Commodity Focus
Gold is currently trading at over US $1500.00 and is in a bull market. Gold
has out performed the equity markets in the last year and is regarded as a
safe haven for investment, the continuing concerns regarding the financial
situation and the economy will likely cause gold to remain in a bull market
in the months ahead. Silver is also in a bull market, trading at over US
$35.00 and out performing gold. The current gold to silver ratio has
narrowed to 42:1 a big improvement over the recent gold to silver ratios of
65:1. Gold now appears to have a floor price above $1100USD and silver
above $30USD. These precious metal prices will enhance the value of
Stroud's projects.
Geographical Focus
Mexico is the second largest silver producer in the world behind Peru.
There have been a number of recent silver and gold deposit discoveries in
Mexico, many of which have or will be brought to commercial production.
Considerable wealth has been created by the commercialization of these
deposits (such as Francisco Gold).
Mexico is politically stable and is a most favourable country for mining
investment. It has a long mining history, a good Mining Code, favourable
foreign investment laws and is a member of NAFTA. Mexico has a good working
climate allowing for year-round exploration. Travel logistics, and the
availability of dedicated professionals and labour, is excellent.
Two mineral rich belts occur on the east and west sides of the Sierra Madre
Mountains in Mexico. Stroud's Santo Domingo project is in the Western
Silver-Gold Belt.
Mineralization at Santo Domingo is similar in geometry, geological setting,
and size to that of two major mining areas of the Eastern Silver-Zinc-Lead
Belt, namely Fresnillo and Zacatecas, each with historic silver production
in excess of 400 million ounces. In addition, there are two silver mining
districts near Santo Domingo in the Western Belt with significant past
production - San Martin de Bolanos and Bolanos districts are less than 100
km northwest of Santo Domingo, each with past production of up to 100
million ounces.
Stroud's Hislop and Leckie gold exploration projects are located in
Ontario. Ontario is one of the better jurisdictions for mining in Canada
and the projects have excellent year-round access.
The Hislop gold project is situated along the Destor Porcupine fault, a
geological structure that is a focal point for gold mineralization in the
Timmins area. To date, more than 71 million ounces of gold have been
produced from mines around the Timmins area. St.Andrews' Gold Fields Hislop project (located adjacent to Stroud's project) is currently in production.
The Leckie Project is located approximately three km north of the town of
Temagami in north-eastern Ontario and straddles Highway 11. Two principal
gold zones are present on the property. The No. 1 zone is a steeply dipping
fracture system that has been intensely altered by carbonates and quartz-
rich fluids. Minor amounts of zinc, silver and copper are also present.
Grades average approximately 0.20 oz/t gold over 6 feet in this zone.
The No. 2 zone is much less explored and is located west of the No. 1 zone.
This zone joins with the No. 1 zone at depth and is also intensely altered.
The No. 1 zone has been traced down to a depth of 750 feet. One of the
better drill holes encountered a width of 17.8 feet averaging 0.217 oz/t
gold. Prospecting has uncovered seven additional gold showings.