Yellowknife (Feb 21/05) - The community of Fort Resolution and a mineral company have agreed to explore ways to co-operate on possibly reviving the former lead-zinc mine at Pine Point.

The decision follows a Feb. 16-17 visit to Fort Resolution by Ross Burns, president and CEO of Tamerlane Ventures Inc.

"What has happened is we wanted Tamerlane Ventures to halt their exploration until we as a community are educated on what they're doing," said Paul Boucher, the Akaitcho negotiator with Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN).

Boucher said work will now begin on a protocol agreement between the company and the community.

Tamerlane Ventures had already begun very preliminary work at Pine Point.

"We promised to stop work to give them some time to think about it," Burns said.

Burns says his company will talk to the community before continuing work on the $800,000 exploration project.

"We want to move forward with their permission," he said.

While in Fort Resolution, Burns met with DKFN, the Metis Council and the general public.

"I got a good grounding in their thinking and their concerns," he says, noting issues ranged from the environment to jobs to economic opportunities.

"We have to start taking a long look at ways to benefit the community," the mining executive said.

From 1963 to 1987, Pine Point - about 70 km west of Fort Resolution - was home to one of the largest and most profitable lead-zinc mines in Canadian history.

Burns hopes most of the 30 test holes can be drilled this summer.

The drilling will take place in two areas, each about the size of a football field on the western edge of the old Pine Point mine

The samples will be used to test a new process of separating ore and waste as well as wear factors on a continuous miner.

Traplines disturbed

Despite the positive tones following the meeting, there was concern over two traplines disturbed by preliminary work in the Pine Point area this month.

"Our community was very concerned and angry," Boucher says.

Burns explained that his company used a Caterpillar to plow snow off some existing gravel roads and disturbed two traplines intersecting the roads.

"We told the community we would certainly look at compensation for those trappers," he says.

Boucher said trapper Eddie Lafferty lost approximately 52 traps and 17 snares.

Another trapper was able to save his equipment.

"It is very frustrating and, at this time of year, trapping is very good," Lafferty said.

There is no cost estimate of the loss.