The two Bateman blocks used to form a much larger entity of contiguous claims until several titles were allowed to lapse or abandoned over the last 5 years. For the purpose of this section, the two blocks will be considered as one entity.
In 1946-47, Mining Corp. of Canada covered the south-east corner of the property with a ground magnetic survey and geological mapping. Strong NW-SE trending magnetic anomalies are reported.
In 1949, Oneonta Pershing Mines Ltd. cuts a graphitic sulfide rich horizon in one hole drilled on the south-east corner of the property.
In 1955, Malartic Gold Fields Ltd. completed an airborne survey covering the Machi-Manitou Lake area which includes the present property. As a follow up, geochemical and electromagnetic surveys were done on the east part of the property. During the same year, the south portion of the property was covered by magnetic and induced polarization surveys run for Newkirk Mining Corp. Ltd.
In 1958, the eastern portion of the property was covered with a magnetic survey done by Monor Mining Co. Ltd. and an electromagnetic survey run by Continental Mining Exploration Ltd.
In 1970, Umex covered the south-east corner of the property with magnetic and electromagnetic surveys.
In 1981-82, Wescap Energy Corp. Ltd. covered the whole property with magnetic and electromagnetic surveys.
In 1983, Bateman Bay Mining Co did a magnetic/electromagnetic survey over the east part of the property revealing several NW-SE anomalies.
In 1985, a humus geochemical survey done by Bateman Bay Mining Co over the west and southeast portions of the property returned anomalous values in gold and arsenic.
In 1986, Exploration Monicor Inc appointed Geokemex Inc. to run a geochemical humus sampling survey over the whole property revealing a few anomalous sectors.
In 1988, Bateman Bay Mining Co completed a magnetic survey (total field and vertical gradient) and an induced polarisation (IP) survey on two sectors of the property producing several anomalous axis. As a follow up, Mines Vauquelin Ltée and Bateman Bay drilled 15 diamond drill holes totaling 1557 m. One hole, BA-88-14 (UTM NAD83 Zone 18 X=338 256 Y=5 319 448) returned 4.15 g/t Au over 5.05 m of core length (high assay cut to 34.3 g/t) with some visible gold.
In late 1989 and early 1990, Mines Vauquelin Ltée completed the geophysical surveys started in 1988 by Bateman Bay Mining Co defining more EW to NW-SE exploration targets.
In early 1990 and as a follow up of previous exploration, Mines Vauquelin Ltée drilled 23 holes for a total of 3095 m. to test the lateral extension of the intersection of hole BA-88-14 and various other geophysical targets. Drilling the extension of BA-88-14 has defined two parallel mineralized gold zones (some 10 m apart) which were then traced for more than 100 m laterally and to a depth of 50 m.
Mineralization on Bateman East
One occurrence of gold mineralization of some significance is reported from the Bateman properties. The 1990 drilling campaign set to follow up a previous intersection (hole BA-88-14 which returned 12.8 (3.9 cut to 34.3) g/t Au across 5.05 m) has brought to the delineation of 2 gold mineralized lenses in the south central part of Bateman East group of claims.
Both zones are related to graphitic shales carrying smoky quartz veins with 2-5% disseminated arsenopyrite and free gold as thin inclusions or coating on the sulfides grains. The two zones are said to be parallel and stratigraphically some 10 m apart. They can be traced for some 100 m laterally and to a depth of some 50 m with thickness ranging from 1.2 to 3.9 m.
Update
In the fall of 2008, the Company successfully completed its 8 hole, 5200 metre drill program at the Nordeau West site. All eight holes intersected gold mineralization at levels predicted by the geological model from the previous drill program.
The results will advance the Company’s understanding of the geological structure at the Nordeau West site and we anticipate reporting an NI 43-101 compliant resource by year end 2008, or early in 2009.
The Company has successfully hit gold mineralization in all 14 holes in the last two drill campaigns.
Highlights from the recent 5200 metre campaign announced on November 18, 2008 include:
Hole NW-08-07: 4.28 g/t Au over 8.05 m (from 567m – 575.05m)
Hole NW-08-08: 1.90 g/t Au over 5.85 m (from 452.05m – 457.9m)
Hole NW-08-09: 0.70 g/t Au over 1.5m (from 418.35m – 419.85m)
Hole NW-08-10: 5.54 g/t Au over 3.0 m (from 589.95m – 592.95m)
Hole NW-08-11: 1.23 g/t Au over 4.0 m (from 660.4m – 664.4m)
Hole NW-08-12: 2.38 g/t Au over 0.55 m (from 445.9m – 446.45m)
Hole NW-08-13: 3.90 g/t Au over 4.25 m (from 649.55m – 653.8m)
Hole NW-08-14: 4.3 g/t Au over 0.75 m (from 438.95m – 439.7m)
In March 2008 the Company completed a successful 6 hole drill program focusing on the Nordeau West site. The results were reported on April 10, 2008 and April 29, 2008. The highlights included hole NW-08-06 which intersected 5.66 g/t Au over 8.5 metres. All six drill holes encountered gold mineralization.
Past drilling results by Plato announced in April 2008, identified the following mineralized intercepts in the vicinity of the current drilling program
Highlights Include:
Hole NW-08-01: 1.30 g/t Au over 1.95m (from 332m – 333.95m)
5.28 g/t Au over 2.85m (from 404m – 406.85m)
4.80 g/t Au over 2.15m (from 427.40m – 429.55m)
Hole NW-08-02: 1.46 g/t Au over 2.80m (from 318.30m – 321.10m)
Hole NW-08-03: 3.71g/t Au over 4.25m (from 547.15m – 551.40m)
Hole NW-08-06: 5.66 g/t Au over 8.5m (from 553.80m – 562.30m)
In addition, past drilling by Plato in 2006 and 2007, identified a number of mineralized intercepts in the vicinity of the current 2008 drilling program:
Highlights Include:
Hole PG06-01: 4.76 g/t Au over 2.4m (from 492.15m – 494.55m)
Hole PG06-04A: 1.61 g/t Au over 4.35m (from 366m – 370.35m)
Hole PG06-05: 13.47 g/t Au over 1.2m (from 394.2m – 395.4m)
Hole PG06-07: 7.85 g/t Au over 10m (from 458.5m – 468.5m)
Plato has retained A.S.Horvath Engineering Incorporated, of Ottawa, to work on a 3D model of how the Nordeau West gold deposit is developing. This modeling work helped bring about the 2008 successful drilling results. Based on the model and recommendations by our geologists, Plato continues to advance our goal of further expanding the size of the Nordeau West gold deposit, and with the goal of bringing the deposit to NI 43-101 compliance targeted.
