Northstar Gold Corp.’s flagship Miller Gold Property is in the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt of northeast Ontario. More specifically, the 1,100-hectare, 100-per cent owned property is located 18 kilometres southeast of Kirkland Lake Gold’s Macassa South Mine Complex, situated on a major first-order fault structure (Catharine Fault) off the Kirkland/Cadillac-Larder Breaks. The Miller Gold Property overlays the historic Miller Independence Mine and hosts similar age, nature and style of gold-telluride mineralization as historic Kirkland Lake gold mines (>25 million ounces gold from seven mines past production).
Miller has the potential for significant near-surface and deeper high-grade gold resources in multiple structurally controlled zones (Vein No. 1, Allied, Planet and D zone) amenable to high-grade underground mining. The Property also has demonstrable potential for a large, intrusive-hosted bulk-tonnage system similar to Sigma/Lamaque, carrying significant gold mineralization.
On Feb. 25, 2020, Northstar announced the Company had commenced a $1.1 million Phase I exploration program at the Miller Gold Property. Major Drilling Group Inc. has been engaged to complete 3,000 metres of drilling, with an initial focus on confirming and expanding portions of the near-surface Miller-Independence historic estimate of 270,000 ounces of gold averaging 11.5 g/t Au to NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate reporting standards. The Company will also drill test the nearby Planet Syenite Exploration Target, consisting of approximately 100,000 to 500,000 additional ounces of gold in 3.0 to 5.0 million tonnes of mineralized material averaging between 1.0 to 3.0 g/t Au, detailed in a recent release.
According to Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo., CEO and director for Northstar Gold Corp., Miller Gold Project “has the essential elements and footprint of a Kirkland-sized gold system that, to date, has only been partially explored by shallow underground workings and vertical drill holes. Our expectation is that Phase I drilling will substantially validate and expand the historic estimate and other near-surface exploration targets.”
Phase I exploration will also include a series of geophysical surveys, including five square kilometres of 3D IP, magnetics and gravity, expected to commence in late May 2020, as well as a surface stripping, geological mapping and sampling program in June.
Northstar managed to drill 2,211 metres in 13 holes, prior to temporarily suspending Phase I drilling in early April due to COVID-19-related health and safety, logistical and production issues. The Company expects to resume Phase I drilling in the near-term once the COVID-19 crisis has abated, recent restrictions in affected nearby communities are lifted and it is safe for all employees and contractor personnel to do so. Analytical results are expected to be available towards the end of April or early May.
In spite of market uncertainties, Northstar managed to close a $1-million flow through private placement in late March. These proceeds will come in very handy as the Company intends to conduct a $1.1-million, 4,000-metre follow-up Phase II drill program in late summer of 2020.
