Canadian junior Great Atlantic Resources Corp. (TSX-V: GR) has been receiving significant attention for its unusual mining endeavour in Atlantic Canada.
Last week, the Newfoundland & Labrador Prospectors Association took the time to visit the company’s South Quarry property. The site is primarily known for tungsten mineralization, but it also contains beryl crystals potentially associated with emeralds.
This tour, led by the province’s emerald hunter Art Gardner, primarily focused on an area of South Quarry where these crystals have been unearthed. Although the company’s primary focus is tungsten, Great Atlantic is currently evaluating the area’s potential for emeralds, which are not generally found in Newfoundland.
“This collaboration not only highlights the potential of our property but also strengthens our ties with the local geological community,” chief executive Chris Anderson said in a news release.
Newfoundland’s prospectors organization in discussion was founded in 2012. It aims to raise awareness about provincial exploration while helping to create new prospecting initiatives.
The tour Aug. 23. Photo credit: Great Atlantic Resources
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South Quarry has had other recent visitors
A researcher from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) stopped by the property in July too.
Rhiana Henry, a post-doctoral research fellow from the GIA, was joined by geologist James Conliffe from the Geological Survey of Newfoundland & Labrador.
Together, along with Gardner and two workers from Great Atlantic, they collected beryl crystal samples for Henry’s on-going emerald research.
Rhianna Henry and Great Atlantic’s prospecting partner Art Gardner at South Quarry in July. Photo credit: Great Atlantic
‘Emerald potential,’ but no emeralds yet
Thus far, Great Atlantic has specified that the property contains crystals prospective for emeralds, but has not definitively identified any. “Great Atlantic is evaluating emerald potential in this area,” the company’s latest press release explained.
Emeralds are a particular variety of beryl crystals.
In other recent news, Great Atlantic just started a new exploration program at its East Golden Promise gold property in central Newfoundland. It is being conducted in an area where the junior miner previously identified gold soil anomalies and took samples with favourable quantities of the yellow metal.
East Golden Promise is one of eight gold properties held by Great Atlantic’s subsidiary Golden Promise Mines Inc. One of the others, Golden Trust, resides within one kilometre of the prolific Valentine gold mine operated by Calibre Mining Corp (TSX: CXB) (OTCQX: CXBMF).
Valentine will produce 195,000 gold ounces per annum for 12 years beginning mid-way through 2025. It is the province’s most important gold asset.
Great Atlantic received a diamond drilling permit for Golden Promise at the end of July. Ontario’s Novamera Inc. will be assisting with the drill campaign, which will commence in the immediate future.
Additionally, the junior explorer recently obtained a C$75,000 private placement from an unnamed investor that has been a long-term shareholder.
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