Resource World Magazine

MI N I N G Renaissance Gold: refining the art of mineral exploration by Jennifer S. Getsinger, PhD, PGeo Renaissance Gold [REN-TSX] embodies the archetypal renaissance ethos by holding a hefty array of mineral exploration properties comprising three dozen projects on three continents, focusing on precious metals. Although a new company, RenGold began trading on the TSXV in 2010 and graduated to the TSX in early 2012. The company is building on the work of its predecessors (AuEx Ventures and Fronteer Gold), and draws on the depth and expertise of its management and technical team, many schooled by major miners. Nominally headquartered in British Columbia, RenGold operates from its main office in Reno, Nevada. Its slogan of "refining the art of mineral exploration" is in reference to RenGold's strategy of finding and preparing suitable exploration projects, and then entering into joint venture, earn-in agreements with various partners who provide funding, while customizing the operational teams from both partners depending on available resources. Whereas 2011 was a year of generating worthwhile projects, 2012 was a year of major exploration and drill programs. Together, with 10 partners, RenGold spent $7.3 million on 16 projects in 2012, including an expected completion of > 64,000 feet (20,000 m) of drill core. Twenty-three of RenGold's projects are located in Nevada and Utah and include mineralization types from porphyries to skarn and epithermal vein systems to Carlin-style systems. Of the current 13 properties under earn-in agreements, eight are in Nevada, one in Utah, and four in Argentina. Joint venture partners include Concordia Resources, Sumitomo (Summit Mining Exploration Inc.), Eldorado Gold, Atala, Agnico-Eagle Mines, Lynx Resources, Golden Dory Resources, Navaho Gold Pty, Liberty Silver, NuLegacy Gold and Newmont Mining. Highlights of 2012 exploration (pending results) include Lynx's geophysical surveying of the Gold Star and Leonid projects to DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013 define further drill targets; Summit Mining's detailed mapping and drill programs on a variety of targets at Big Gossan and Spruce Mountain; and Liberty's Phase I drilling on Trinity Silver, with property expansion by acquisition of Hi Ho properties (100 acres), and expected revision of an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate at end of 2012. In Argentina, the four main Reverse circulation drilling (RC) in October 2012 being RenGold projects, El Monte carried out by the Boart Longyear crew at RenGold's Spruce and Gertrudis (gold, silver; Mountain Project, Elko County, Nevada, a JV with Summit Mining International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. Corporation. Photo courtesy Renaissance Gold Inc. [AEM-TSX], and Meridiano and Covadonga (gold, silver; Atala Resource Filabres region. This is an underexplored Corp.), are located in the Deseado Massif traditional mining camp rife with old ironin Santa Cruz Province in an area of low- rich veins carrying attractive copper and sulphidation, epithermal gold-silver mineral gold values, neglected in previous work. systems (there are four operating gold – sil- RenGold and its partners have spent more ver mines in the district). Focus has been on than $2 million in the first modern explorathe El Monte Project, where Agnico-Eagle tion of this area. Recent drill results from the and RenGold have cut a brecciated rhyolite Cerro del Gallo and Valenciano vein systems dome (Luna Roja) with trenches (results (> 1.5 km strike) were reported in October included 55 metres of 0.41 g/t gold and 13 2012. With a core interval of true thickness, g/t silver, and 0.091 g/t gold and 7.5 g/t a 1.0-metre intersection returned assays silver), and delineated NNW-striking gold of 4.88 g/t gold, 16.7 g/t silver and 2.59% and arsenic anomalies. Geophysical surveys copper, within a sulphide zone containing are also being evaluated. More cateos (pros- pyrite, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite in pects) and reconnaissance prospects are disseminated and cross-cutting vein minerbeing explored elsewhere in Argentina and alization in metamorphic rocks. in Chile. As well, a new high-grade prospect identiIn addition, a dozen or so more proper- fied at Minaleja has shed light on previously ties in Nevada are on deck in preparation hidden lode gold mineralization. According for joint ventures. For instance, the Arabia to Richard L. Bedell, President and CEO of Project in Pershing County, a promising oro- RenGold, the Baza area is "a district scale genic (process of mountain formation) silver, opportunity with unusually high grades lead, antimony, and gold district, has had and a unique style of mineralization." multiple exploration targets defined by geoPreviously, Bedell and Ronald Parratt, logical mapping and evaluation. Executive Chairman, have created compaIn southeast Spain, east-northeast of nies with sound business strategies and Grenada, the jewel in RenGold's crown is RenGold also appears destined for success the Baza Project in Almeria Province, com- with its prospect generator/joint venture prising 12,000 hectares in the Sierra de los model company. n www.resourceworld.com 61

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