In 1934 Normandy Mines Limited located the Normandy #1, #2, and #3 showings. Normandy
undertook a stripping and trenching program and subsequently conducted 3,000 feet of drilling
on the showings and under the east end of Rice Lake during the winter of 1934-35 but no values
of interest were noted (Stockwell, 1938). In 1935 Normandy Mines Limited reorganized as
Normandy Gold Mines Limited and held the property until 1944 when it was assigned to
Sannorm Mines Limited and a 21-year lease was issued for the property.
Sannorm Mines Limited conducted a magnetometer survey on the property in 1945 (Wright
1946). Subsequently, 20,000 feet of diamond drilling was completed in 37 holes over a 3,000-
foot strike length. A mineralized zone, which was termed the San Norm Prospect, was identified
and traced along a strike length of 600 feet and to a vertical depth of 1,100 feet. Wright (1946)
reports average intersection widths of 4.5 feet and gold grades of 0.288 ounces per ton in this
area. In 1947 surface facilities were built at the site and a shaft was collared to a depth of 25
feet. However, by 1948 work was suspended on the property as a supply of fuel could not be
obtained for the power plant and conditions in the gold industry made it difficult to obtain
financing. Work resumed in 1949 when 11 diamond drill holes totalling 3,932 feet were
completed. Citing similarities to the adjacent San Antonio mine (now the Bissett mine), Wright
(1949) recommended that a series of long holes be drilled and a shaft to 1,000 feet with several
levels be completed. The recommendations were never carried out.
Sannorm Mines Limited reorganized to form Consolidated Sannorm Mines Limited in 1952.
Sylvanite Gold Mines reviewed the property data but did not pursue further exploration or
development. Little exploration was conducted on the property in the 1960’s with the exception
of a geophysical survey that was conducted in 1961 (Nielson, 1983). The type of survey and
results are unknown. In 1965 the lease on the property was renewed for another 21 years........
3.3 PERIOD 1971 TO 1999
The Sannorm lease was cancelled in 1971 and was restaked by C. Wynne and assigned to Wynne
Gold Mines Ltd. In 1974 Wynne Gold Mines Ltd. drilled 5 holes totalling 3,923 feet (Busch
1986a) at the San Norm prospect, but no core was split for assay. A further 7 holes (total 3,610
feet) were drilled in 1978 and 1979 in the area of the 1974 drilling. No significant values were
intersected (Busch 1986b).
Orenda Resources Limited acquired the property in 1985. IN 1985 and 1986 they completed a
magnetometer survey, an induced polarization survey, compilation of previous work, and a 7
diamond drill holes totalling 1,803 feet. A VLF electromagnetic survey and 10 diamond drill
holes totalling 2,803 feet were completed in 1987. The 1986 and 1987 drilling by Orenda
confirmed two gold bearing zones along a 4,300 foot strike length within the Normandy Creek
shear zone at the San Norm prospect, termed the A and B Zones by Busch (1986a)
Bakra Resources Ltd. acquired the property option in 1988 and drilled 8 diamond drill holes
totalling 2,999 feet at the San Norm Prospect. The followed up with a 1989 drill program of 12
holes totalling 4,292 feet.
Several exploration programs were carried out during the 1990’s by Bissett Exploration
Partnership and San Gold Resources Corporation Inc. These included 110 drill holes totalling
53,612 feet, line cutting, surface mapping, magnetometer surveys and stripping of a large area at
the west end of the San Norm A and B zones for procurement of a bulk sample...
3.4 PERIOD 2000 TO PRESENT
In 2000 Mainland Exploration Partnership entered into a Letter Agreement with San Gold
Resources Corporation Inc. and shortly thereafter exploration activities began on what they
called their Red Lake West Gold Project.
In February 2000 Mainland Exploration contracted High-Sense Geophysics Limited to complete
approximately 1,180 line-km of helicopter-borne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys. These
surveys were followed up by a program of overburden drilling and sampling in March 2000 by
Overburden Drilling Management Limited. Mainland and Panterra Geoservices Inc. personnel
completed geological studies, relogging of selected core, and a review of previous exploration.
No drilling was carried out.
In 2003 San Gold Resources Corporation Inc. drilled 3 holes totalling 2,913 feet on the property.
In 2004 the Rice Lake Joint Venture (San Gold Resources Corporation Inc. and Corporation and
Gold City Industries Ltd.) drilled 31 holes totalling 10,710 feet. The Rice Lake Joint Venture
companies have amalgamated to form San Gold Corporation with the objective to reopen the
Bissett Mine and to develop the San Gold #1 Zone on the San Norm Property as a source of
additional feed to the Bissett process plant.
