Empire District

Northwestern Ontario | Cu–Ni–PGE Exploration

15,150 hectares across three claim blocks
Highway-accessible, year-round exploration
Strong IP and DIGEM conductors coincident with magnetic highs
Drill-confirmed magmatic sulphide mineralization
Multiple untested targets along trend

Overview

The Empire District is located west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, within the Archean Marmion Terrane — a geologically fertile environment for magmatic Cu–Ni–PGE systems.

The project encompasses a 15-kilometre magnetic corridor interpreted to represent a series of mafic–ultramafic intrusive bodies emplaced within tonalitic gneiss host rocks. The district remains underexplored due to extensive glacial cover despite strong geophysical signatures and proximity to infrastructure.

Initial drilling at the Westwood target confirmed layered intrusive lithologies with disseminated pyrrhotite–chalcopyrite sulphide mineralization, validating the geological and geophysical model.

Location and access

The Empire District trend is located along the Trans-Canada Highway, about 170 km northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The district extends 15 km to the northeast. The exploration targets are accessible year-round via a strong network of forestry roads.

01

Geological setting

Exploration in the district has been limited due to extensive glacial till and lake sediment cover. In 2023, a DIGEM and magnetic survey over the Westwood anomaly outlined a zoned magnetic body. The anomaly was interpreted as a Neoarchean mafic-ultramafic intrusion, with conductors associated with surface base metal–PGM mineralization.

02

Exploration history

Drawing on work by the Ontario Geological Survey, prospector Byron Hobik sampled roadcuttings along Highway 17. His investigations revealed copper-nickel-PGM-gold mineralization. This became the Westwood target.

03

District-scale intrusive corridor

A Continuous Magnetic and Conductive Trend

The Empire District comprises three claim blocks: Empire, Rambler, and Mack, covering approximately 15,150 hectares along a 15-kilometre magnetic corridor interpreted to represent a series of Neoarchean mafic–ultramafic intrusions.

Located within the Empire claim block and adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway, the Westwood target hosts 14 PGE and nickel–copper–chromium anomalies identified by the Ontario Geological Survey along trend.

Surface sampling at the “Highway Showing” returned average grades from three grab samples of 0.14 g/t Au, 0.54 g/t PGEs (Pt+Pd), and 0.17% Cu from chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite mineralization exposed adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Integrated airborne magnetics, DIGEM electromagnetics and ground IP surveys define multiple chargeability and conductivity responses along this trend. Several of these anomalies remain untested by drilling.

Previous drilling completed in December, 2024 confirmed the presence of a zoned and/or layered mafic-ultramafic intrusion at Westwood, with disseminated and net-textured magmatic sulfides similar in appearance to the outcrop showing adjacent to the Trans Canada highway.

The scale, continuity and geophysical coherence of the corridor support the potential for a district-scale magmatic sulphide system

Map of the Empire District Claim Blocks with Targets

Why Empire matters

Positioned for discovery

Empire offers:

District-scale footprint in Ontario, Canada
Confirmed magmatic sulphide system
Strong infrastructure access from Highway 17
Multiple high-priority drill targets
Underexplored Archean Marmion terrane

Empire represents a systematic opportunity to define a new Cu–Ni–PGE sulphide system in Northwestern Ontario.

Westwood target

Drill-Confirmed Magmatic Sulphides

The Westwood target represents the most advanced exploration target within the Empire District.

IP surveys define broad chargeability highs reaching up to 18 mV/V, spatially coincident with DIGEM conductors and magnetic highs. The geophysical signature is consistent with sulphide-bearing mafic intrusive bodies.

Five drill holes (~1,188 metres) intersected layered mafic–ultramafic intrusive rocks with disseminated sulphide mineralization.

Select Results:

the three 1m intervals with 262, 138 and 118 ppb Pd+Pt on the basal contact of the intrusion.
0.09% Cu
0.11% Ni
262 ppb Pd+Pt (peak interval)
Coincident with DIGEM conductor

Geological model

Mafic–Ultramafic Intrusive System

Empire is interpreted to represent a layered intrusive complex with potential for sulphide concentration along basal contacts and structural traps.

Surface sampling and drilling confirm:

Pegmatitic ultramafic segregation horizons
Disseminated pyrrhotite–chalcopyrite mineralization
Magmatic textures consistent with sulphide segregation

The geological model is supported by coincident magnetic, conductive and chargeability responses.

2026 Exploration strategy

Systematic advancement of a district-scale opportunity

Athos’ exploration strategy for the Empire district targets:

Expanding drilling at Westwood target
Conducting a VTEM+ airborne survey across priority targets – Westwood, Rye, Rush, Trewartha, Mack, and Rambler – covering the full 15-kilometre district corridor.
Refining the intrusive architecture through integrated geophysics
Systematic testing of the targets refined by the VTEM plus survey

The combination of confirmed sulphide mineralization, strong geophysical responses and multiple untested targets provides a scalable exploration platform.