GOLD - Stina Resources Ltd. Feb. 2 said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing a property option July 2009 agreement between Ryanwood Exploration Inc. and Stina., in which the junior acquired the option to earn a 100 percent interest, subject to a 2 percent net smelter return royalty, in the Dime property located 42 kilometers, or 29 miles, northwest of Underworld Resources Inc.’s White Gold Project in the Dawson Mining District of Yukon Territory. To earn the interest, Stina must pay C$600,000 and issue 1.25 million shares in installments over four years and ending June 26, 2013. Stina also must spend C$1.6 million on exploration in increasing annual increments over four years, ending Nov. 15, 2012. The junior also can purchase half of the net smelter return royalty for C$2 million in cash. A geotechnical report outlines a two-stage exploration program on the Dime Property, which Stina said it plans to initiate this spring. The Dime property covers a well-known placer gold creek called Ten Mile, which has produced coarse placer gold since the turn of the century, and the placer deposits are believed to be locally derived. In 1998 Teck Corp. staked the ground surrounding two placer gold districts in the Dawson area. One was the area now covered by Underworld’s White Gold property and the other was a claim package in the Ten Mile Creek area. Teck worked on both properties for three seasons and successfully identified several promising targets, but changed its focus in 2000 and dropped all its gold exploration efforts in the area. Teck’s data indicates a broad anomalous zone that appears to straddle the southern boundary of the Dime claims and the adjacent property held by Solomon Exploration Ltd. Stina has already initiated discussions with Solomon regarding a joint work program on the target.

MANAGEMENT – True North Gems, which is exploring northwest Canada and Greenland for gems and rare earth elements, Feb. 3 reported several management changes, which the company said it believes will enhance its ability to expeditiously advance the exploitation (mining) permit application process and preliminary development of its Fiskenaesset Ruby Project located in southwest Greenland. The explorer said it views completion of the permitting process and the start of development activity at the project as key milestones in increasing shareholder value. Nicholas Houghton has been appointed president of True North Gems and will continue to serve as a director of the company. Houghton replaced Andrew Lee Smith, who retained his role as a director with executive responsibilities. Jeff Giesbrecht was appointed vice president corporate development and Jacqueline Tucker accepted the position of chief financial officer to replace David S. Parsons, who will now serve as a director and as chairman of the company’s audit committee.

POLYMETALLIC – Zinccorp Resources Inc. Feb. 2 reported that high-grade zinc, lead and silver mineralization at the Michelle Project in North-central Yukon Territory has been found to be enriched in gallium, germanium and indium, specialty metals which are valued for their use in various high-tech and green-manufactured products. Zinccorp is planning a 2010 diamond drill program at the project to test for these base, precious and specialty metals. Fifteen mineralized zones have been discovered within an area roughly 12 kilometers, or about 7.5 miles, by 7 kilometers, or 4 miles. Limited sampling for germanium and indium has revealed highly elevated values in these metals as well. “The Michelle Property has numerous high-grade targets that are enriched in specialty metals in addition to the more common zinc, lead and silver, and which add substantial value to this project,” said Zinccorp President Richard Hughes. “The gross metal value of the Michelle Project is extremely high, and warrants a considerable effort to evaluate.” 15 samples collected in 2009 from seven different zones and re-analyzed for germanium and indium averaged 221.7 grams per metric ton gallium (maximum value 1,170 g/t), 7.4 g/t indium (maximum value 24.1 g/t) and 6.4 g/t Germanium (maximum value 60.3 g/t), in addition to 190 g/t silver, 13.6 percent lead and 13.3 percent zinc, the company said. Only one of seven zones tested in 2009 had low values of all of these metals. Exploration in 2007 returned high values in these metals from the Peak, Gully and Dynasty zones; however the 2008 program did not analyze for them. Elevated levels of these rare metals add substantially to the gross metal value of the mineralization, and potential value of the project. Gallium, germanium and indium are essential components of certain types of semiconductors including solar photovoltaic cells and thin film solar cells, as well as in LCD displays and certain types of transistors. Mineralization at Michelle is hosted by upper-Cambrian to lower-Devonian carbonate rocks of the Bouvette formation. Zinccorp also said its 2010 exploration program at Michelle will look for patterns of enrichment in gallium, germanium and indium in addition to zinc, lead and silver.