The South Uchi Project is located within the Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario and the property is located roughly 20km to the northeast of the town of Ear Falls and is accessible through an extensive forestry road network north of provincial highway 657.

The South Uchi Project was first identified and staked by Kenorland based on the prospectivity to host significant gold systems. The Project covers a portion of Confederation Assemblage volcanic rocks, as well as the boundary between the volcanic-dominated Uchi geological subprovince to the north and the sedimentary-dominated English River geological subprovince to the south. Multiple major east-west striking shear zones associated with the subprovince boundary transect the Project along its 90km strike-length. Deformation associated with these structures has resulted in zones of strong shearing, alteration, and folding of the metavolcanic-clastic and metasedimentary-iron formation stratigraphy, which are favorable settings for orogenic gold mineralisation.

The majority of gold deposits in the Red Lake District (Red Lake, Madsen, Hasaga, and others) are located on the northern margin of the Confederation Assemblage, however, recent discoveries such as the LP Fault Zone on the Dixie Project by Great Bear Resources Ltd. (renamed the Great Bear Project by Kinross Gold) highlight the prospectivity of the entire Confederation Assemblage along the southern margin of the Uchi subprovince.

The Project is located in the western Superior Craton, known for hosting magmatic Ni-Cu ± PGE deposits, including the world-class Eagle’s Nest Deposit (Ring of Fire Metals). These deposits typically occur in Archean mafic to ultramafic greenstone rocks, like those in the Project area. A prominent gravity trend, identified by Kenorland geoscientists as a possible paleo-rift axis, spatially correlates with Ni-Cu ± PGE deposits in the region. Rift axes in Archean cratons, such as the one in the Project area, are key controls for magmatic Ni-Cu camps globally, further enhancing the area's prospectivity. The Project also meets many of the criteria for potential lithium pegmatite deposits, including the presence of the large Allison Lake batholith (a fertile peraluminous granite), which is partly covered by the Project. Numerous lithium pegmatite occurrences are located in the region, including the McCombe and Root Lake deposits (Green Technology Metals) located immediately to the east of the Project.

Historical exploration near the South Uchi Project dates back to the 1950’s, focusing on iron deposits (iron formation) and pegmatite lithium and beryl deposits. Advanced exploration identified several iron deposits, as well as pegmatite lithium deposits including the Root Lake and McCombe lithium deposits, located immediately along strike to the east of the Project. Between 1980 and 2010, localized exploration for gold and base metals occurred through prospecting, mapping, limited geochemical surveys, and geophysical surveys. A total of 29 drill holes have been completed within the Project area primarily targeting gold and/or base metal potential. Extensive glacial till and glaciolacustrine deposits covering the Project has historically hindered regional exploration.

The Project was acquired through staking and option in 2021, and a LIDAR survey was flown by Kenorland to support surficial geological interpretation and planning for systematic geochemical surveys. Barrick Gold Corporation optioned the Project in 2021, and completed a property-wide glacial till geochemical survey including the collection of 1902 till samples. In 2022, detailed follow-up exploration included a drill-for-till program which resulted in the collection of 459 overburden samples and 56 top of bedrock samples. Detailed mapping and the collection 1069 rock samples was conducted over multiple target areas. Barrick’s exploration confirmed that in addition to the gold prospectivity, the Project also hosted a large, coherent, and highly anomalous area of coincident nickel and copper in glacial overburden, with nickel values returning up to 674 ppm and copper up to 306 ppm in till, potentially indicating a bedrock source of mineralisation below cover. Multiple lithium-cesium anomalies were also identified, suggesting potential lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatite systems along the geological sub-province boundary, near the McCombe lithium deposit.

In 2023, additional staking was completed and a LIDAR survey extended DEM coverage over newly acquired areas. Regional data was digitized and infill till sampling and prospecting over multiple targets. In February 2024, Kenorland announced results from the Paponga target area  after completing a large-scale geochemical sampling survey including 2,788 fine fraction till samples, 697 heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) till samples, and 482 rock samples. The survey focused on a number of different mineral system targets (Au, Ni-Cu, Li) across the 85,196-hectare property. The survey revealed a coherent gold-in-till anomaly with a strong multi-element signature (Au-Ag-Te-W±As-Sb) over a 5km by 8km area. There has been very limited historical exploration, and no historical drilling has occurred within the geochemical source target area. 

In September 2024, Kenorland completed further exploration at the Papaonga target area, collecting 148 infill HMC till samples. Gold grain analysis completed by Overburden Drilling Management Limited (ODM) confirmed high gold grain counts in multiple discrete dispersal plumes, with a peak value of 951 total gold grains (normalized to 10kg table feed) containing 91% pristine grains sourcing from within the diorite pluton. Additional results near Papaonga Lake included 107 gold grains (38% pristine) and 129 gold grains (33% pristine) sourcing from clastic sedimentary and mafic volcanic rocks respectively.  

The 40 km², Papaonga target area presents a large, coherent gold-in-till and HMC gold grain anomaly, with gold mineralization associated with northeast-trending shear zones. The gold is associated with various rock types, including intrusive, sedimentary, and volcanic formations, and exhibits a strong multi-element signature (Au-Ag-Te-W±As-Sb-Mo) indicating a significant previously unrecognized gold system. A maiden diamond drill program is currently being designed and planned.