It's awards time for Ontario Prospectors

The Ontario Prospectors Association recognized the best in its industry during its annual exploration and geoscience symposium in Sudbury, Oct. 5.

The exploration team of Probe Mines, a Toronto-based junior miner, were nominated for the discovery of the Borden gold project near Chapleau. The company has released a mineral resource of more than four million ounces of gold.

The original prospectors Jack Robert, Mike Tremblay, along with the company's exploration crew led by David Palmer were lauded for the find at Borden Lake, 15 kilometres east of town.

A widely-held belief was that the area, geologically known as the Kapuskasing Structural Zone, didn't harbour any significant gold mineralization and was thought to be unprospective.

Probe Mines acquired the property and a drilling campaign yielded widespread mineralization. The project is considered one of this province's hottest exploration plays and is being called one of the most important new gold discoveries in Ontario since Hemlo.

Also lauded was independent prospector David Christianson, well-known figure who's optioned numerous gold and base metal properties across Northern Ontario over his 53-year career.

Christianson was recognized for being an industry leader and champion on numerous stakeholder committees and was at the forefront in keeping highly prospective lands open, especially during the controversial Lands for Life process.