Big Ridge Gold (TSXV: BRAU) and the Bunibonibee Cree Nation have finalized an exploration agreement for the Oxford gold project, located within the BCN traditional territories in northern Manitoba, Canada.
In a press release, the parties said that the agreement provides the BCN with cultural and environmental protection measures and financial and socio-economic benefits, including jobs and training for additional employment opportunities in the mining industry.
“This agreement provides long-term certainty of tenure to ultimately advance the Oxford gold project to the bankable feasibility study stage,” the miner and the First Nation said in a joint statement.
“The agreement enhances BCN and Big Ridge’s existing relationship of mutual respect and demonstrates that Manitoba is a jurisdiction in which the untapped mineral potential can be explored and developed for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
The 36,000-hectare Oxford gold project is located in central Manitoba, approximately 160 kilometres southwest of Thompson.
According to Big Ridge, the property contains many high priority targets that will be the focus of near-term exploration work and includes the Rusty Gold deposit, which is hosted by banded iron formation and has a historic resource of 800,000 tonnes, grading 6g/t Au and contains approximately 154,000 oz. Au.