Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX:PDI, OTC:PDIYF) continues to improve the grade profile of the Bankan Gold Project in Guinea with more high-grade intercepts from the North East Bankan (NEB) deposit.
The latest assays from deep drilling of eight holes for 4,322 metres at the NEB included 12.85 metres grading 6.02 g/t from 601.4 metres.
This is outside the current underground mineral resource and extends the defined high-grade mineralisation below the US$1,800 per ounce optimised resource pit shell.
Some of the best results from the latest assays include:
- BNEDD0186 32 metres at 5.92 g/t from 471 metres, including 18 metres at 8.75 g/t from 484 metres;
- BNEDD0192 44 metres at 3.64 g/t from 451 metres, including 8 metres at 11.52 g/t from 461.3 metres;
- BNEDD0190 48 metres at 2.88 g/t from 457 metres, including 13 metres at 6.13 g/t from 484 metres;
- BNEDD0185 12.85 metres at 6.02 g/t from 601.4 metres and 19 metres at 2.17 g/t from 632 metres, including 2 metres at 13.85 g/t from 635 metres; and
- BNEDD0188 61 metres at 2.15 g/t from 143 metres, including 3.6 metres at 7.72 g/t from 156 metres.
Newly reported diamond drilling holes in red callouts. Shown in blue are previously reported holes below the optimised pit shell. Deep holes in progress are shown in grey.
Closing the gap
“NEB continues to deliver outstanding infill drilling results. Importantly, the best and highest-grade results are from the bottom part of the pit shell,” PDI managing director Andrew Pardey said.
“These results confirm the improving grade profile of the deposit at depth and support the higher relative grade of the current inferred open pit mineral resource.
““We are continuing deep drilling in this area to close the gap between the base of the optimised resource pit shell and the top of the current underground inferred resource.”
Forward plan
PDI is confident that there is upside potential to extend the boundaries of the mineralisation defined by drilling to date.
Six diamond rigs are currently active to further increase the size and improve the classification of the 4.2 million ounce Bankan mineral resource.
This is crucial to support the mine’s scoping study, which is a key step to secure a mining permit for the Bankan Project.
The scoping study and ESG studies are expected to be completed by late 2023.
The company has also commenced geophysics surveys on the northern Argo permit, with reverse circulation (RC) drilling set to begin following receipt of the results.