Monday, November 23, 2009

Spectacular High Grade Gold Found In Manitoba

San Gold Corp. A Manitoba based Gold Mining and Exploration Company today reported the discovery of a new high-grade gold occurrence. The spectacular discovery, made by surface diamond drilling has been christened the 007 zone.

San Gold company CEO Dale Ginn reports that drill hole CD-09-007 encountered 1,787.7 grams per tonne gold (52.2 ounces per ton) over 2.1 metres (6.9 feet)
This deposit is located approximately 600 metres to the southeast of the new Hinge mine that was recently put into production by the company. The Hinge mine is proving to be a high grade mine with low production costs.

Dale Ginn, chief executive officer of San Gold, stated: "Our exploration team, led by Bill Ferreira, has made its fourth near-surface, high-grade discovery in close proximity to our mill in the past 18 months, and its third discovery this year. Hole No. 007 is the highest-grade intersection that I can recall in the Rice Lake belt, rivaling the best holes ever drilled in the neighboring Red Lake camp and certainly eclipses anything we have drilled to date in the Hinge zone. This discovery is again testimony to the solid and unique geological thinking that our exploration team has undertaken, as well as a credit to the time-tested success that drilling near past and producing mines brings."

San Gold Corp is indeed contributing awesome results in the new Manitoba gold rush. The Rice Lake mine area is now being called the Golden Fairway.

Full story at this link to the San Gold Website

Happy prospecting

Thursday, September 24, 2009

They are going gold prospecting in record numbers

The courier.com.au is running a story today with the title “New Gold Fortune Hunt Is On”.

This gold rush is taking place about 158 years after the first would be prospectors rushed in masses to the Ballarat's goldfields. Similar to the American and Canadian gold rushes of old, it was the appeal and the potential payoff that caused people for all walks of life to take a gamble for gold in Ballarat's goldfields.

Today with gold hovering around $1000 usd per once the number of prospectors heading to the region to try their luck has reached a high. It seems that the gold pan is being replaced by high tech metal detectors, some costing over $6,000 each, but the appeal of finding a few ounces or more still remains the same.

Ballarat's Mining Exchange Gold Shop owner Cordell Kent said the number of prospectors heading to the region to try their luck has reached a high.

"We are seeing prospectors on a daily basis," he said.

"A lot of local people are out prospecting but we are also seeing people outside the Ballarat region heading up into our gold fields."

"You could say we are 158 years into a continuous gold rush. It spikes quite often but there's always more interest when the price is up."

Mr Kent said though it required patience, gold prospecting could provide a lucrative pastime.

"We are blessed in Victoria with a lot of Crown land that has historic gold fields on them, so there's still a lot of surface gold to be found.
"We have had people who have found quite substantial dollar amounts of gold," he said.

$1,000 dollar gold is generating renewed interest in serious gold mining and exploration efforts around the world, from big name companies, so there is little wonder why both experienced and novice prospectors are trying their hand at finding some of the wonder metal.

The media continues to bring word of similar renewed prospecting activity in California, Nevada, the Yukon, Alaska and other goldfields in different parts of the world. It seems that Gold hasn’t lost its luster or its appeal, now with the rise in value; the metal is becoming sexier to more people.

South Australia-based Minelab Metal Detectors regional general manager Ian Aitken said the reinvigorated gold rush had contributed to a six- to eight-week delay in prospectors getting metal detectors, which cost $6150.

"It has been extraordinary, right through this year there has been high demand," he said.

"Once it (gold) kicked over the $1000 mark and kept going upwards, we experienced quite a high demand.

Like Mr Kent, Mr Aitken said once equipped, prospectors could gain substantial wealth.

"A lot of prospectors go to Western Australia for the winter and return for the summer," he said.

"There are a huge number of keen hobbyists, who can come home with five ounces of gold for their trouble."

The reliance upon and demand for gold detectors is interesting. We have to avoid thinking that they are a magic wand to riches. A good detector can help you find it, but it is usually also going to take hard work, sweat, a shovel and a gold pan or some other mechanical means for you to get the good pay dirt out of the ground, so that needs to be accounted for, when one heads for the gold.

The way I have this figured, for equipment, the grubstake and time it’s probably fair to say that one needs to count on a decent prospecting setup as being a $10,000 or more investment, if you are serious about going into the wilds (that have gold) and providing you have the time for 30 days a trip. Then getting 5 or more ounces a trip would not be too bad even better if it were 3 or 4 times a year.

Finding 5 ounces in a few days isn’t what normally happens; you just can’t walk along and pick the stuff up, so if you desire a good amount of ounces be prepared for more than a few days and be equipped, but above all go where gold is known to occur.

This is where the rubber hits the road, as they say; the allure of near immediate riches does stimulate us into action; however that often wears off and sometimes quickly. It is the willingness to “stick with it and work it” that has always paid the highest rewards.

Yet going out for a few days and getting some gold dust or nuggets for your troubles is a great hobby and a memory builder, and that can be very valuable.

Link to story referenced.

As always happy prospecting!

It Pays to keep looking, when its high grade you want

On sept 23 2009, HudBay Minerals (HBM.TO)reported a high grade drill intercept of gold at 13.35 grams per tonne, silver at 27.98 grams a tonne, and copper at 5.33% over a 34.54-metre (113.32-foot) length of drill core at its Lalor deposit in Manitoba. Drilling encountered this copper and gold at a lower depth than the zinc and gold zones it had previously found at the deposit.

HudBay first discovered zinc at Lalor two years ago, and has since encountered what could be significant gold deposits deeper down. That would indicate that it certainly does pay to continue exploring.

"The copper and gold intersection in (the) hole is among the best I have seen in nearly 40 years in the mining business and the new copper-gold zone may be very significant," Chief Executive Peter Jones said in a statement.

Full Story

Keep on Prospecting!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Rice Lake Manitoba is alive with gold explorers.

Recent news from several mining and exploration companies clearly demonstrates that the search for new gold has ramped up in the Rice lake Greenstone Belt of Manitoba. Over the last few weeks there have been news releases of new gold discoveries, joint venture exploration projects, diamond drilling projects, mining claim acquisitions and new exploration work taking place throughout the region. At least six different companies have made recent press releases all of which contain exciting news of rejuvenated gold exploration.

The Rice lake region of Southeast Manitoba is an old gold mining camp that has sprung new life. Starting from the original discoveries in the early 1900’s and leading up to the new high grade discoveries being made today, history will show the region to be an important source of gold.

Today’s new Manitoba Gold Rush was triggered when San Gold Corp, a junior exploration and mining company based in Manitoba, reopened the historic San Antonio mine and discovered and put into production two other new mines. The company has had remarkable success at discovering new high grade gold deposits, virtually on the door step of their mine and milling complex, now called the Rice lake mine. Their exploration achievements are many, including discovery of the near surface high grade Hinge Zone and related deposits and rich new ore zones in the historic mine.

San Gold Corp, Strike point Gold, WildCat Exploration, Cougar Minerals, EagleRidge Minerals and Bison Gold have all made recent press releases concerning exploration activities within the region.

With this type of activity the rush appears to be well underway, proving once again that innovative thinking combined with modern tools can help unlock the hidden riches in historic gold camps. Results from the Rice Lake Belt today, closely parallel those obtained during the revitalization of the Red Lake Ontario region that occurred not so long ago. Red lake is home to one of the World’s richest gold mines, the Red lake mine owned by Goldcorp.

Websites of companies active in the Rice lake area with recent press releases.

San Gold Corp

Bison Gold Inc

Cougar Minerals Corp

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd

Wildcat Exploration Ltd

Strike Point Gold Inc.

There are numerous other companies and private individuals actively exploring the region. To all a great good well done!

Lets go out and prospect - Happy Rock Hounding!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

What is Gold ?

That's easy to answer, it's one of the more important metals that we prospectors look for? It's part of the prospectors dream and we always try to chase it out of where it hides. We all know that gold is valuable and important, but sometimes we need a little reminder of just how great a metal Gold really is.

Here are some interesting facts about Gold.

The properties and uses of the metal gold.

Chemical symbol: Au

Atomic number: 79

Atomic weight: 196.967

Specific gravity: 19.3 (Twice as heavy as lead; 1 cubic foot weighs over half a
ton.)

Hardness: 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs hardness scale

Tensile strength: 19,000 pounds per square inch

Melting point: 1,945oF

Boiling point: 5,378oF

- Face centered-cubic crystalline structure.

- Most malleable and ductile of all metals.

- Inert, therefore does not corrode. (Referred to as a noble metal.)

- Good conductor of electricity.

- One ounce of gold can be stretched into a wire more than 40 miles long.

- Gold can be worked into a layer measuring 1 millionth of an inch.

- There are certain produced acid and alkaline compounds that will dissolve gold; the best known is aqua-regia, a potent combination of hydrochloric and nitric acids.

Gold is one of the earliest metals known and used by humans. It resists corrosion and chemical interaction. It will not disintegrate when exposed to oxygen, water, salt, or any other naturally-occurring material. Gold’s durability accounts for the almost perfect condition of coins and artifacts fashioned from it thousands of years ago.

Gold is used for investment purposes and jewelry however it's most important uses are in computers, weaponry and aerospace. It is used where consistent, reliable performance under all conditions is essential. The electronics industry has tried to find substitute metals and alloys, but gold’s exceptional resistance to corrosion and tarnish is still unequaled.

Happy Prospecting!

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Searching for $1000 Gold

Higher gold prices are something that all gold prospectors wish to see. Gold fetching $1,000 per once is much better than say $600. For the serious prospector getting a higher value for his or her gold usually ranks as high on the dream list as finding a good lode of the stuff.

Lately due to the uneasiness in stock markets and economies, more and more people appear to be seeking refuge in gold as a investment safety net. This and other factors such as possible supply shortages have caused the price of gold to rise to high levels, excellent prices compared to a few years ago.

The increasing price situation is good for the mining companies and prospectors alike. While some folks predict gold will reach $1,200 per once in the next year or so,which would be great, however rather that happens or not there is still reason to be happy at today's prices.

Today Reuters is now carrying a story titled

RPT-PRECIOUS-Gold futures hit $1,000/oz as investors seek refuge

Here is an exert and link to that story.

By Chikako Mogi

TOKYO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures hit a six-month
high of $1,000 and spot gold also rose to six-month high on
Tuesday as the dollar's weakness, concerns about the
sustainability of the global economic recovery and worries
about inflation underpinned sentiment.

Some market players were cautious about prices sustaining
$1,000, however, saying the rally had been driven by
speculators and gold was an expensive buy in historical terms.

Futures have topped $1,000 nine times -- three times this
year and six last year, including a record $1,033.90. Spot
prices have risen above $1,000 just four times - once in
February and three times in March 2008, when they hit a record
$1,030.80.

"Futures were always going to lead the way above $1,000, so
spot can't be far behind. Gold's rising price is due to
uncertainty all the way from personal investors right through
to institutions," said Sandra Close, an analyst for gold
research group Surbiton Associates.

"There are questions out there over the health of
economies, where interest rates are going. All that encourages
gold hoarding. There's potential to see the price go even
higher," she said.

Spot gold XAU= rose as high as $997.90, its highest since
February, when it briefly topped $1,000, before easing to
$994.80. New York's notional close was $993.85.

U.S. gold futures for December delivery GCZ9 touched
$1,000 briefly before slipping to $996.3 per ounce. Futures
settled at $996.70 on Friday. U.S. markets were closed on
Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

Link to Full Reuters Story

Happy Prospecting

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Gold Prospecting reaps rewards

I seldom get to comment on what being a prospector means to me personally. Today is one of those very few times. Yesterday I had the pleasure of signing a deal with an exploration company that will provide me the prospector with assurances of a good deal on property held by a company I helped form. This is an example of what we look forward to as prospectors, when we find the good areas and get them explored by hard work or as in this case hard work and an option to explore by another company.

It sometimes takes a deal of this caliber to show the value of prospectors and it often also takes the means available of a better healed company in order to get the work done. Here is the press release announcing our deal.

EagleRidge Minerals has now positioned itself as a major land owner in the Rice Lake Gold Belt of Manitoba

EagleRidge Minerals Options Freeman and Bolger Claims in the Rice Lake Greenstone Belt of Southeast Manitoba

September 1, 2009 - Pinawa, Manitoba
EagleRidge Minerals Ltd. (“ERM” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has finalized an option agreement with Central Consolidated Resources (“CCR”) for two claim groups in the Rice Lake greenstone belt of southeast Manitoba.
The Freeman and Bolger mineral claims are located near Bissett, Manitoba. The mineral claims consist of the seven (7) contiguous Freeman claims covering an area of 1707 hectares. These claims are located 1,500 metres to the northeast of the present San Gold Corporation mineral lease. The five (5) Bolger claims cover 468 hectares and are located 13 kilometres to the west-southwest of the San Gold mining operations. Both claim groups are in very active areas for gold exploration.

The agreement allows ERM the right to acquire 100% of the properties by completing $520,000 in exploration over the next two years and by providing CCR with $200,000 and 700,000 shares over the same time period. CCR will retain a 3% net smelter royalty and an area of interest royalty. ERM has the option to purchase half of the CCR royalty for $1,500,000.

At present ERM holds or has optioned a total of 18,000 hectares of mineral claims in the Rice Lake greenstone belt. This ground holds potential for new gold showings in light of the recent gold discoveries being made by San Gold and the exploration activities by other companies in the region. The addition of the Freeman-Bolger claims has strengthened ERM’s land holdings in belt.
Prospecting and geological exploration teams will soon be deployed on the new claims.
Carey Galeschuk, P.Geo, ERM President and COO, is the qualified person under the definition of NI 43-101 for these projects.
About EagleRidge Minerals Ltd.

ERM is presently a privately traded company. The Company is focused on gold and base metal mineral exploration in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. The company operates exploration office in both Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

EagleRidge Minerals-Fischot Island, St. Julien's, Copper Discovery With Up to 5.0% Copper in Surface Field Samples

PINAWA, MANITOBA-- Aug. 27, 2009 - EagleRidge Minerals Ltd (ERM) is excited to announce today that is has received final assays from its 2009 geological mapping, geochemistry and prospecting work on the Fischot Islands, on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

During the months of June and July, the company was very busy conducting ground exploration work in the Great Northern Peninsula area of Newfoundland and surrounding areas. Work was focused in the Baie Verte and St. Julien's Project area in Newfoundland and Labrador. Fischot Island is located in the north eastern portion of the St, Julien's project area, approximately 10 kilometres north of the original St. Julien's copper showing, now referred to as the Copper Cod Showing.

Fischot Island

Fischot Island is a group of islands that are geologically represented as a mafic volcanic suite of rocks with several large gabbros intrusions. The volcanic rocks to the north contain a large stockwork system of quartz veining. The quartz veins are generally brecciated and carry pebble to cobble size chalcopyrite pieces. The mafic volcanic rocks are highly altered with chlorite, epidote and lesser amounts of carbonate. The northern island, Northwest Island, contains the bulk of the copper mineralization, as well as Frommy Island.

Geological mapping, geochemistry and prospecting were carried out over the islands in July of 2009. The program was generated from limited prospecting performed the year previous on the island by EagleRidge Minerals field crews. The present work has indentified two zones of copper sulphide mineralization. Copper mineralization is generally situated in the quartz veins but is also found in associated shear zones and to a lesser extent in the host rock.

The main zone of copper mineralization covers an area of 1400 metres by 700 metres on surface and has a general ovoid shape. Copper mineralization is generally associated with the brecciated quartz veins and associated shear zones. Veins have been noted up to 15 metres in width but average around 10 centimetres. Strike lengths are commonly over 100 metres. Associated shear zones are generally 10 metres wide and contain disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite. Surface sampling has returned copper values in the range of 0.6% to 5%. Several samples outside of the main zone of mineralization assayed 0.1% to 0.5% copper and forms a lower grade narrow envelope of mineralization.

The northern zone of mineralization is located in the northern portion of the island chain. This zone is a linear trend that extends for 2100 metres with a width of 100 to 125 metres. Copper mineralization is predominantly hosted in the brecciated quartz veins as pebbles and cobbles of chalcopyrite but also as disseminated sulphides in shear zones. Assays ranged from 0.6% to 2% copper. This zone of mineralization has a lower grade copper halo of mineralization with widths of 20 to 30 metres on either side of the trend. The lower grade copper assayed between 0.13% and 0.5% copper.

Rock Assay QAQC

All rock samples were sent by private vehicles to the Accurassay Laboratories sample preparation office in Gambo, Newfoundland. Assays were completed at the Accurassay Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario. EagleRidge Minerals follows a QAQC program of documented sample procedures and the introduction of commercial standards into the sample series.

VTEM on Fischot Island

During the later part of 2008, Eagleridge Minerals contracted Geotech Limited to fly a VTEM airborne EM and magnetic geophysical survey over the eastern portion of the St. Julien's project. The airborne survey covered the Fischot Islands.

The company contracted an independent geophysical consultant, John Kieley, to review the data. His report recommends several VTEM targets on Fischot Island and two of them are associated with the newly discovered copper mineralization.

Additional Ground Added

In light of the significant surface copper mineralization encountered, additional claims were added to the St. Julien's Project. Additional claims were added around Fischot Islands and Cormorandier Island. Potential exists to the north and west of the present Fischot Island discovery.

Exploration Plan

Presently the geological field crews are presently working on the company's gold projects in the Bissett region of south eastern Manitoba. A crew of prospectors are currently prospecting the recently added mineral claims located on Fischot Island, on the St. Julien's project in Newfoundland and the Goose Cove area.

Once all the work for Fischot Island and the rest of St. Julien's are completed and compiled, a drill program will be planned. The drilling will be based on the geological and geophysical interpretations. It is expected that drilling will occur later this fall. Efforts are underway to obtain financing for the drilling and continued exploration work on all of the company's mineral claims. A news release should be released shortly on the rest of the St. Julien's Project area.

Carey Galeschuk, P.Geo, ERM President and COO, is the qualified person for these projects.

About EagleRidge Minerals Ltd

ERM is presently a privately traded company. The company is focused on gold and base metal mineral exploration in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. The company operates exploration offices in both Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. The company is actively exploring gold and base metal targets in both provinces.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Assumptions that have been made still require to be proven from field investigations. Management believes there is strong potential with regard to economic mineralization being found on their mineral exploration properties however this can only be proven through progressive field exploration and geological investigations. The statements in this release contain information that has known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be different from those presented in this release. All investments carry a certain level of risk that cannot be considered to be under the control of EagleRidge Minerals Ltd.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Prospecting Creates new Klondike Gold Rush

I just had the opportunity to read a story in the Globe and Mail concerning new gold discoveries made in the Klondike. It seems that gold prospecting may have finally located at least one of the elusive mother lodes that thousands of fortune hunters and would be prospectors searched for over 100 years ago.

I think this shows that prospecting is a very useful profession and it can be rewarding, but it takes time to do it right!

Here are some parts of the full story.

"We've finally found the first one that actually shows enough gold in one spot to say, 'Ahh, this is the type of deposit that could have produced the Klondike,' " said Shawn Ryan of Dawson, Yukon.

Mr. Ryan has combined 10 years of old-fashioned bushwhacking with the latest high-tech data gathering to find a gold belt nine kilometres long. The prospector's find is in the so-called White Gold area, south of Dawson, near where the White and Yukon rivers meet.

The area isn't new to gold seekers. In the late 1890s, it was part of the Klondike Gold Rush, which saw tens of thousands of hopeful "cheechakos," or newcomers, flood into the Yukon hoping to pan and sluice their way to riches.

Dawson swelled to 30,000 as creeks and gravel bars yielded millions of dollars of gold. Much of it was spent in bars such as Diamond-Tooth Gertie's, which provided Mr. Service with rich material for his oft-quoted odes such as The Cremation of Sam McGee.

The sources of that gold were never found. But Maurice Colpron of the Yukon Geological Survey says the White Gold find could be one of them

"The motherlode is still out there and that's the hype around the White Gold area."

Plenty of miners seem to think so. There are at least 29 junior mining companies active in the area. About 7,900 claims have been staked since late 2006.

Mineral exploration spending in the Yukon has risen from $7-million in 2002 to over $100-million in 2007 and 2008. Even in recessionary 2009, government figures suggest mining companies will spend up to $60-million.

Early drilling results explain the rush. Many operating mines exploit deposits that yield one gram of gold per tonne of ore. White Gold-area miners report 100-metre stretches of claim that yield three or four times that.

One company says a small section of its claim contains 410 grams of gold a tonne.

"People are really starting to realize this is a great place to explore," said Susan Craig, director of the Yukon Chamber of Mines and president of Northern Freegold Resources, one of the region's main players.

Link to Globe and Mail Story

As Been Webber the author of the article says " Somewhere, the ghost of Robert W. Service is smiling."

Let us keep on prospecting! Have a great and rewarding day.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

EagleRidge Minerals Increases Ground Position in Newfoundland and Labrador

Pinawa, Manitoba July 12th, 2009

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd (ERM) is excited to announce today that is has made some sufficient additions to its mineral claim portfolio in Newfoundland and Labrador. ERM has staked new ground in the Baie Verte area for gold and the Goose Cove area for copper.

ERM has added an additional 13 claims in the Micmac lake region on the Baie Verte Peninsula, approximately 40 kilometres to the south of the community of Baie Verte,, Newfoundland. These claims were staked to cover several known gold showing that were discovered and worked on by Noranda in the late 1980’s. The historical gold showings are known as the Crow Hill South and Raven zones. Both showings are spatially associated with the Crow Hill topographic linear.

Historical exploration work in the area consisted of sampling, geophysics, trenching and limited diamond drilling.
Mineralization is structurally controlled and hosted in quartz veins with intense alteration of the host rock. Channel samples over the Raven zone returned historic surface channel sample values of 1.88 g/t Au over 4 metres and 2.19 g/t Au over 1 metre from diamond drilling. The Crow Hill South Zone yielded historic assays of 1.03 g/t Au over 12 metres from surface channel sampling and 1.87 g/t Au over 11 metres from diamond drilling. Mineralized float in the area returned historic assay values up to 16 g/t Au.

In addition, ERM is pleased to announce that it has added to their mineral claim ground position in the Goose cove area of Newfoundland and Labrador. This area is located approximately 10 kilometres south of the community of St. Anthony’s, Newfoundland. The claims cover the historical past producing Goose Cove Copper Mine. The Goose Cove Mine opened in 1908 and operated for several years. Production records are poorly available but the grade of the copper ore averaged 8-10% copper with approximately 4% copper in the adjacent schist host rock.

Phase 1 of the exploration plan for the Gosse cove area will start in the late summer of 2009. This work will consist of reconnaissance mapping and prospecting. Phase 1 of the new gold claims on the Baie Verte Peninsula will also consist of reconnaissance mapping and prospecting. This work will be carried out in the fall of 2009.

Carey Galeschuk, P.Geo, ERM President and COO, is the qualified person for these projects.

Monday, July 06, 2009

Prospecting Hobby Turns into Property Option and Exploration

Can you profit from mineral prospecting? That is a question often asked when "one gets put on the spot" by people that are less excited about mineral prospecting. Usually people laugh a little and say oh sure. Stuff Like that!

Prospecting can turn into much more than a hobby.

Here is a story of four brothers from a small town in remote Newfoundland Canada that had the prospecting bug. Starting out as a hobby their efforts to look at an old mine shaft and surrounding area turned into one of the few aggressive copper exploration projects undertaken in the province during 2008 - 2009.

The full article can be read at http://www.northernpen.ca/index.cfm?sid=188333&sc=361

Here are some exerts from the story.

While the McGrath brothers brought Eagle Ridge to the area last spring, their exploration began as children climbing over rusty rocks. While the Grandois natives left the McGrath fishing stage as young men to seek work, those memories came rushing back to Wilbert as he toiled on Voisey Bay drilling rigs during the nickel rush.

"My interest was based on the simple concept of 'rusty rocks' that is a obvious indication of mineralization present in rocks, sulphides, as the oxidization process causes the rocks to be rust-stained," said Wilbert. "I kept thinking of a place I knew back near my hometown - there was lots of rusty rocks near the old St. Julien's mine shaft."

So, Wilbert, Eddie, Don and Fred made themselves a summer project - they pumped out the old mine shaft.

"The old-timers always told us it was a copper mine," said Eddie. "It started out as a bit of excitement and an excuse to get together."

But when the water was gone from the century-old exploration shaft, the brothers found a large rusty area and took samples. They came back showing eight per cent copper.

Believing in their find, they went to the annual conference of the Prospectors Development Association of Canada in Toronto, where they met Mr. Freeman.

"These boys knew nothing about prospecting, but they took the initiative and came to Toronto and all they ever seemed to care about was their community," said Mr. Freeman. "They deserve a lot of credit - this is one of only a few forgotten copper mines in Canada."

With the recent progress, Wilbert has allowed himself to indulge in dreams of a future for Grandois, which has withered to 20 residents at the end of a long dirt road since the cod moratorium.

"Following a successful drilling program, the ultimate dream is naturally to see mining development and to see the schools and churches full of people again in Croque and Grandois."

Don, meanwhile, just smiled on his way back to the old family stage after a morning building a shed on the site, and said, "If nothing else, it's a good excuse for a ride in boat."

Full Story Here

EaglRidge Minerals Link

Sunday, July 05, 2009

New thinking gets gold

There is a mining company in Manitoba that been successful at finding high grade gold deposits in areas that have been overlooked since 1911. Their success comes from using fresh thinking and hard work, leading to the development of a new geological model that has resulted in awesome new discoveries of gold.

That is prospecting at its best!

The company making these new discoveries is San Gold Corp.

Sticking to the prospecting code, proves its value once again.

Read here for more information on San Gold corp

Monday, June 29, 2009

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd Begins 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Exploration Program

Toronto, Ontario and St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador June 29thth, 2009

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd (ERM) is pleased to announce that field exploration crews have been mobilized from the Manitoba sites to the Newfoundland project sites. Field exploration work was performed on the Baie Verte area. The crews are now working on the St. Julien’s exploration project. Both project areas offer great opportunity for the discovery of gold and base metals mineralization.

The company has assembled a 12 person field crew consisting of geologists, geological assistants, Newfoundland prospectors and local persons from St. Juliens and Croque. The exploration crews are being overseen by ERM’s President and COO, Carey Galeschuk, P.Geo.

The Baie Verte Project was primarily focused on reconnaissance mapping and prospecting. The St. Julien’s Project is focused on detailed geological mapping and structural studies. Previous prospecting samples from St. Julien’s have returned copper assays over 22% as well as numerous other high assays of copper.
The company is excited about the potential of its’ Newfoundland projects. Field crews are following up the prospecting efforts undertaken in the St. Julien’s area during the summer and fall of 2008. During 2008, ERM carried out extensive ground prospecting on the St. Juliens project as well as airborne geophysics.

The VTEM geophysical anomalies in the St. Julien’s area that were generated during the airborne survey will be traced in the field. As well, an independent consultant has reviewed the electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical data from the St. Julien’s area and soon will be issuing an interpretive report. Diamond drilling is planned for later in the fall of 2009 in the St. Julien’s area.
Carey Galeschuk, P.Geo, ERM President and COO, is the qualified person for these projects.

About EagleRidge Minerals Ltd

ERM is presently a privately held mineral exploration company focused on gold and base metal mineral exploration in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The company operates exploration office in both Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The company has made high grade copper discoveries on its St. Juliens property in Newfoundland and recently acquired new properties near the high grade hinge zone gold discovery made by San Gold Corporation at Rice Lake, Manitoba.
ERM holds over 18,000 hectares of property in the Rice Lake greenstone belt of Manitoba and has over 29,000 hectares of mineral properties in Newfoundland. The company is actively exploring gold and base metal targets in both provinces.

http://www.eagleridgeminerals.com

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Assumptions that have been made still require to be proven from field investigations. Management believes there is strong potential with regard to economic mineralization being found on their mineral exploration properties however this can only be proven through progressive field exploration and geological investigations. The statements in this release contain information that has known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be different from those presented in this release. All investments carry a certain level of risk that cannot be considered to be under the control of EagleRidge Minerals Ltd.

Story link

ETA: The entire EagleRidge Minerals news release can be seen on Market Wire

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Wall street or In the Woods

Give me a cabin in the woods
Where not a human soul intrudes;
Where I can sit beside a stream
Beneath a balsam bough and dream,
And every morning see arise
The sun like bird of paradise;
Then go down to the creek and fish
A speckled trout for breakfast dish,
And fry it in an ember fire -
Ah! there's the life of my desire.

Alas! I'm tied to Wall Street where
They reckon me a millionaire,
And sometimes in a day alone
I gain a fortune o'er the 'phone.
Yet I to be a man was made,
And here I ply this sorry trade
Of Company manipulation,
Of selling short and stock inflation:
I whom God meant to rope a steer,
Fate made a Wall Street buccaneer.

Old Time, how I envy you
Who do the things I long to do.
Oh, I would swap you all my riches
To step into your buckskin britches.
Your ragged shirt and rugged health
I'd take in trade for all my wealth.
Then shorn of fortune you would see
How drunk with freedom I would be;
I'd kick so hard, I'd kick so high,
I'd kick the moon clean from the sky.

Aye, gold to me is less than brass,
And jewels mean no more than glass.
My gold is sunshine and my gems
The glint of dew on grassy stems . . .
Yet though I hate my guts its true
Time sorta makes you used to you;
And so I will not gripe too much
Because I have the Midas touch,
But doodle on my swivel chair,
Resigned to be a millionaire.

Robert Service

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Gold Prospecting Still Survives

At a time with when paintings of doom and gloom scenes have more value than the earth's precious minerals and certainly have more value than the stock of many of the public traded companies. Good news is often needed to help us realize that all is not lost in the cow patty pile - otherwise known as the stimulated economy and troubles of today - that we accept as the rule of our times.

Good news is a rare commodity in our industry, in our times and in our situations, so when good news does come along, it should be shared.

Today comes news of aggressive new exploration plans and mineral property expansions, from a private Canadian mineral prospecting company. A company that is bucking the odds and doing what prospectors have been known to do, keep on locating and creating valuable mineral discoveries in all winds and weathers.

Isn't that good news in the prospector world? Maybe it should also be seen as good news in general, simply because there is hope that the entrepreneurial and discovery spirit is not lost in all the doom and gloom that we hear each day.

So What is EagleRidge Minerals Ltd is up to, let us have a look:

Company news release from St. Juliens Newfoundland and Labrador

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd is pleased to announce that it has acquired additional mining claims in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. 78 claims (1950 hectares) have been staked to expand its Baie Vista property on the Baie Verte Peninsula, 130 new claims (3250 hectares) have been staked adjoining its St. Juliens copper project on the Northern Peninsula and 90 additional claims (2250 hectares) have been staked in the Little Bay area of Nortre Dame Bay.

With the addition of these new claims, EagleRidge has expanded it's Baie Vista gold project which now contains 183 mining claims covering 4575 hectares. The Baie Vista property is located in an emerging gold production area on the Baie Verte peninsula. The mining claims are also adjacent to historic base metals mines. This property adjoins the mining leases of the developing Anaconda Mining Pine Cove gold mine and is in close proximity to the Ramblers Metals Ming copper and gold mine.

The Baie Verte peninsula on the Island of Newfoundland is experiencing renewed exploration effort due to increased industry interest in precious metals. The large number of past gold occurrences and more recent platinum group metal discoveries has created a new focus of attention on the area.

EagleRidge views it's Baie Vista property as being a mineral property with excellent potential for the discovery of gold, platinum and base metals along with chromium and magnesium. The Dunnage Zone ophiolitic volcanic-hosted environments, in which new gold and platinum deposits have been recently found on the peninsula, also underlie the Baie Vista property. About 125 gold deposits have been reported on the Baie Verte Peninsula.

Historic data revels that at least 7 documented mineral occurrences exist within the Baie Vista property boundaries and numerous others exist within 50 – 1000 meters from the property boundaries. These include gold, copper, chromium and asbestos, minor silver and nickel indications are also documented. Company staff also made a new gold discovery of 3.8 g/t in late 2008 during a brief field examination. Gold values up to 5.9 g/t (soils) and 6.75 g/t (rock) are reported from past work on the property. EagleRidge will begin an exploration program on the Baie vista property during the summer of 2009.

EagleRidge has once again expanded the St. Juliens copper/ nickel property by acquiring more land covering numerous other base metal mineral showings and marble deposits to the west of the original claims. Based on research activities and the results of the 2008 VTEM survey the company moved swiftly to stake additional claims on two occasions. The St Juliens property now consists of 572 claims totaling 14,300 hectares in area.

EagleRidge continues to experience excellent exploration results, with samples assaying up to 22% copper, at St. Juliens and the company is preparing to start another aggressive exploration program in 2009. Staff and outside consultants are now busy interpreting the VTEM anomalies identified from the 2008 survey and are compiling data to complete the planning for intensified exploration efforts. The new St. Juliens claims add additional discovery potential for base metals and also provide an industrial grade marble deposit with historic reserves of over 40 million tonnes.

EagleRidge Minerals Ltd also staked a total of 90 minerals claims or 2250 hectares in the Little Bay area of Nortre Dame Bay. The company conducted research that revealed appealing gold and copper showings and acted quickly to acquire the land. These claims are staked over geology similar to that encountered at 32 mines developed in the highly productive Dunnage Zone of the Notre Dame bay area. The company is pleased to have acquired an excellent property in this exciting area.

Review of historic data for the Little Bay properties revealed mineral occurrences with copper grades up to 5.16%, gold up to 10.4 g/t and silver up to 2.5 g/t. The Little Bay properties will be explored in detail once planning is completed.Over 100 mineral occurrences exist within the northwestern Dunnage Zone, making this one of the most richly mineralized parts of the island of Newfoundland.

With these new property additions EagleRidge continues to build its property base and diversify the opportunity for discovery success.

Company website www.eagleridgeminerals.com

It is pretty simple is it not, go for it in thick or thin, be a prospector.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Mineral prospecting on the ocean floor

To say that prospecting and mineral exploration is embracing technology is perhaps an understatement when we consider the news that a breakthrough project is moving forward in New Guinea to mine the ocean floor. Well black smokers anyway.

Scientists have documented concentrations of metals found near underwater hydrothermal vents, nicknamed "black smokers" because they act like chimneys, or conduits in the earth's spreading plates, that allow sea water to seep into the earth's crust, where it becomes heated, all the while leaching precious minerals from the surrounding rock and returning mineral super enriched water back up the chimneys.

This soup of water and minerals spews out and cools depositing the enriched mineral material on the ocean floor near the vents. That enriched material is the kind of stuff that prospectors dream of finding when they search for new deposits.

This type of activity also helped to create many of the on land deposits being mined or explored today, however the action took place long - long ago when the land was covered with sea water. The hydrothermal vents and veins that created the on land deposits have long become dormant. The land has been uplifted to high and dry areas and deposits are mined using traditional means.

Today we have the technology to mine these active black smokers providing that we are careful in doing so in a sound manner, where the unique sea life around the black smokers is protected.

About 200 active vents have been found, though only 10 nearby deposits are considered prolific enough to mine, according to a report by the International Seabed Authority. Underwater dormant vents are much tougher to locate, but the deposits around them may also be fruitful. An ISA report indicates a single deposit could weigh 100 million tons.

Although I don’t expect to jump overboard and have a look at one of those deposits anytime soon, it certainly is interesting reading and a testament to human ingenuity.

The Title above provides a reference link to the news story.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Prospector

Reproduced from the Northern Miner - From a speech delivered in 1938 by William Sulzer, a former governor of New York.

The prospector is the most useful man to commerce and the most valuable man of civilization.

Political economists tell us that next to agriculture, mining is the next greatest industry. This is true from the viewpoint that if our soil were untilled, famine would stalk the land.

From a monetary standpoint, however, the mining industry is the greatest in the world. The truth of this assertion becomes apparent when one considers that mining gives us the standard of value by which the price of everything produced by the brain and brawn of man is measured.

Abandon mining and the value of every commodity would be insignificant, humanity would sink back to the barter-and-exchange age, and financial paralysis would lock in its vice-like grasp the industries of mankind.

It would be the greatest calamity that ever befell the human race, and in less than a century, civilization would revert to the barbarism of pre-history, when primitive man knew nothing about copper, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc and the other mineral resources of Mother Earth.

Those who decry mining are ignorant of history. If they knew anything about metals, they would know that all business, all industry and all human progress depends on mines.

The wealth from mines, from the dawn of time, is the epic of human advancement of man's heroic march along the path of progress.

Show me a people without mines and I will show you a people deep in the mire of poverty and a thousand years behind the procession of civilization. It was the mines that made the greatness of the past, that made the ancient civilizations, that made Egypt great, that made Rome great and, in modern times, that hive made Spain, England and the U.S. rise beyond the dreams of avarice.

The greatest benefactor of the human race has been the prospector. The most beneficent men of all time are the far-seeing men whose brain and brawn developed the Earth's mineral resources.

These are men who poured the golden streams of mineral wealth into the lap of civilization, into the channels of trade, into the avenues of commerce and into the homes of happiness.

All honor to the miner. All hail the prospector.

Link http://www.northernminer.com/