Mining News: New junior partners with Sherwood to explore Yukon

Northern Tiger Resources Inc. began drilling in July at its Sonora gold-silver-copper-molybdenum project, located 110 kilometers, or 68 miles, northwest of Carmacks, Yukon. The 5,244-hectare, or 12,952-acre, Sonora property is located within 40 kilometers, or 25 miles, of the Minto copper-gold mine owned by Sherwood Copper Corp.

Sherwood is providing logistical support to Northern Tiger through use of its Minto Mine access road and airstrip to expedite mobilization of fuel and supplies and through crew accommodations during certain phases of the $2.1 million 2008 exploration program.

Northern Tiger has allotted $1.5 million of its budget to the drill program focusing on delineation of the Sonora gold-silver-copper mineralizing system. The newly formed company is also doing a 42 line-kilometer, or 26 line-mile, surface magnetic geophysical survey to assist in developing a geological model and identify additional drill targets for the area.

Northern Tiger said a priority will be exploration for Minto-style mineralization on its claim groups acquired from Sherwood’s subsidiary, Minto Explorations Ltd. The properties encompass targets where previous prospecting revealed copper-gold mineralization similar to that of the Minto copper-gold mine. In addition, Northern Tiger’s Chopin gold-silver property, 20 kilometers, or 12 miles, southeast of the Sonora property will undergo systematic exploration.

“The drill is turning at the Sonora property, and we have commenced our Dawson Range regional exploration program,” says Northern Tiger President Greg Hayes. “Our Regional Exploration Alliance with Minto Explorations Ltd., a subsidiary of Sherwood Copper Corp., has helped us target priority areas for exploration.”

Northern Tiger was formed earlier this year as a result of Firestone Ventures Inc.’s spin-out of its Canadian assets, including the Sonora Gulch gold project. In addition, Firestone signed a memorandum of understanding with Sherwood and its wholly owned subsidiary MintoEx to cooperate in exploring Yukon’s Dawson Range area.

— Rose Ragsdale