Those that run in the mineral exploration investment community are well aware of the prolific nature of gold and other minerals that loom waiting to be uncovered in the Canadian province of Ontario.
The land has proven historically -- and even more so with resurgence in recent decades -- to boast some of the strongest gold reserves that can readily be removed at some of the lowest costs in the industry. While many still look at the Klondike as the greatest find in Canada’s mineral history, strikes in Ontario are regularly a topic of rebuttal to the biggest and best Canada has to offer.
All things being equal regardless if an explorer wants to head to the west or east, Vancouver-based Entourage Metals Ltd. (TSX-Venture:EMT) has chosen to focus its attention in Ontario.
More succinctly, the junior miner controls two projects in the Superior Province of Northwest Ontario, the Hemlo Belt Properties and the Black Raven Project. Hemlo is Entourage’s 3,800-hectare flagship project situated in the historic Thunder Bay Mining District and in close proximity to industry giant Barrick Gold’s Hemlo Mines.
Entourage entered into an Acquisition Agreement with Barrick Gold in June 2010 to acquire a 100% interest in the exploration of the Hemlo Belt Properties. The Hemlo Deposit has historically produced over 20 million ounces of gold and is still producing to this day while maintaining an "underexplored" status in comparison to other greenstone belts in the region.
The Black Raven Project is a 68-square-kilometre property located within the Hemlo Greenstone Belt and known to host many the high-grade gold occurrences that are often found in the gold-rich belt. Entourage can earn a 100% interest in the property from an arms-length, third party group via cash and share payments over four years.
Today, Entourage disclosed that it received initial sampling results from the surface exploration at Black Raven. The 2011 program already in progress consists of reconnaissance level prospecting, geological mapping and soil geochemical surveys as the Company continues to delineate the land and identify new mineral occurrences in anticipation of a fall 2011 drilling program.
Though early in exploration, the results should provide inspiration for prospects on the Entourage land. At the Super G Prospect, a quartz vein in a mafic hosted shear zone, two grab samples of quartz vein material showcasing visible gold were collected over the prospect in an area of limited surface outcrop which returned a stunning 734 g/t gold and 150 g/t gold.
These insitu samples are 11 metres apart along strike. Five channel samples were collected and analyzed; with grades ranging from 4.84 g/t to 0.08 g/t gold over an average one-metre thickness of the vein and surrounding mineralized area.
Reconnaissance outcrop sampling and boulder sampling is continuing on the property by Entourage with limited results showing anomalous gold in the area.
Not merely limited to one project, Entourage also announced that Phase 1 diamond drilling program is underway at Toothpick West property in the Hemlo Region of Ontario. Two holes totaling more than 1,200 metres are completed with a third hole aiming for a depth of 1,200 metres near completion. Results will be posted upon completion of the Phase 1 drill program and return of assays.
Additionally, a 5,000-metre drill program will commence this fall at the nearby Rous Lake property as part of a 10,000-metre drill program and a $3.3-million exploration expense budget.
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