An exciting part of our job is spending time in the field.
In July I had the pleasure of travelling with Bob Moriarty founder of 321Gold.com and Chris Grove, Corporate Communications for Commerce Resources to the company’s Blue River Project in British Columbia, Canada.
Image: Blue River, British Columbia
Image: Commerce Resources - Blue River Field Office
It was the first opportunity that I have had to travel with Bob and was a very interesting and memorable trip. Bob has travelled the world visiting and evaluating mineral properties and had a wealth of stories and information regarding mineral exploration, public company management, and investments.
In 2001, convinced that gold and silver were at a bottom, Bob and his wife Barbara started 321Gold.com; one of the first websites devoted to teaching readers what they need to know about investing in resource stocks. Bob and Barb now operate two resource sites, 321Gold.com and 321Energy.com, which are visited by approximately 100,000 people a day.
Bob is also an accomplished pilot. Believe it or not he is one of only a few people who have flown under the Eiffel Tower and made it out alive! Need proof…have a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_txdqnVP3-c
Our long-term shareholders are quite familiar with Commerce Resources. It was the first company that we created and our shareholders received “free” shares when it was spun-out from Zimtu. The company is also a core holding within our investment portfolio.
Commerce is currently moving its Blue River Tantalum-Niobium Project through the development process towards permitting and production.
What are tantalum and niobium? While many have not heard of them before these rare metals play important roles in our everyday life. Tantalum is primarily used by the electronics industry for the production of capacitors that find their way into cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, airbags, and other devices. Niobium, on the other hand, is primarily used as an alloy for the production of harder and greater load-bearing steel. It is used, for example, in the manufacture of bridges, buildings, and oil and gas pipelines.
Image: Chris, Rod, and Bob at the Hodgie Zone
Image: Chris at the Upper Fir Bulk Sample Pit
Our project tour was led by Rod Tyson, Project Geologist. Rod took us to visit the metallurgical bulk sample pits at the Upper Fir Zone as well as outcrop at the Hodgie Zone. We also got to peak at some fresh core samples from ongoing drilling and met with some of the crew.
Image: Fresh Carbonatite Core
Image: Fresh Core in Box
Bob recently released an article on the trip available here: http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty073109.html.
Enjoy,
Ryan Fletcher
Corporate Development
Zimtu Capital Corp.
Suite 1450 - 789 W Pender St .
Vancouver , BC V6C 1H2
Tel: 604.681.1568
TF: 1.877.377.6222
Cell: 604.999.5603
Fax: 604.681.8240
http://www.zimtu.com