Soma Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SOMA, OTCQX:SMAGF) has unveiled promising results from its initial diamond drill program and sampling at the La Aurora mine, part of its Machuca project in central Colombia.
The company, in a statement, reported a notable drill intercept showing 8.35 grams per ton (g/t) of gold over 1 meter.
It also highlighted the findings from underground channel sampling which revealed grades as high as 36.64 g/t gold.
Machuca is located in a region known for its high-metamorphic grade gneiss and regionally extensive quartz veins, the company noted, with the La Aurora mine said to present significant exploration opportunities.
"We are pleased that the first phase of drilling intersected quartz veins where they were predicted from initial structural models of the vein system,” said Chris Buchanan, Soma vice president of exploration.
“We're particularly encouraged that numerous stockwork-style veins with sulphides and high-grade gold intersected in the footwall of the primary vein structure.
“This zone is interpreted to be an extensional step-over and has the potential to develop into a broad, high-grade ore shoot."
The exploration findings underscore the site's potential, the company added, highlighting 21 quartz vein samples out of 69 exceeded 0.4 g/t gold, which it said reflected the ‘nuggety nature’ of gold distribution in the area.
The results align with historical data, which included a maximum historical sample along La Constancia vein at 146 g/t gold.
Soma also noted it is currently dewatering the mine to its deepest levels, to enable access to Levels 1 and 5, and, said the engineering team is evaluating the safety conditions in the mine.
The exploration team, meanwhile, is prepared to conduct geological mapping, systematic sampling, and accurate surveys of the mine workings. The resulting information will be used to strategically plan the next phase of drilling in 2024.
Elsewhere, Soma is assessing various small-scale mines near Machuca and it noted that three extensive soil grids are scheduled for 2024 to determine the continuity of gold mineralization between the informal mines along the Otú Fault.
It separately continues to work with the local communities on the Machuca Property as part of its ongoing ESG program.