Past-future gold camps spur exploration.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: FORT FRANCES & RAINY RIVER

Exploration activity continues to thrive in the Rainy River and Fort Frances areas, with recent activity from Rainy River Resources Ltd. and Q-Gold Resources Ltd. standing out within the region.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Having acquired their Off Lake property from Nuinsco Resources Ltd. a year-and-a-half ago, Rainy River Resources Ltd. has spent the last months exploring and testing their 25,000-hectare holdings, located 50 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances. To determine the gold and base metal potential of the site, helicopter-supported electromagnetic surveys were conducted throughout the summer. This has led to recent drilling activity, which has been ongoing.

"We've had three drills continually drilling on the Rainy River project over the last few weeks, essentially all in Richardson Township," says Nelson Baker, president.

"Two of the drills have been delineating the shape and size of the gold-bearing 17 Zone down to the minus-300 metre level. The purpose of that drilling is to be able to establish a national 43-101 resource estimate under the appropriate guidelines."

In late August, results for five drill holes were announced, where two of these were drilled into the eastern extension of the 17 Zone, bringing the continuous strike length to 610 metres.

According to Baker, highlights of these results include intersections of 1.5 metres grading 55.60 g/t gold, 3.0 metres grading 11.27 g/t gold and 90.40 g/t gold, 22.5 metres grading 1.30 g/t gold, 7.5 metres grading 2.27 g/t gold, and 13.5 metres grading 1.82 g/t gold.

An analysis of additional laboratory work conducted in prior months has confirmed that one drill hole has intersected the southwest extension of the #34 Nickel Zone, with 0.25 metres grading 1.99 per cent nickel as well as 10.20 g/t palladium, 0.91 g/t platinum and 0.06 per cent copper. This has been of particular interest to Baker, who believes it may play a part in future exploration efforts.

"It potentially could be a high-grade nickel occurrence, and it's fairly new," he says. "We think it might be important down the road as we go."

Recent months have also found the company adding to their core storage facilities by building another tier of core racks. In light of their summer findings, Rainy River Resources has also...