The Aibetsu Project area contains the Tokusei mine, which produced 38,580 ounces of gold and 472,620 ounces of silver, mined from quartz-adularia veins between 1930-1942¹. No information or production statistics are available on historical exploration and development work conducted in the other mine areas located in the Aibetsu Project area pre-WWII.

The project area has had only limited exploration since the 1940’s. As part of a regional metallogenic study, the MMAJ undertook regional surveys (geophysical and drainage sediment sampling) and later prospect evaluation work (2000-02) over the Tokusei mine area. A total of 730 grid-based soil and rock samples were collected and analyzed, along with 29.0-line km of ground IP-resistivity surveying reported by the MMAJ².

Coincident resistivity highs and Au-As-Hg soil anomalies were identified to the south-southwest and northeast of the Tokusei mine workings. Five diamond drill-holes (3,400 m) targeted these anomalies, and extensions to the Tokusei vein system. Significant mineralized intercepts from holes drilled beneath a Au-As-Hg soil anomaly located approximately 500 m northeast of the Tokusei mine workings include 0.95 m @ 69 g/t Au, 263 g/t Ag (13MAHB-1) and 0.16 m @ 11.8 g/t gold and 7 g/t Ag (13MAHB-2), in two separate drill-holes. An gold intercept of 1.0 m @ 1.92 g/t gold and 11 g/t silver from within a 7.5 m stockwork zone was recorded from drill hole 14MAHB-1, located approximately 500 m to the southeast of drill hole 14MAHB-1, along a parallel structure (true widths were not reported or are unavailable) 

MMAJ diamond drill hole location and significant assays in and around the Tokusei mine area, Aibetsu Project.