Northstar Gold Corp. (CSE:NSG) said on Thursday it has begun a definition diamond drill program at its Cam Copper Mine, a historic high-grade copper site located 18 kilometres southeast of Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
The 1,200-metre drill program will focus on the high-grade Zone 2 lens of the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit.
Data from the program will support a mineral resource estimate, according to Northstar.
Zone 2 is the largest of three narrow, steeply dipping copper horizons at Cam Copper, with historical estimates showing an average grade of 10% copper over a 0.85-metre true width. Previous Northstar drilling has confirmed the high-grade potential, including a 14.8% copper intercept over 2.45 metres.
The deposit extends from surface to about 200 metres in depth, with an average width of one metre and a strike length of 125 metres. Mineralization remains open at depth, plunging southeast along a defined VMS feeder structure.
Brian Fowler, Northstar’s CEO, described the initiative as a “key milestone toward advancing mine permitting and enabling near-term, turnkey surgical mining of Zone 2 by our project partner, Novamera Inc.”
Northstar plans to employ Novamera’s precision “Surgical Mining” technology to extract roughly 120,000 tonnes of copper-rich material over a 31-month pilot period. The method uses real-time downhole imaging, robotic drilling, and immediate backfilling, aiming to minimize surface disturbance and water discharge. Novamera recently validated its technology during a production deployment in Newfoundland.
Novamera’s surgical approach, which involves rotary drilling large-diameter holes from surface and immediate reclamation, is designed to reduce environmental impact and mining dilution. The company will receive a 5% revenue share from the project, with low upfront capital requirements of roughly US$1.5 million and additional costs structured off-balance sheet.
Northstar and Novamera have strategic agreements in place, with due diligence and implementation planning ongoing over the coming months.