Radisson Mining (TSXV:RDS)(OTCQB:RMRDF) has announced the results of a high-grade diamond drill hole at its 100%-owned O’Brien Gold Project, located in the Abitibi region of Quebec. The drill hole, labeled OB-24-347, intercepted exceptional gold mineralization at shallow depth, raising the possibility of rediscovering the renowned “Jewellery Box” from the historic O’Brien Gold Mine.
Matt Manson, President & CEO, commented in a press release: “When the O’Brien Gold Mine was operational between 1926 and 1957, it was known for very high grades and spectacular specimens of visible gold, many of which are now in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum. The source of some of the best specimens was thought to be the Jewellery Box stope, a narrow, vertical grade-shoot extending from 250 metres depth to at least 750 metres depth. At the time, exploration drifts were developed to try to find this zone above the 250 metres level, without success. Now, drill-hole OB-24-347 has intersected what we believe is the same Jewellery Box zone marginally offset to the east. We intend to now trace it to the surface with additional drilling and expose it with stripping. This is being planned for our 2025 exploration program. Steeply plunging high-grade shoots are characteristic of the O’Brien Gold Project. The Jewellery Box Stope was always the best of these. Its potential re-discovery offers very high value, low-hanging fruit for a future O’Brien mine.”
The drill hole intersected 643.1 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 2.1 meters, including 1,345 g/t gold over 1.0 meter, at approximately 200 meters vertical depth. This intersection occurred on the eastern edge of the historic O’Brien Mine workings. These findings suggest the potential extension of the “Jewellery Box,” a mining stope historically known for its extremely high-grade gold and notable gold samples of museum quality.
The O’Brien Gold Project sits along the Larder Lake-Cadillac Break (LLCB), a major structural feature in the Abitibi gold belt. Gold mineralization at the site is typically associated with quartz-sulfide veins, which occur within interlayered mafic volcanic rocks, conglomerates, and porphyritic andesitic sills of the Piché Group. The veins also intersect the Pontiac sediments in the hanging wall and the Cadillac meta-sedimentary rocks in the footwall.
These quartz-sulfide veins, historically mined at O’Brien, are characterized by narrow widths ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. They occur in clusters that run parallel to the LLCB and are accompanied by pyrite, arsenopyrite, and biotite alteration. Individual veins have well-documented lateral continuity and vertical high-grade shoots extending over significant lengths. Historically, the O’Brien Mine produced over 500,000 ounces of gold at an average grade exceeding 15 g/t over a vertical extent of at least 1,000 meters.
The modern exploration efforts aim to extend this historic high-grade mineralization to new zones east of the original mine. Current mineral resources at O’Brien are estimated at 0.50 million ounces of indicated resources (1.52 million tonnes at 10.26 g/t gold) and an additional 0.45 million ounces of inferred resources (1.60 million tonnes at 8.66 g/t gold). However, these mineral resources do not yet have demonstrated economic viability.
The drilling campaign followed rigorous protocols for sample collection and quality control. The drill cores, sized NQ, were cut in half, with one half sent for analysis while the other half was retained for future reference. Samples were tested using standard fire assay methods with Atomic Absorption (AA) finish at ALS Laboratory Ltd. in Val-d’Or, Quebec. For samples exceeding 10 g/t gold, a second fire assay with gravimetric finish was conducted. Visible gold zones underwent analysis via metallic sieve procedures to ensure accuracy.
The intercepts were calculated using a 1.0 g/t gold cut-off over a minimum core length of 1.0 meter, and the sample grades were uncapped. This approach differs from previous disclosures by Radisson and is designed to showcase the continuity and frequency of mineralization in the veins. True widths are estimated to be 30–70% of the core length, depending on the angle of the intercept.
The historical significance of the “Jewellery Box”, a mining stope, located within the O’Brien Mine, was a source of exceptionally high-grade gold, with numerous samples displayed in museums for their rarity and beauty. The characteristics of the mineralization in drill hole OB-24-347—nuggety gold, high silicification, and proximity to historic workings—strongly suggest a connection to this legendary zone.
Radisson’s President and CEO, Matt Manson, commented on the importance of this discovery, noting that it reinforces the potential for high-grade gold systems at O’Brien. The drilling results will likely shift exploration efforts toward confirming and delineating this promising area.
The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a licensed professional for investment advice. The author is not an insider or shareholder of any of the companies mentioned above.
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