A Legacy of High-Grade Gold: The History of the Ishkōday Project
Introduction – The Foundation of Ishkōday
The Ishkōday Project is built upon a legacy of high-grade gold mining that first established the area’s reputation nearly a century ago. Early underground operations at the Sturgeon River Mine and exploration at the Brenbar Zone revealed multiple gold-bearing vein systems — the same structural corridors that Laurion is now expanding through data-driven exploration.
Today, Ishkōday represents both a continuation of that legacy and a modern transformation of a historic mining camp into a large-scale gold–polymetallic discovery opportunity.
The Sturgeon River Mine – Historic High-Grade Gold Production
- The Sturgeon River Gold Mine, discovered in the early 1930s, was the principal historic producer on the property.
- Operated between 1936 and 1942, the mine produced approximately 73,322 ounces of gold and 15,929 ounces of silver from 145,123 tons of ore at an average grade of 17.0 g/t Au (historic, non-NI 43-101-compliant figures).
- Mining extended to a depth of approximately 2,130 feet (650 metres) across 14 levels accessed via the Sturgeon River Shaft.
- Ore was processed on-site at a stamp mill and cyanide circuit located near the current surface infrastructure footprint.
- The mine was closed in 1942 as a result of wartime labour shortages and fixed gold prices — not due to resource depletion.
“Historic production from the Sturgeon River Mine demonstrated grades that remain exceptional by modern standards, underscoring the strength of the Ishkōday mineral system.”
The Brenbar Zone – Expanding the Historic Footprint
Purpose: Explain the second shaft and its link to current exploration.
Suggested content:
- The Brenbar Shaft, located approximately one kilometre southwest of the Sturgeon River Shaft, was developed in the late 1930s and re-examined during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Historic underground sampling and limited production confirmed the presence of gold-silver-zinc-copper mineralization within shear-hosted quartz veins and sulphide-rich horizons.
- The Brenbar area forms part of the same 6 km × 2.5 km structural corridor now central to Laurion’s current drilling focus.
- Numerous unmined veins identified during historical campaigns are now targets for modern exploration, with recent drilling validating continuity between Brenbar and the Sturgeon River Mine corridor.
Rediscovery and Consolidation by LAURION
- LAURION acquired and consolidated the Ishkōday property beginning in 2008, integrating the historic Sturgeon River Mine, Brenbar, and surrounding claim blocks into a single, contiguous land package.
- Since acquisition, the Corporation has completed over 98,000 metres of drilling in 462 holes, integrating historic underground data and modern surface mapping into a unified 3D geological model.
- This model demonstrates that the historic mine workings represent only a small portion of the broader mineralized system, with significant untested potential both along strike and at depth.
- LAURION’s work continues to validate that the same high-grade structures mined historically persist within a much larger polymetallic system that extends well beyond the original mine footprint.
The Legacy Continues
The history of the Ishkōday Project reflects nearly a century of gold exploration in northwestern Ontario. What began as a high-grade underground operation has evolved into a large-scale exploration opportunity — where new data, new technology, and disciplined strategy are redefining the full potential of this historic mining camp.
“From the high-grade veins of the 1930s to today’s 3D-modelled corridors, Ishkōday’s story is one of continuity, innovation, and enduring value.”
— Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President & CEO
Compliance Note
“The above figures are historical in nature and have not been verified by a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and therefore should not be relied upon.”
