Among the highlights of the latest assays, Aurion reported 0.5m at 202g/t gold within 4.15m at 51.95/gt, within a wider 11.1m at 23.41g/t from 133m.

The company said 24 of 27 holes at Aamurusko NW had intersected gold mineralisation, with 12 hitting 15g/t or higher.

"Drilling has demonstrated continuity of the high-grade mineralised zones and intersecting quartz veins in excess of 5m wide speaks to the robust nature and potential of this gold bearing system," president and CEO Mike Basha said.

The rig is now drilling at Aamurusko Main where Basha was expecting similar success.

Aurion said 84 of the 99 holes at the broader project to date had intersected gold mineralisation.

The company said its exploration programme was fully funded through 2020.

It had raised C$11.1 million (US$8.4 million) in July, led by a $5 million investment from Eric Sprott and with Kinross also buying shares at $1.50 to maintain its 9.98% stake.

Finland's prospectivity is attracting increasing attention and Canada-based producer B2Gold recently exercised its option to acquire 51% of an Aurion joint venture in the country's north.

Aurion shares hit $1.72 intraday but closed up just 1c to $1.60, capitalising it about $123 million (US$93 million).

Its share price has ranged from 75c-$2.35 over the past year.