Exploration alive in Timmins: junior activity on the rise.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: TIMMINS

As commodity prices continue to swing upwards, so too does the number of junior exploration firms toiling away in and near the prolific Timmins camp. The following is but a small sample of the many companies who are investing in the region:

ROGUE RESOURCES (TSX-V: RRS)

Formerly known as Golden Chalice, Rogue Resources inc.'s name change is reflective of its broadening mineral focus, including its Langmuir nickel project and its Radio Hill iron ore project, both located in the Timmins area.

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At Radio Hill, 80 kilometres southwest of Timmins, the company is drill-testing the depth of mineralization with an eye on creating an industry-compliant resource estimate.

A three-phase work program is underway at Langmuir, 35 kilometres southeast of the city where diamond drilling will lead to metallurgical testing on the deposit by SRK Consulting Canada Inc.

Rogue Resources has also signed a five-year lease for a Timmins operations base which includes 12,000 square feet of office, shop and storage space with an office complex, as well as 40,000 square feet of yard space.

The company is also set to raise up to $1.8 million to help fund exploration at its Timmins-area properties.

GOWEST AMALGAMATED RESOURCES LTD. (TSX-V: GWA)

With a 2012 mine development target, Gowest Amalgamated has high hopes for its Frankfield Gold project, a 25-square-kilome-tre land package located north of the city

The company is looking to confirm and extend gold mineralization through 15,000 metres of drilling, with an industry-compliant mineral resource set to be released in the first quarter of 2011. A preliminary economic assessment is due shortly thereafter.

In December, Gowest raised $2.5 million through a brokered private placement to fund exploration and development at Frankfield.

LEXAM VG GOLD INC. (TSX: LEX)

As Rob McEwen's Lexam Explorations completed its merger with VG Gold in December, the man who founded and headed up Goldcorp has made his return to the Timmins camp.

Under its new banner, the company is 28-per-cent owned by McEwen, who will serve as chairman while VG's Tom Meredith serves as president and CEO.

Through the coming year, the company is set to spend $10 million in exploration with 100,000 metres of drilling across its four local properties, which are largely surrounded by Goldcorp mines.

The focus of its drilling through 2011 will be the Paymaster West property, which sits next to Goldcorp's Dome Mine. Under option agreement from...