Exploration
Exploration Activities
A very busy and successful quarter was completed in exploration where work concentrated on three key areas:
- Completion of an initial resource estimate and scoping study for Massawa.
- Adding to the resource base at Tongon through the evaluation of satellite targets in the Nielle permit.
- Targeting a new discovery in the Loulo District.
In addition, good progress has been made in the compilation of data in the Central Africa region covering Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The generalised geology has been captured and current work is focused on the geochronology and structural framework.
By quarter end the company had nine drill rigs in operation across four projects spanning three countries.
In Senegal, infill drilling to 100 metre by 50 metre spacing was completed over a 4 kilometre segment of an 8 kilometre mineralised structure at Massawa. This enabled inferred resources to be declared to a vertical depth of 200 metres: 36.76 Mt @ 2.87g/t for 3.39 Moz. Results from within the Northern Zone confirm continuity of high grade intersections with, for example: MWDDH082: 22.50m @ 13.42g/t.
Results of infill drilling received during Q1 2009
|
Hole Id |
From |
To |
Downhole |
Grade |
Including |
|
MWDDH066 |
205.00 |
214.00 |
9.00 |
2.50 |
5.00m @ 4.00g/t |
|
MWDDH067 |
95.80 |
107.00 |
11.20 |
2.27 |
5.00m @ 4.30g/t |
|
MWDDH068 |
80.00 |
86.30 |
6.30 |
11.66 |
|
|
90.00 |
107.50 |
17.50 |
4.76 |
|
|
|
MWDDH069 |
12.00 |
42.20 |
30.20 |
1.50 |
|
|
MWDDH070 |
9.00 |
24.80 |
15.80 |
3.19 |
4.00m @ 10.75g/t |
|
34.80 |
37.20 |
2.40 |
1.69 |
|
|
|
47.50 |
49.90 |
2.40 |
1.52 |
|
|
|
MWDDH071 |
66.30 |
73.50 |
7.20 |
1.52 |
|
|
MWDDH072 |
62.40 |
65.40 |
3.00 |
1.88 |
|
|
93.00 |
96.00 |
3.00 |
1.49 |
|
|
|
126.00 |
128.00 |
2.00 |
10.98 |
|
|
|
MWDDH073 |
100.20 |
102.50 |
2.30 |
7.00 |
|
|
121.20 |
123.70 |
2.50 |
3.66 |
|
|
|
MWDDH074 |
163.90 |
177.00 |
13.10 |
5.86 |
6.90m @ 9.63g/t |
|
MWDDH075 |
37.20 |
40.20 |
3.00 |
1.40 |
|
|
45.20 |
55.20 |
10.00 |
1.16 |
|
|
|
60.60 |
63.20 |
2.60 |
3.99 |
|
|
|
MWDDH076 |
51.50 |
59.50 |
8.00 |
1.89 |
2.20m @ 4.70g/t |
|
62.70 |
76.50 |
13.80 |
0.69 |
|
|
|
79.40 |
104.10 |
24.70 |
2.21 |
|
|
|
107.70 |
110.90 |
3.20 |
2.90 |
|
|
|
118.00 |
124.10 |
6.10 |
0.66 |
|
|
|
MWDDH077 |
10.50 |
14.40 |
3.90 |
3.56 |
|
|
73.70 |
75.70 |
2.00 |
1.44 |
|
|
|
118.40 |
135.90 |
17.50 |
0.60 |
|
|
|
MWDDH078 |
29.50 |
106.00 |
76.50 |
2.00 |
12.40m @ 5.70g/t |
|
163.40 |
166.00 |
2.60 |
6.07 |
|
|
|
MWDDH079 |
43.20 |
44.20 |
1.00 |
6.15 |
|
|
52.80 |
61.00 |
8.20 |
17.60 |
1.60m @ 87.70g/t |
|
|
83.00 |
106.40 |
23.40 |
2.55 |
7.15m @ 4.80g/t |
|
|
MWDDH080 |
11.50 |
21.80 |
10.30 |
0.80 |
|
|
36.00 |
43.60 |
7.60 |
4.19 |
|
|
|
49.00 |
60.60 |
11.60 |
3.80 |
|
|
|
64.20 |
68.90 |
4.70 |
1.16 |
|
|
|
80.20 |
99.60 |
19.40 |
1.70 |
6.40m @ 3.50g/t |
|
|
112.40 |
127.20 |
14.80 |
1.55 |
|
|
|
130.30 |
146.80 |
16.50 |
0.60 |
|
|
|
MWDDH081 |
32.50 |
51.90 |
19.40 |
3.25 |
9.10m @ 5.80g/t |
|
73.50 |
82.60 |
9.10 |
1.12 |
|
|
|
92.00 |
94.80 |
2.80 |
1.25 |
|
|
|
104.30 |
130.75 |
26.45 |
3.17 |
4.10m @ 16.53g/t |
|
|
MWDDH082 |
190.00 |
212.50 |
22.50 |
13.42 |
|
|
MWDDH083 |
83.00 |
96.00 |
13.00 |
8.35 |
|
The Massawa deposit is open in all directions. In addition to the infill drilling, step out drilling has been completed to the north in what we term the Lion Extension. Drilling, spaced 100 to 200 metres, has been completed over a distance of 800 metres with a total of 10 holes for 2 355 metres. The results confirm the continuation of the Massawa system beyond the current wireframes.
Results of holes drilled in Lion Extension
|
Hole Id |
From |
To |
Downhole |
Grade |
Including |
|
MWDDH084 |
208.30 |
210.50 |
2.20 |
0.57 |
|
|
MWDDH085 |
97.00 |
99.00 |
2.00 |
3.64 |
|
|
MWDDH086 |
46.40 |
49.80 |
3.40 |
1.86 |
|
|
78.00 |
80.40 |
2.40 |
4.19 |
|
|
|
94.80 |
105.00 |
|