Extending Marathon's mine life.

With the Hemlo gold camp identifying future gold resources and juniors uncovering new platinum group metals (PGMs), Marathon is continuing to be a community ripe with mining exploration development and production.

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Four diamond drills are active at the Williams Mine; two are in mine production while the other two are being used for exploration.

Tom Campbell, geology superintendent and exploration manager for Williams says, "there is a lot of potential" on the gold property. Having assessed the underground reserves with senior geologist and wife Melissa before accepting the job, Campbell says the aim is to further extend the life of both the Dave Bell and Williams Mines.

Based on current reserves David Bell is scheduled to close in 2009 and Williams Mine in 2011. An exploration program is underway and so far the "results are favourable," he says. Three-dimensional imaging using map text software has defined possible targets and now the hunt is on to find two other exploration geologists to progress the project further.

A better understanding of the parallel mineral occurrences at the C Zone will help increase staff production by up to 25 per cent, Campbell says.

He will present his current findings at the Marathon Hemlo Mining and Prospecting Expo Sept 19-20 where other gold, base metals and PGM mining exploration companies including metalCORP Ltd., Marathon PGM Corp. and Benton Resources Corp. will be present.

Marathon PGM has a 100 per cent interest in their copper project located 10 kilometres north of the town. The company has undergone a preliminary economic assessment, where indicated resources were measured at 49.3 million tonnes. Two million ounces of PGMs and gold and 341 million pounds of copper were identified in a report filed by P & E Mining Consultants Inc., under the compliance of the National Instrument 43-101.

Two platinum-palladium reef zones have also been discovered on metalCORP's 100 per cent owned Big Lake property located 30 kilometres southeast of Marathon. The property is diverse in its base metal and PGM occurrences. A further understanding of the character of the intrusions will be important for future projects, says vice president of exploration Aubrey Eveleigh.

Benton Resources Corp. has multiple properties in the northwest with the Goodchild Nickel Copper Project fast becoming one of the companies top priorities.

The property, located 30 kilometres northeast of Marathon, has confirmed some favourable high-grade nickel and copper presence, according to a company report.

Benton has uncovered showings of copper, platinum and palladium at their Bermuda project, 15 kilometres north of the town as well. Trenching is underway with diamond drilling scheduled before Christmas.

Helping junior and major mining companies with exploration work are Lakehead University's geological students. Up to 15 students are obtaining their honours or masters degree by participating in fieldwork studies including digging trenches and compiling topography data.

The university's geology department is experiencing larger student numbers as a result of the strong mineral cycle, says Pete Hollings, associate professor at Lakehead University's geology department.

By KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business