THE INTERNATIONAL FORECASTER OCTOBER, 2000 (2)
An international financial, economic, political and social commentary.
Published and Edited by: Bob Chapman Vol. 4 - No. -10-2
Phone & Fax: 941 639 4756
E-mail: brockton1_magt@hotmail.com
Starfield Resources Inc. SRU - Cdnx (Canadian Venture Exchange)
High/ Low: C$1.48/ C$.60 Shares Outstanding: 25.5 million
Recent Price: C$0.68 or $0.45 US funds Float: 12 million
OVERVIEW:
In 1994, Diamondfields Resources discovered the Voisey Bay deposit with a
finite resource of almost 100 million tons of Ni Cu proven possible and inferred. The near surface "Ovoid Zone" contains 32 million tons grading 3.5% Cu Ni combined making up the most mineable reserves. With this reserve the stock price of Diamondfields went from $1 to over $180 before being absorbed by INCO. In comparison Starfield has current resource estimates of
20 million tons proven and possible grading 1.5% Cu Ni combined and with
over 1 gram per ton palladium platinum and a inferred potential that exceeds 100 million tons and that could grow to the 200 million ton range as the zone remains wide open in all directions. With this resource Starfield is trading at under $1. Mining costs of under $40 per ton, as recorded by Nanisivik Mine in its underground operations farther north, should be attainable at the Starfield Project. We venture to say that perhaps Starfield should be trading at a higher price Starfield Resources Inc.'s Ferguson Lake Project is an extremely promising and low risk palladium - platinum - nickel - copper mining development and exploration prospect. The company is making very significant progress in developing an initial threshold tonnage resource in a very prolific base and precious metalliferous layered ultra mafic sill complex at its Ferguson Lake Property. The Ferguson Lake Pd/Pt/Ni/Cu/Co (Palladium $740/oz; Platinum $585/oz; Nickel $3.85/lb; Copper $0.90/lb; Cobalt $13/lb) property located in the new Canadian Territory of Nunavut, 120 miles from the town of Rankin Inlet on Hudson Bay in northern Canada, is currently being explored by Starfield to develop the resource first identified by INCO in the early 1950's. Accessible by winter roads from Rankin Inlet, the new Territorial Government is seriously considering plans to link by road the major mineral developments in the territory - the main industry potential is mining - to deep water facilities on Hudson Bay. The support of the very pro-mining Nunavut Territory Government and the presence of no environmental problems ensure an effective exploration and development program will be rewarded with a certainty of production.
The World's largest Nickel Mining Company, INCO, discovered the property in 1950 and conducted an intensive 3 year drilling and development program that successfully identified a 7 million ton resource of Copper and nickel (Platinum and palladium were not considered at that time). Taking the property to lease, the giant Nickel company left the area to develop the
more 1950's accessible Thompson, Manitoba, Canada nickel copper mine (Thompson's Initial reserves of 25 million tons valued at today's prices is in excess of $4 billion Cdn). For over forty years INCO maintained the property, then an overlooked tax payment in 1992 enabled it to become open ground before it was staked in 1995 and acquired by Starfield in 1999.
Exploration work by INCO developed a 6.4 million ton resource calculation on the "West Zone" grading 0.87% Cu and 0.75 % Ni (Again Platinum and Palladium were not analyzed for). Their work and the initial 1999 work done by Starfield was concentrated along the 9 kilometer strike length of known mineralization. Geophysical Airborne surveying during that program,
exploration and development drilling and subsequent acquisition of the INCO exploration and development data enabled Starfield to identify that the indicated resource was 20 million tons with an indicated value of $3 billion Cdn and more importantly that the metalliferous ultra mafic sill was over 18 kilometers long.
This past year 2000, geophysical work identified that the strong conductive material associated with the West Main zone continued 2.3 kilometers to the west. Recent drilling has intersected tremendous thicknesses of massive sulphide (up to 71 meters - over 200 feet) that assayed over 1 gram per ton palladium and platinum. Significantly that section contained a very
high-grade core of almost 12 meters grading 1.9% Cu Ni an 1.9 grams per ton Pd Pt. This drilling tested the 2.3 kilometer west striking geophysical anomaly, 300 meters beyond the limit of the West Main zone's calculated resource estimate. The strength of the zone intersected and the continuation of the associated geophysical trend suggests that an additional 3-5 million
tons of resource above 300 meters of depth could be added by this step out drill intersection. With another 2 kilometers of similar geophysical anomaly to be drill tested a doubling of the current resource estimate can be expected. If the grades remain the same it will have a value of $6 billion Cdn and represents one of the worlds largest known resources of Cu Ni Pt Pd,
that is not owned by a major nickel mining company. The discussion so far reflects the work done on the West Main Zone only. Another geophysical anomaly discovered this year - the "M" zone - was drill tested this summer of 2000 and found to be caused by sulphides. This new
discovery shows how extensive the metalliferous system is in the Ferguson
Lake Area. The geophysical anomaly is over 2000 meters long and just with one drill hole represents a potential high grade resource of between 5 and 10 million tons above 300 meters with a value of probably over $1.5 billion Cdn. (Using the total intersection the potential is over 40 million tons with a value of $6 billion Cdn). The consistency of geophysical response and
precious and base metal content has been well demonstrated on the Ferguson
Lake Project and with several other geophysical zones and extensions to test the potential resource estimate for the property should exceed 100 million tons very soon. The ultra mafic sill and metal content has not been limited in its extent.
With 18 kilometers of strike the resource potential is open-ended. Mines traditionally extend well below the 300-meter datum that Starfield has tested down too, to date. This suggests that the current resource could be developed, two to three times the current indicated potential.
This current tonnage potential approximates that discovered at Voisey Bay and represents a four-fold increase in the tonnage that was the start of the large mining and smelting complex at Thompson, Manitoba, 800 kilometers to the south. Grade is not equivalent to that at Thompson or Voisey Bay. However, the width of the intersections suggest that large bulk mining methods will be applicable and at the Nanisivik Mine on Baffin Island (a zinc silver mine) mining costs are under $40 a ton. The Lupin Gold mine 200 miles further inland, mining a narrower zone, was reopened this year with a mining costs of $70 per ton and is projected to go to $60 per ton. The less remote Stillwater Platinum Palladium Mine in Montana with a very narrow zone has mining cost of $170 per ton. This find compares best with the Nanisivik Mine in style of deposit and a similar mining cost is anticipated, which will provide a significant profit margin for this project. With regards to Voisey Bay, the Ferguson Lake Project potential resources outlined to date remain above 300 meters and the base and precious metalliferous sill remains open to further exploration and development. The Voisey Bay deposit with approximately 100 Million tons of resources and reserves is limited in the potential of discovery of any additional zone was felt to represent approximately 60% of the reserve estimates. Subsequent evaluation has lowered the potential of that zone due to its depth and narrow widths. Starfield does not face any of these constraints as it appears that most of the resources identified to date are not below 300 meters and mine development of these resources will open up the access to the deeper resources - yet to be discovered!This project has the makings of a developing world class resource of Palladium-Platium-Copper-Nickel-Cobalt in the very near future. The size and consistency of the resource intersected to date in drilling has verified all earlier expectations and projections. It will be a major source of Palladium in light of the falling production from the Russian Norilsk Ni-Cu complex, located at roughly the same latitude in Russia.
This project will be required by a major mining company if it wants to remain in or enter the Nickel mining industry.or investors Starfield Resources offers an opportunity to invest in the soaring Platinum and Palladium metal prices and in a "growing" mineral resource that could exceed $10 Billion in value. The current shortages in palladium are not rectifiable in the near to middle term. Projects with the potential size and value of a "World Class" status, like Starfield Resources are not likely to be discovered in the distant future.Major companies are already sniffing at the door and current prices represent a rock bottom discount on a very significant opportunity.
For further information, contact: Starfield Resources at 877-233-2244 or 604-608-0400
The International Forecaster has received $3,500 for expenses as a consultant to the Company.
This publication is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities nor should it be construed as investment advice as to the value of securities described herein. This publication is for information purposes only. Any forward looking statements involve uncertainties. Actual results may differ dramatically from the results predicted. Complete information regarding the Company is available without charge by telephone or written request to the Company. |
