resulting in a lower average grade.

The most significant difference between the two resource estimates is in the inferred category. The Micon model extrapolated the depth continuity to 250 to 300 m beyond the drilling intercepts, while the new model extrapolates the resource to only 50 m beyond drilling. For the purpose of mine planning, this conservative approach is more prudent.

The report entitled “National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Big Daddy Chromite Deposit, McFauld’s Lake Area, Ontario, Canada, Porcupine Mining Division, NTS 43D16, Miner Natural Resource Estimation Technical Report” has an effective date of June 1, 2012. The report has a signing date of June 27, 2012. The full report was filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) on August 13, 2012 along with the requisite material change report.

The Sibley Basin Group staff person responsible for this resource estimate is Mr. Alan Aubut, a Qualified Person as defined in 43-101 who is independent of KWG Resources Inc., and who has approved the contents of this press release.

Aggregate Permits Sought by Canada Chrome Corporation Along Route of Proposed KWG Railroad Right-of-Way

Meanwhile KWG Resources Inc. reported that its subsidiary Canada Chrome Corporation filed applications with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for thirty-two aggregate permits at sites that located within the mineral claims along the company’s 308 kilometre-long railroad right-of-way. The sites are located along the proposed route for KWG’s railway to the Ring of Fire region, and may provide material for the construction of the planned rail bed. An environmental assessment and consultation with affected parties have not yet been concluded.

KWG exploration team preparing ground prior to drilling...

KWG exploration team preparing ground prior to drilling. Photo courtesy of KWG

“In our meetings with Matawa First Nations Management Inc. officers and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to review our draft Project Description, we have indicated our preference that the consultation requirements and protocols be developed in their entirety by the affected First Nations, to ensure the adequacy of the process,” said KWG President Frank Smeenk.

“To make that exercise meaningful, we felt that the physical consequences of the development should be described as fully as possible within the regulatory framework. For that reason we have prepared and filed preliminary aggregate borrowing plans to enable a relatively more informed determination of consultation requirements.”

Plan for Permanent Amphibious Aerodrome

Canada Chrome Corporation has also made application to MNR under the provisions of the Public Lands Act, for the grant of title to the lands it has tentatively designated as the “Port of Koper Lake” at the northern terminus of its right-of-way. The application covers two 16-unit claim blocks which include the western shore of Koper Lake where temporary float-plane docking facilities are now in use. As included in the draft Project Description, preliminary plans envisage the development of a permanent amphibious aerodrome at that location together with an adjacent and permanent East-West all-weather runway and heliport terminal as an adjunct to a railroad terminal, fuel storage compound, communications hub, accommodation services, and repair and maintenance facilities.

KWG has a 30% interest in the Big Daddy deposit. KWG also owns 100% of Canada Chrome Corporation which has staked claims and conducted a $15 million surveying and soil testing program for the engineering and construction of a railroad to the Ring of Fire from Exton, Ontario where the Trans Canada line of the Canadian National Railway can be connected.

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Noront Resources Releases NI 43-101 Compliant Feasibility Study

Welcome to A Northern Blog. Today’s entry is the 4th in series dealing with mining issues. This article will examine a Canadian company – Noront Resources and its  role in exploring and mining development  in the Ring of Fire area of Northwest, Ontario.  The Ring of Fire has been described as having  the largest mining potential in Ontario, larger than what has gone on in the past.

The article on Noront appears courtesy of Glen Dredhart, the publisher of Mining Life Magazine, where the portion dealing with Noront’s work on the Ring of Fire initially appeared. For information on mining in Northern Ontario visit Glenn’s Canadian Mining Portal  at

http://www.canadianminingexpo.com

Glenn is also preparing to publish the first Mining Life magazine issue of 2013 featuring reports on prospecting in Canada and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

http://www.pdac.ca/

Noront Resources Releases NI 43-101 Compliant Feasibility Study in 2012

By Frank Giorno

Noront Resources Ltd. released results, on September 4, 2012, of an updated National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) compliant Feasibility Study (“FS”) for a stand alone nickel, copper, platinum group element (“Ni-Cu-PGE”) mine and mill complex at its 100% owned Eagle’s Nest deposit near  McFaulds Lake, the Ring of Fire.

“The feasibility study confirms Eagle’s Nest is economically viable and establishes the capital, operating and potential profits to a reasonable level of certainty, which will allow Noront to initiate discussions with various financial institutions to fund the proposed mining project ,” said Olya Yousefi, the Manager of Corporate Communications for Noront in a telephone interview with Mining Life.

 The Ring of Fire is located about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and about 70 km east of the Webequie First Nation. It is about 150 km west of the DeBeers Victor Diamond Mine. The area consists of muskeg swamps and has the potential to become a major mining site for chromite, nickel, copper, gold, and other minerals.

 Noront plans to develop a stand alone nickel, copper, platinum and palladium mine and mill complex at its Eagle’s Nest location near McFauld Lake. The mine, mill and tailing storage facility will all be situated underground.

Noront’s feasibility study assumes that 1.0 million tonnes per year of nickel and copper ore will be extracted from the underground mine using blast hole sub-level stoping. On site processing  will produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of high-grade nickel-copper concentrate per year which will be trucked to a rail siding located approximately 300 kilometres to the south.

Core samples taken from Noront's property in the Ring of Fire --photo courtesy of Noront Resources

Core samples taken from Noront’s property in the Ring of Fire –photo courtesy of Noront Resources

The feasibility study’s discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model indicates that Noront’s Eagle’s Nest project will produce an after tax Net Present Value (at an 8% discount rate, “NPV(8%)” of $543 million, based on the Assumed Metal Prices).

Other financial benefits include:

  • an after tax IRR exceeding 28%;
  • an estimated initial capital investment of $609 million;
  • an estimated life of mine sustaining capital cost of $160 million;
  • estimated operating costs (including road access fees) of $97 per tonne or $2.34 per pound of nickel equivalent to minus $0.31 per pound of nickel net by-product credits;
  • an estimated mine life of 11 years; and
  • a capital payback period of under 3 years based on a 100% equity project.

 

“In terms of benefits to the province, the current reserve identified at Eagle’s Nest would generate approximately  $420 million in tax revenues,” Yousefi said. “This figure does not include any future reserve increases resulting future exploration efforts in the camp.”

 

Along with its feasibility study, Noront has also submitted its terms of reference for their comprehensive environmental assessment to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The terms of reference will serve as the basis for completing the environmental assessment

 

“The major challenge for Noront in developing the Eagle’s Nest site is the lack of existing infrastructure in the region ,” Yousefi said.

Transportation

One of the most crucial elements of the infrastructure is the construction of a road that will open up the area and allow materials to be trucked in to develop the site and ores and concentrates shipped out.

Noront’s feasibility study assumed that ore concentrate would be trucked along a north-south, all season road to a CNR loading facility near Nakina where it will be transferred to rail for further shipment.

The proposed north-south route has been proposed by Cliffs, a multi-national, diversified producer seeking to develop their chromite assets in the Ring of Fire.

In its pre-feasibility study, Noront assumed an east-west road would be the primary means of access to the Ring of Fire. At this time, Noront continues to identify this east-west route as an alternative to the north-south corridor, as require of the environmental assessment process.

All season North-South Road

 

Noront revealed that the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) in a letter dated August 10, 2012 said they were in early stages of discussion with Cliffs Natural Resources regarding a north – south all-season road that would connect the Ring of Fire to existing provincial transportation routes and railway lines.  The letter confirmed the Province’s intent to contribute financially to develop the proposed all-season road subject to various environmental, regulatory and financial approvals.

In the letter, MNDM advised Noront that “the current expectation is that the all-season road would be made available for use by industrial users other than Cliffs, with access fees generally based on proportional road usage, although specific terms are still to be determined.”

Details on the estimated capital costs of the proposed north-south road have not been provided to Noront. However, Cliffs Natural Resources has publicly stated that the cost of their proposed integrated transportation system is budgeted at $600 million. This cost is consistent with previous work completed by Noront on this alternative and was used as the basis to establish road usage costs in their feasibility study.

 

 “The decision of the Province of Ontario to financially support the north-south road corridor pending environmental approval, is a very positive development in unlocking the mineral wealth of the Ring of Fire, “said Wes Hanson,President and CEO of Noront states.

“Our discussions with the Province have confirmed that the all season

road will be accessible to all industrial users including Cliffs and that the costs to use the road will be based on proportional usage, a critical consideration for Noront as our concentrate shipments represent less than seven percent of the currently identified ore haulage along the corridor, “ Hanson added.

Refining Noront’s Ore Concentrates

Diagram of Noront's proposed milling operation planned for the Ring of Fire-photo courtesy of Noront

Diagram of Noront’s proposed milling operationplanned for the Ring of Fire-photo courtesy of Noront

Another component of Noront’s proposal that needs to be determined is where it plans to refine the nickel ore concentrated produced by the on site milling operations.

“The logical destination would be Sudbury where both Xstrata and Vale INCO are operating nickel smelters and where there is currently excess capacity.” Yousefi said. “Our initial testing indicates that this would be a marketable concentrate for most of the world’s existing nickel smelters.”

First Nations Relationships

“Noront has worked hard to establish solid relationships with local First Nations communities near the Ring of Fire discoveries.” Yousefi said. “We want to ensure that the communities of north-western Ontario realize the benefits of mineral development through long-term jobs and business opportunities.”

“We are very active in community consultation to  ensure the communities fully understand what we propose to do, when we propose to do it and how will it impact their communities now and in the future. We have also focused a great deal of effort on the  young people in the communities where we have been active.. Each summer, we hold  mining camps aimed at introducing the young people to the exploration and mineral development industry. We hope to highlight to the young people the importance of staying in school, what jobs will be available in their region in the future and what each job entails in terms of training and education. Noront hopes that future geologists, engineers, managers and other specialists originate from the various communities surrounding the Ring of Fire,” she added

First Nations student examining mineral samples- photo courtesy of Noront Resources

First Nations student examining mineral samples photo courtesy of Noront Resources

Exploration Potential

 

On July 9, 2012; Noront released the results of its winter drilling program which included some positive results. Noront reported that all six holes that were drilled intersected low-grade nickel sulphide mineralization, suggesting that the ground based geophysical surveys are a valuable exploration tool going forward. This system has dramatically increased the Company’s success rate in testing multiple targets within the Ring of Fire claims for nickel sulphide mineralization. The fact that all holes from the late winter program intersected nickel sulphide mineralization is a significant improvement from past drill programs.

The Ring of Fire was only discovered in 2007. By comparison, the Sudbury camp, one of the worlds most prolific sources of nickel, has seen the benefits of nickel mining and processing for over a hundred years. The potential for further resource growth is significant and the Ring of Fire may someday rival Sudbury as Canada’s most prolific nickel camp.

Other Nor0nt News

Windfall Lakes Project

Recently Noront announced agreement to sell it’s 25 percent interest in the Windfall Lake Project in Quebec to Maudore Minerals Ltd.  The Windfall Lake Project is a joint venture between Noront and Eagle Hill Exploration Corporation (“Eagle Hill”). Eagle Hill has earned a 75% interest in the project and is the operator. Maudore has agreed to pay a sum of CAD$10.0 million in cash plus three million warrants which entitle Noront to purchase common shares of Maudore at a price of CAD$2.20 per common share (“the Warrants”) (collectively the “Purchase Price”) in exchange for Noront’s current 25% interest in the Windfall Lake Project.  For more information on Noront’s agreement with Maudore visit

http://www.norontresources.com/?pressreleases&pressreleasesMain=1

In a news release issued on December 17, 2012 Eagle Hill Corporation announced that Stantec Consulting Ltd. (“Stantec”) had been awarded a contract to produce a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) on the Windfall Lake

Eagle Hill’s interest in Windfall Lake is governed by the terms and conditions of an option agreement between Noront and Eagle Hill that was entered into on July 21, 2009 (“the “Option Agreement”).

In the December 17th Press Release, Eagle Hill states: “Under the terms of the Option Agreement to acquire the Windfall Lake Property, Eagle Hill must give notice of the Company’s commitment to cause the commencement of commercial production on the Property within one year of earning a 75% interest in the Windfall Lake Property (the “Notice”). Eagle Hill earned its 75% interest in the Property on April 20, 2012. In this regard, Eagle Hill has engaged Stantec to provide a mineral reserve estimate based on the results of the PFS. The results of the PFS will be available on or before April 20, 2013. Upon receipt of the reserve estimate, Eagle Hill will be in a position to deliver the Notice to the  options pursuant to the Option Agreement.” Eagle Hill’s press release also states “Once the obligations are satisfied, the buy-back provisions contained in the Option Agreement will be eliminated.”

For more information please go to http://www.norontresources.com/?pressreleases&pressreleasesMain=1

Noront Retains New York-based RB Milestone Group

Noront Resources Ltd. has retained New York-based financial communications firm RB Milestone Group, LLC (“RBMG”) to strengthen shareholder value through RBMG’s market intelligence, corporate advisory, public relations, and equity research initiatives.

Olya Yousefi, Manager of Corporate Communications of Noront states: “We have a great story to tell and we look forward to working with RBMG to further our reach.”

“We’re excited to be representing Noront Resources,” said Renee Volaric, RBMG’s Director. “RB Milestone Group’s experience in the natural resource sector will allow us to present significant opportunities to Noront, its shareholders and new investors.”

For more information see

http://www.norontresources.com/?pressreleases&pressreleasesMain=1

HiAlpha Mining Investment Conference

Wes Hanson, President and CEO of Noront Resources was a presenter at last month’s HiAlpha® Mining Investment Conference. Click here (http://youtu.be/RgZz_aDtYq0) to watch his interview with Fox Business Network contributor Stu Taylor.

For more information on Noront Resources please visit

http://www.norontresources.com/