The Koper Lake Affair is a story of frontier resource exploration like of the early days of the wild west. It tells of how staking claims in the Ring of Fire is very competitive.

Shortly after 9:00AM, on June 17, 2011, KWG Resources arrived by helicopter to stake six mineral claims comprising 32 units on open ground that lay directly to the north of Noront claims 4226694 and 4226662 (and directly south of Fancamp Exploration Limited's claims 3012257 and 3012258). These two 16-unit claims were formerly claims 4221148 and 4221149 of MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. The claims were free to be re-staked after 9:00AM by anyone the day after they expired.

Ken Pye's Canada Chrome KWG team were packing for the return helicopter trip after completing the staking when Noront's chief geologist, Eric Mosley and team arrived.

KWG had beat Noront to the stake by a few hours!

KWG had it's "Port of Koper Lake" at the northern terminus of its right-of-way for a permanent amphibious aerodrome, and permanent East-West all-weather runway and heliport terminal adjunct to a railroad terminal, fuel storage compound, communications hub, accommodation services, and repair and maintenance facilities.

Noront had filed notice with the Mining Recorders Office contesting the validity of the staking but lost the decision. Mr. Mosley has 30 days to appeal, dated June 24, 2014.

An underlying principle in both the Mining Act and the Aggregate Resource Act is that rights, patents, leases, licenses or other instruments of title are granted on a "first-come priority" basis. Except where the Mining Act otherwise expressly provides, section 63 states that the "priority of recording" prevails. In subsection 44.(2), regarding the staking of claims, it is the "priority of completion of staking" that prevails.

While most importantly preserving the public's interests, Ontario's mining laws were also created and are continually revised to help protect prospectors and junior mining companies from a multitude of injustices and burdens, in light of the overwhelming odds against success in locating and developing a mineral claim to lease in these modern times. Soon the divisional appeals justices will soon dismiss Cliff's application for easement rights over Canada Chrome Corporation's rights of way.

We all await to see if Baosteel Resources comprehends the impact of these rulings, as their influence on Ontario's Ring of Fire is diminishing by avoiding compromise with KWG Resources.