MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. announces that it has contracted Abitibi Géophysique Inc. to conduct a gravity survey on land-based targets on the Hornby mineral claims, jointly owned by Temex Resources and MacDonald Mines, and on the Company’s 100% owned BigMac Property.

These claims are interpreted to host the potential for a chromite horizon(s). The Hornby Property is immediately south of KWG/Spider’s “Big Daddy” chromite discovery.   Based on the airborne data, Dr. Larry Hulbert, P. Geo, along with Hadyn Butler, P. Geo, have interpreted a number of potential chromite horizons on the BigMac property.  The gravity sections will cross these horizons at five locations varying from 2 to 10 kilometres apart.

The gravity survey will help define drill-ready targets along the interpreted horizons. The gravity survey is expected to be completed by mid-March, 2010.  The gravity technique has proven capable of defining chromite intercepts in the Ring of Fire and have been successfully utilized by both Freewest (Cliffs) and Spider/KWG in their discoveries.

MacDonald will also refocus exploration attention on its McNuggett Property.  Previous drilling results have been the catalyst for the complete re-interpretation of all exploration activity.  Quentin Yarie, P. Geo., MacDonald Mines’ new Vice President of Exploration heads this new initiative and he is being assisted by both consulting geologists Hadyn Bulter, P. Geo, and Dr. Larry Hulbert, P.Geo.  This analysis has outlined previous drill hole areas where the drilling did not fully explain the anomalous electromagnetic conductors.  The revised interpretation has outlined targets that will be drilled in the upcoming exploration program, which is planned to commence in March, 2010.

Abitibi Geophysics is using SCINTREX CG5 AutoGrav for a gravity survey.

Source: McDonald Mines Exploration Press Release, March 3, 2010

The 40th annual Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House will be held at the Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, November 30th to December 2nd, 2009. Geophysical events and speakers are going to be there:

Ken Witherly (Condor Consulting) who is a big popularizer of geophysics is going to represent: “2009 – Advances in Geophysics – Adapting to Changing Geological Models”;

Dennis Woods (research scientist, university professor, geophysical contractor, mining company geophysicist, and geophysical consultant) and others – “SQUID in Saskatchewan: The Next Level of Deep Electromagnetic Exploration in the Athabasca Basin”;

Clare R. O’Dowd and Garnet Wood (Cameco Corporation, Saskatoon):  ”3-D Seismic Investigations at the Millennium Uranium Deposit, Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan”;

Geotech Ltd. with new airborne EM developments: “ZTEM Airborne Tipper AFMAG Test Survey Over a Magmatic Copper-Nickel Target at Axis Lake in Northern Saskatchewan”;

Dr. Harold Seigel, founder of Scintrex: “Results from the Initial Field Trials of a Borehole Gravity Meter for Mining Applications”.

Good luck!

Richard Nanna, the Azteca Gold Corporation’s QP, has reviewed and has accepted as technically accurate the Scintrex gravilog data, with all relevant correction factors applied, as well as the report dated November 16, 2009  by Geoaviation LLC, an arms-length geophysical consulting company located in Chandler, Arizona, which summarizes the forward modeling conducted on this Scintrex down-hole gravity data.  Down hole geophysical surveys are done in an effort to identify, through the differences in gravity measurements, layers or masses of mineralized material around or immediately below the drill hole.

The Company has until recently been focused primarily on massive sulfide targets at depth.  Recent gravity geophysical results, as well as a re-assessment of previous IP geophysics work,  has given the Company cause for a second focus on carbonate hosted disseminated mineralization, especially as it may apply to potential silver mineralization and to potential mineralization much higher in the drill holes (closer to surface) than previously considered.