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The Bird River Project is a joint venture with Gossan Resources (TSX.v:GSS). Marathon currently owns 53% of the Project and is able to earn a larger ownership by continuing to advance the Project if Gossan elects not to participate in exploration programs. In February 2009, Marathon has started its winter drilling campaign. Geophysical targets near the Page and Ore Fault Zones will be drilled in this campaign. These targets are high priority, as they are adjacent to resources already quantified by Marathon, and the drilling is designed to increase the current resources.
The Bird River Project is very large, covering a strike length of 22km of the Bird River Sill. Numerous known showings of Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization are present throughout the Bird River Sill. Marathon’s drilling to date has only tested 3km of the east end of the Bird River Project. The 2008 drilling campaign resulted in developing two NI 43-101 compliant resources.
Marathon's 2008 drilling campaign developed two NI 43-101 compliant resources at the Page and Ore Fault Zones. The two resource estimates and economic parameters used can be viewed by clicking here.
The Bird River Sill is host to a number of past producing mines. Most importantly, the past producing Maskwa Mine is currently undergoing a feasibility study, as Mustang Minerals is evaluating the production potential of this past producer.
The Bird River Complex carries significant nickel, copper, zinc, platinum, palladium and chromium mineralization along its strike length. Marathon's 2009 drilling campaign is designed to define additional tonnes in order to expand the current resources.
The Bird River Sill is layered intrusion that has a strike length of over 50 km. The Sill is bounded by an overlying metasedimentary unit with a basal cycle of mafic volcanics. PGM and base metal mineralization has typically been found within the Sill. Recent exploration work has discovered the presence of PGM and base metals within the footwall mafic volcanics. Numerous mineralized showings are present along the contact between the Sill and volcanics. Marathon's initial exploration in 2007 focused on the Coppermine and Page and Ore Fault Zones. Extensions of mineralization were discovered through prospecting and Marathon conducted a drill program as part of the 2008 exploration activities.
Compilation of historical information by Marathon revealed that drilling programs by previous operators outlined mineralization, often without assaying for either base metals or PGM. Marathon continues to evaluate available data and assessing where to focus efforts in 2009. It is widely believed that the Bird River Sill has potential for future economic deposits - this belief is bolstered by the presence of a number of past producing mines.
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