Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has added more shallow high-grade visible gold results from step-out and depth extensional drilling completed at South Gamina (SG), part of its 3.45-million-ounce Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The West African gold explorer and developer has received the latest batch of assay results for 32 diamond drill holes for 6,008.3 metres, including a bonanza grade of 184.55 g/t gold over 0.55 metres.
This is the second-highest drill hit at SG following the previously reported 24.73 g/t gold over 4 metres from 85 metres, including 195.53 g/t gold over 0.5 metres.
Some of the better results from the latest batch include:
- 2.70 metres at 37.88 g/t gold from 61.8 metres;
- 3.00 metres at 18.02 g/t from 120 metres;
- 2.50 metres at 8.90 g/t from 113.5 metres; and
- 1.00 metres at 21.75 g/t from 68 metres.
Visible gold in diamond core from 85-85.5 metres at 195.53 g/t gold.
First gold pour in three weeks
Tietto managing director Dr Caigen Wang said: “Our exploration team is targeting high-grade shoots at SG inside Abujar’s mining exploitation permit and our drilling is delivering more shallow, open-pitable, high-grade results.
"These drill results show the potential of the high-grade shoots that are prevalent at Abujar to continue to deliver spectacular high-grade gold intercepts.
“Within 2.5 kilometres trucking distance to the Abujar CIL plant, the SG gold deposit has potential to add near surface ounces to Abujar’s mine plan and further drilling is ongoing, however, these results bode well for Tietto’s pending resource update planned for early CY23.
"We will incorporate all drilling intercepts from March 2022 to the end of December 2022.
“We have no debt and are fully funded to production at Abujar, which has potential to be one of the largest gold-producing mines in Côte d’Ivoire, with an expected production of more than 260,000 ounces of gold in the first year and 1.2 million ounces of gold in the first six years.
“Tietto has an experienced team on board to deliver Abujar on time and on budget. Shareholders can expect further updates from our aggressive diamond drilling program as we advance our dual strategy of ‘Drill and Build’ and develop our Abujar Project into West Africa’s next gold mine, with first gold pour expected in three weeks’ time.”
Plan view showing latest drill results at SG.
More results in store
Assays are pending for 110 holes for 19,500 metres, with more than two-thirds of these from step-out holes.
The latest results will be included in Tietto’s next mineral resource estimate update planned for early 2023.
SG has mineral resources of 1.6 million tonnes at 1.2 g/t gold for 60,000 ounces and Tietto plans further drilling to test the extent of gold mineralisation still open at depth.
Eight diamond rigs are actively drilling and on track to complete 120,000 metres of core at Abujar before the end of the year.