A-Star Prospecting
Precision. Grit. Commitment to Ontario’s Future.
A-Star didn’t start in an office. It wasn’t built on business plans or investment pitches. It started in the bush, with a chainsaw in hand and a rock that wouldn’t leave my mind.
I was already working exploration jobs, cutting trails, clearing access—but I never thought much about what we were making way for. To me, it was just dense forest and pale, lifeless rock. But one day, deep in the regrowth of a burned-out landscape, I found something different, a rock laced with purple gems, nothing like the amethyst I’d grown up seeing in Thunder Bay. It caught my curiosity, and that curiosity never let go.
I didn’t know what it was at the time, but it sent me down a path I hadn’t expected. I started keeping interesting rocks, researching, reading, trying to make sense of what I was seeing in the field. The more I learned, the more the bush started speaking back—patterns in the rock, signs of what lay beneath. Claim staking became the next adventure, taking me across Northwestern Ontario.
Through it all, A-Star grew. Not just as a labor force, but as problem-solvers—technicians who knew the terrain, logistical experts who made impossible work sites accessible, and prospectors who understood that discovery isn’t just about looking, it’s about knowing where to look.
Most of what I learned came the hard way—long hours, tough lessons, figuring things out because there was no other choice. That same grit built A-Star into what it is today. We still specialize in remote labor, field logistics, and exploration support, staying true to the roots that started it all: a chainsaw, the open wilderness, and a relentless curiosity for what’s hidden beneath.
Oh, and that rock? I was rubellite.
Not just prospectors—problem solvers, field specialists, and logistical experts.
Exploration: Defining Resources, Empowering Decisions
Field-Proven Strategy:
Every job requires calculated precision, not improvisation.
Built for Remote Work:
We navigate the harshest conditions, ensuring operations move forward, no matter the challenge.
Reliability in Action:
Knowing when to push, when to pivot, and when precision matters more than speed.
Exploration isn’t just about industry—it’s about knowledge. Before mines are built, before policies are shaped, before investments are made—exploration provides the foundation for informed decisions.
We don’t just identify resources; we define the land, the water, the trees, the wildlife, and the rock itself. A well-mapped land clarifies both opportunity and risk, ensuring that decisions—whether in industry, policy, or community development—are made with knowledge, not guesswork.
Understanding the land benefits everyone. Information isn’t just for industry—it belongs to those who live on it, work on it, and depend on it. Exploration done right isn’t just data collection; it’s collaboration. It means communities can be part of the process, oversee information, and make decisions with confidence.
A strong partnership today means that if mining happens tomorrow, it’s done with clarity, fairness, and a shared understanding of the land’s value. Exploration isn’t about dictating outcomes—it’s about uncovering possibilities, together.
At A-Star Prospecting, we take that responsibility seriously. We don’t just work in the field—we ensure the knowledge we gather serves a greater purpose. Because defining resources isn’t just about industry—it’s about shaping Canada’s future the right way.
The best results don’t come from luck—they come from training, experience, and preparation
In Memory of
Daniel "Joey" Achneepineskum
A brother in the field, a friend in the journey.
Joe was more than just a crew member, he was a brother to all of us who live and work in the remote wilderness. He had an eye for the land, an unmatched skill in the bush, and always had a way of making even the hardest days feel lighter. If everything was silent, you’d always catch Joe breaking it with a song.
We spent years working together, pushing through some of the toughest and most extreme conditions and I couldn’t have done it without him. He was proud to be a father and shared that pride often. He had his struggles, but through it all, he was built for the outdoors. Whether it was slingshotting partridge with perfect precision or reading the tracks of the forest like a book, Joe carried a quiet mastery of the land.
Joe worked with me for over a decade and in that time, we covered Ontario from end to end. He was hardworking, dedicated, and family to all of us who live this life. We remember him often, not just in words, but in the work we do. His presence is still felt on the trails, in the camps, and in the lessons he passed down.
His memory lives on with us in the field, where he belonged.
For those who would like to read more, his obituary can be found here: