West African Resources (ASX:WAF) reports it has found consistent ‘high-grade’ gold intercepts from resource definition drilling at the M1 South inferred resource within the Sanbrado Gold Operations in Burkina Faso.
The company, which is the region’s newest unhedged gold producer after pouring first gold at Sanbrado in March 2020, says a total of 32 holes for 11,070m have been drilled to date, with the resource definition drilling program at M1 South aiming to convert inferred mineral resources into the indicated category between 1,800mRL and 1,600mRL (500m to 700m BSL) beneath existing ore reserves.
Results from infill drilling have returned ‘excellent’ intercepts and confirmed the continuation of consistent ‘high-grade’ mineralisation between 1,800mRL and 1,600mRL beneath the current ore reserve.
Diamond drilling results have generally been ‘higher grade’ than historic exploration drilling completed by the company from 2018 to 2020 with M1 South mineralisation continuing to display predictable geometry and grade.
Significant results returned include M1SRD_027 with 25m @ 90.17g/t Au from 353m including 6m @ 344.03g/t Au; and M1SRD_0219 with 24.5m @ 38.56g/t Au from 382m incl. 5m @ 118.7g/t Au and 10m @ 34.42g/t Au.
West African Resources Executive Chairman Richard Hyde says: “Resource definition drilling at M1 South has returned some outstanding results including 25m @ 90g/t Au gold. Infill results are expected to upgrade a significant proportion of inferred mineral resources beneath existing underground ore reserves and replace gold ounces mined to date at M1 South underground.
“Deep infill drilling has also commenced at M5 targeting underground potential beneath the open-pit ore reserve, following-up historical drilling results including 23m @ 11.26g/t Au”
Deep infill drilling has also commenced at M5 targeting underground potential beneath the open-pit ore reserve, following-up historical drilling results including 23m @ 11.26g/t Au.
Scoping studies investigating the potential for a second underground mine at Sanbrado will be completed in 2023. We look forward to releasing West African Resources’ updated mineral resources, ore reserves and 10-year production outlook in Q1 2023.”
West African Resources reports at around 1,600mRL which is the deepest line of infill drilling, the mineralisation remains open to the northwest. The company also states it has planned further drillholes to close off mineralisation.
The company says these results underpin future underground gold production from M1 South with the upcoming Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) upgrade expected to report additional ounces to those previously reported. The update of the ore reserves estimate for M1 South incorporating these drilling results is expected to deliver a replacement of ounces mined to date.
The current drilling campaign is scheduled to be completed in early 2023, and West African Resources also notes the reporting of updated resources, reserves and 10-year production outlook is on track for Q1 2023.
West African Resources also reports diamond drilling has commenced beneath the southern end of the M5 open-pit as part of a scoping study to explore the viability of a second underground operation at Sanbrado. The study will investigate the potential of accessing mineralisation underground beneath M5 via a portal at the base of the southern portion of the open pit. The underground scoping study is scheduled for completion in 2023.
West African Resources states it has an unhedged resource base of 12.6 million ounces, and aims to produce more than 400,000 ounces of gold annually from 2 mines by 2025.
The company holds the Sanbrado Gold Mine, Kiaka Gold Project and the Toega Gold Project, all located within 100km of Burkina Faso’s capital city, Ouagadougou.
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