Reverse circulation drilling by AusQuest (ASX: AQD) at the Phaco Hill prospect, part of its Comoe Joint Venture with Etruscan Resources Bermuda Ltd in Burkina Faso, West Africa, has returned a strong intercept of 8 metres @ 7.7g/t Au including 1m @ 28.1g/t Au from a down hole depth of 97 metres.
The intercept from hole RC030 was the second of four holes (RC029 to RC032) that were sited to test a VTEM anomaly in the Phaco Hill area, which is one of several priority prospects being tested as part of the current drilling program.
The gold mineralisation occurs within a zone of semi-massive sulphide mineralisation (pyrite and pyrrhotite) which is believed to be the cause of the VTEM response.
RC drill holes sited 100 metres to the north and south of hole RC030 did not intercept the semi-massive sulphides, indicating that the shape of the sulphide zone may be more complex than interpreted from computer modelling.
Follow-up drilling will get underway shortly to further test this high grade intersection and determine the potential extent of the gold mineralisation.
Diamond drilling to test below the current level of drilling and provide necessary geological control is scheduled to commence in December 2010, pending arrival of the drill rig from Ghana.
A further five VTEM targets in the general Phaco Hill area are scheduled to be tested by RC drilling over the coming weeks/months. RC drilling of other gold targets is also continuing.
AusQuest’s current drilling program comprises a total of approximately 10,000 metres of RC drilling and 3,000 metres of diamond drilling across multiple gold and base metal targets.
Assay results from this program should be available within four to eight weeks of drilling.
Ausquest has a market capitalisation of A$43.38 million and had 16.5 million cash at the end of the September quarter. AQD shares rose 11.7% to 19 cents in trading this morning.