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Gold Northern Queen Mine Golden Rapture

Gold-rich area east of Dryden acquired by Alberta mining firm

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Edmonton-based Golden Rapture Mining is adding to its mining properties in northwestern Ontario.

It reports it is acquiring 1,500 acres known as the Northern Queen Mine from an unnamed numbered company.

The property is east of Dryden and located between two other gold-rich areas held by Dryden Gold and NexGold.

Historical records from the Ministry of Energy and Mines indicate gold and silver were produced during the late 1800s.

The area has never been explored using more modern exploration methods.

“We are looking forward to exploring this underexplored property using modern methods and technologies,” states a company release.

Golden Rapture also has properties that it is exploring in the Nestor Falls and Geraldton areas.

Falcon Gold(1)

Falcon Gold to resume exploration north of Atikokan

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Falcon Gold is renewing interest in its exploration project near Atikokan.

The company is seeking a new permit to conduct drilling at its Central Canada Gold project.

It last worked in the area three years ago.

Falcon Gold states that the permit will enable it to drill up to 20 holes, focusing on expanding known gold zones and testing new areas identified during its 2021 exploration work.

“The submission of our Exploration Permit represents the next step in unlocking the scale potential of the Central Canada Gold Project,” states Karim Rayani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Gold, in a release.

“Our prior drilling confirmed multiple high-grade intercepts and continuity along a 1.6-kilometre corridor within a proven gold-bearing structure. We believe we’re only beginning to understand the size of this system, and with our Phase III program, we aim to connect the historic mine zones with newly defined gold mineralization along strike.”

The Central Canada Project is located 20 kilometres southeast of the gold-rich Hammond Reef deposit, which Agnico Eagle Mines recently announced it was again reviewing.

Falcon Gold has retained Bjorkman Prospecting of Atikokan to lead the permitting process and drilling operations.

The company is also ending its interest in a Chile project, saying it will redirect the resources towards its Canadian assets.

Rainy River mine

U.S. mining company strikes deal to acquire New Gold

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A new owner for New Gold and its Rainy River mine.

Chicago-based Couer Mining has reached an agreement to acquire New Gold for an estimated $7 billion.

It includes the acquisition of New Gold’s New Afton and Rainy River Gold Mines.

Coeur will also maintain New Gold’s Toronto headquarters as the base for its new Canadian operations.

Coeur’s Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Krebs says the two sides first talked two years ago.

“We both said we were only looking for opportunities that could make our companies better and faster than we could on our own,” says Krebs.

“We also both agreed that successful transactions are about people, about bringing together companies with similar cultures and forming a stronger, deeper, and more resilient team and creating opportunities for them to develop and to unlock value for shareholders over time. And we believe this transaction achieves both of these principles.”

With the addition of the New Gold mines, Coeur’s will have seven operations expected to produce approximately 20 million ounces of silver, 900,000 ounces of gold, and 100 million pounds of copper over the next year.

The deal comes days after New Gold’s record production in the last three months, especially at its Rainy River Mine.

Kreb says they intended to provide the resources necessary to keep the mine going.

“We’re impressed with the vast underground, underexplored land package, along with other exploration potential, both at surface and underground at Rainy River, and we look forward to accelerating the level of exploration investment there,” says Krebs.

New Gold has operated the Rainy River Mine since 2017, four years after acquiring the gold-rich property north of Barwick from Rainy River Resources.

The agreement still requires regulatory and shareholder approvals, which are expected to be finalized by next spring.

Stephen Lecce Oct 29 2025

Frontier Lithium selected to go through One Project, One Permit process

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The provincial government is giving Frontier Lithium the ability to fast-track its northwestern Ontario lithium project.

The PAK Lithium project is the first to undergo review under the One Project, One Permit process.

Frontier has identified north of Kenora one of the largest lithium deposits in North America, having first explored the area in 2013.

The company proposes shipping the mineral to a proposed lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay before sending it to markets.

Lithium is used in a wide array of applications, ranging from industrial applications, medicinal supplements and energy storage.

“This is such an important milestone for the people of Canada and Ontario and of course for the territorial right holders,” says Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.

“We’re talking about an industry that’s adding $13 billion to the economy, that’s helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.”

An upcoming socioeconomic study from Frontier indicates that the project could generate up to $1.5 billion in gross domestic product, $124 million in tax revenues and create more than 2,000 full-time jobs during construction.

Once operational, it is projected to further contribute $182 million annually to the economy, $11.6 million in annual tax revenues, and support nearly 1,000 long-term positions.

Chief Executive Officer Trevor Walker is pleased that their company is one of the first to go through the new approval process.

“By cutting permitting timelines and strengthening coordination across ministries and Indigenous communities, Ontario is providing the certainty for companies like ours, the need to invest, plan, and deliver responsibly,” says Walker.

“The One Project, One Process framework gives us the clarity to move forward with confidence and the responsibility to do it right.”

Lecce also announced the intention to accelerate new transmission infrastructure in the Red Lake district, with involvement from First Nations.

Frontier Lithium says the proposed twinning of transmission lines between Dryden and Red Lake will strengthen grid capacity and enable the electrification of new mining projects such as theirs.

Webequie agreement Oct 29 2025

Ring of Fire road agreement signed

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The provincial government has signed an agreement with Webequie First Nation that will move forward plans for much needed road access to the Ring of Fire mining area.

Webequie is receiving $39.5 million as part of the agreement.

Some of the money will be immediately released.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford says $10.5 million will be for supplies and materials necessary for early work on the all-season Webequie Supply Road.

“It’s worth noting that this community has led the environmental assessment to be submitted to the government of Ontario in early January, set for approval by spring and then right into construction,” says Rickford.

Another $3 million is being committed for Webequie to lead a study into the potential of a secondary access road that would run east to west.

Such a link had been advocated by a coalition that included the municipality of Sioux Lookout and First Nations communities of Lac Seul, Cat Lake, Slate Falls, and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.

As part of the agreement, the province is providing funding for a new airport terminal, replacing one that was destroyed by fire, along with other improvements at the community’s airport.

Funding is also being earmarked for a new community centre with an arena and mental health and other community supports.

“One-point-five million of this, thanks….one of the negotiators, ensure mental health supports for community members and community well-being activities as they rally their community members for probably one of the biggest economic surges I would think, in their history,” says Rickford.

Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse says it is an important agreement for his community.

“It means working with the government, moving forward on our aspirations from the community,” says Wabasse.

“The secondary road is our winter road. It will be developed in a way that will be more usable than what it is now. It will be able to bring more equipment to our community and also bring new things to our community, so it will be more secure and have a good, solid foundation.”

Premier Doug Ford says development of the new supply road will be a game-changer for Ontario and Webequie.

“And with today’s agreement, which includes investments in infrastructure and local priorities in the Webequie community, we’re ready to get shovels in the ground, building the road as soon as the ground thaws next spring,” says Ford.

New Gold mining from New Gold May 1 2025 (3)

More ore could be coming to New Gold

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New Gold could soon be processing some additional ore from another mining site at its Rainy River mine.

First Mining Gold is proposing to haul ore from its Cameron Lake project.

An application on the province’s Environmental Registry says about 30,000 tonnes of ore would be moved by truck.

The Registry says it could mean a small increase in traffic on the Cameron Lake Road and Highway 71

The request is out for public comment, which expires at the end of next week.

A decision on the request is anticipated later this year.

Bold Ventures Wilcorp-Grab-Sample-photo

Copper found amidst gold and silver near Atikokan

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A company exploring east of Atikokan says it has uncovered a unique find.

Bold Ventures says it has discovered a new style of mineralization showing signs of gold, silver and copper.

One rock sample confirmed strong traces of all three minerals.

The area identified by the company as the Wilcorp property has been known for its gold find and a former gold mine that operated briefly in the 1960s.

Bold Venture says it is unsure if the copper is connected to other nearby discoveries and that more geological mapping and petrographic work will be necessary.

The company resumed exploration on the site last year after more than a decade of inactivity.

This year’s rock sampling followed up on similar work in 2024.

A sample of quartz obtained last year identified as containing significant gold.

Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth George Pirie

CEN-CAN Mining Expo set to take place in Thunder Bay

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The Central Canada Resource Expo (CEN-CAN) is getting underway in Thunder Bay this week.

The event is taking place at the Fort William Gardens on Wednesday and Thursday.

The goal of the event is to bring mining companies, Indigenous leaders, government officials, suppliers, and investors together to explore how Canada can accelerate the production of the metals needed for a low-carbon economy.

“This year, the conversation has shifted from if we can deliver the metals the world needs, to how fast,” said Organizer Glenn Dredhart. “From copper and gold to lithium, nickel, and rare earths, a secure supply has become a matter of climate policy and national security.”

“Buyers want friendly jurisdictions, and Canada, especially Ontario, checks every box.”

More than 250 exhibitors are expected, and live equipment demonstrations, a drilling competition, a trade show and a job fair are taking place as well.

There are also two conferences taking place, including:

  • Projects in the Pipeline (Full day – Thursday)
  • Strengthening Workforce Capacity (11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Wednesday)

More information about the event can be found by clicking here.