Polymetals Resources completes phase two drilling at Alahiné gold project
Drilling at Alahiné comprised an additional 2,220m due to favourable ground conditions, with initial assays due later this month.
Polymetals Resources (ASX: POL) has reported a clean safety and environmental record following the completion of a phase two drilling program at its 100% owned Alahiné gold project in Guinea’s prospective Siguiri Basin.
Managed by Australian-based West African contractor Target Drilling, the five-week program comprised 94 aircore (AC) holes for a total 6,840m as well as four reverse circulation (RC) holes for an additional 480m.
It was designed to follow-up soil gold anomalies and mineralised drill intercepts defined by the company’s previous exploration efforts, including soil sampling results in excess of 40 parts per billion gold.
The program also tested the lateral and vertical extent of a gold-mineralised zone identified in phase one drilling and the Siguiri-style shallow oxide gold potential across the Alahiné licence.
Deep weathering
Initially planned to incorporate 5,100m of combined drilling methods, Polymetals encountered deeper than anticipated weathering resulting in softer ground conditions, reducing the number of RC holes in favour of the more cost-effective and faster AC drilling.
An additional 2,220m of drilling was completed based on geological interpretations and site geologist recommendations.
First assays are expected later this month and a shipment of soil samples has already been delivered to a geochemical laboratory in Mali.
Next steps
Polymetals chief executive officer Alex Hanly said the results would enable the company to plan the next steps in its Siguiri Basin exploration strategy.
“We are very encouraged by what we have seen at Alahiné during this last month of drilling,” he said.
“We are eagerly awaiting results from the targeted testing of best intercepts from our phase one drilling, as well as the extensive gold anomalism defined through our soil sampling program and new priority targets identified on the ground.”
He said the company was well-funded to further accelerate exploration at Alahiné.
Gold producer
Polymetals aims to become a gold producer with an initial focus on its wholly-owned Alahiné and Mansala exploration licences over 112 square kilometres of land in the gold-rich Siguiri Basin.
The basin hosts several large and active gold mining operations and is noted for its significant and widespread gold anomalism.
Polymetals’ licences host extensive historic and current artisanal gold production and reinforce the area’s exploration potential.
New appointment
Earlier this week, Polymetals appointed Clive Hastings to the role of supervising geologist.
Mr Hastings has over 41 years of experience in mineral exploration, mining services and project management on numerous diamond, RC and AC drilling programs across Australia and Africa.
He has been involved in the Alahiné project since the start of phase two drilling and has also scouted the Mansala licence to provide geological insights of the area.