Shanta Gold PLC (LON:SHG) this week published a substantial maiden resource estimate for Nkuluwisi, one of the satellite deposits that surrounds its New Luika gold mine in Tanzania.
At a 0.5g/t cut-off, Nkuluwisi holds total resources of 3.97mln ore tonnes, which at a grade of 1.1 grammes per tonne (g/t) equates to 140,894 ounces of gold.
At just shy of 84,000 oz, most of the resource is also in the higher certainty indicated category with a further 9,200oc in the highest or measured classification.
WATCH: Shanta Gold boss 'very pleased' with Nkuluwisi maiden resource estimate
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Toby Bradbury, Shanta’s chief executive, said Nkuluwisi’s significant scale will allow it to target lower grade orebodies, which could increase production levels and add to New Luika’s (NLGM) mine life.
Nkuluwisi is 12km northwest of the mine’s central processing hub.
Staying in Africa, a ruling by an Ethiopian Supreme Court has reduced the potential financial impact of legacy legal issue affecting KEFI Minerals plc (LON:KEFI) to US$600,000 from US$12mln.
The group also said this week that it and the Ethiopian government have formalised the structure for the company that will develop the Tulu KapI gold mine in the country.
Elsewhere, Ariana Resources plc (LON:AAU) is eyeing a substantial increase the life of its Kiziltepe gold mine in Turkey after a big resource hike.
The mine is now estimated to contain 257,500 oz of gold and 4.87Moz silver to make 338,500oz gold equivalent overall. That is an increase of 100,000 oz on the previous JORC estimate.
WATCH: Ariana Resources' boss on 'significant' Kiziltepe resource increase
Sunrise Resources Plc (LON:SRES) is to throw its full weight behind its CS Pozzolan project in Nevada after a concept study confirmed its potential.
“It is recommended that the company proceed to engage with market participants, carry out drilling on the deposit and start critical path baseline permitting studies as soon as possible,” concluded the study.
Interest in pozzolan is growing as a natural and greener alternative to Portland cement and especially in the US where traditionally manufacturers have used fly ash from coal-fired power stations as a key ingredient.
WATCH: Sunrise executive chairman on project potential and next steps
Meanwhile, Premier African Minerals Limited (LON:PREM) expects shortly to make a first shipment of wolframite concentrate from its RHA mine in Zimbabwe.
Wolframite is the source ore for tungsten and the ramp-up of the processing plant is going well said George Roach, chief executive, while the X-ray machine installed to sort the ore is working ahead of expectations.
Patagonia Gold plc (LON:PGD) reported good progress with the installation of an agglomeration unit at its Cap-Oeste gold mine in Argentina.
The unit is designed to tackle a problem of a high clay content in the ore and to boost gold recoveries.
And Amur Minerals Corporation (LON:AMC) has now kicked off its 2017 drill programme at the Kun-Manie nickel-copper project in Russia’s far east.
It marks an earlier than scheduled start to the programme, for the second year in a row.
Kibo Mining PLC’s (LON:KIBO) listing of its Imweru and Lubando gold mining assets in Tanzania is to take effect on 23 May.
A reverse takeover of Opera Investments is the method for the deal with the name of the company to be changed to Katoro Gold PLC to reflect the new business focus.
WATCH: Mining Capital's Alastair Ford on sector trends
A resurgence in mining activity has meant the best quarter for Capital Drilling PLC (LON:CAPD) since 2013, sending its shares sharply higher.
Revenue in the quarter to March rose by almost 14% on the previous three months to US$31.6 mln and by 65% on a year earlier.
As a result, guidance for the full year has been raised to revenues of between US$120-130mln, from US$105-112mln.
WATCH: Capital Drilling' chairman 'very pleased' with Q1 performance
European Metals Holdings Limited (LON:EMH) has been awarded three permits for its Cinovec lithium/tin project in the Czech Republic.
Most importantly, a preliminary mining permit has been issued over most of the project, which means responsibility now lies with the Czech Mining Bureau rather than the Minister of Environment.
Tungsten producer W Resources PLC (LON:WRES) said shortages of tungsten concentrate are emerging, which bodes well for tungsten prices.
Already this year the price of tungsten has recovered to around US$215 per metric ton unit (mtu) from an average of US$198 per mtu in 2016.
Elsewhere, Strategic Minerals Plc (LON:SML)revealed it is to take full control of Central Australia Rare Earths, the company that own the Hanns Camp prospect in Western Australia.
John Peters, Strategic’s managing director, said CARE’s tenements will need extra funding to explore fully, something it can provide from its booming Cobre tailings business in New Mexico.
WATCH: Strategic Minerals 'takes bull by the horns' with full control of CARE
Richland Resources Limited (LON:RLD) is launching a new social media campaign to showcase its Australian sapphire production.
The company will post updates and images on Facebook at @Australiansapphire and on Twitter using the @Ausapphire Twitter handle.
Meanwhile the deal struck by Stratmin Global Resources PLC (LON:STGR) in February this year to acquire Australian explorer Signature Gold remains on track, the company said today as it announced reduced losses for the year to December 2016.
Metal Tiger PLC (LON:MTR) has received the first draft of a preliminary economic assessment for its Song-Toh and Boh Yai silver lead zinc mines in Thailand from consultant SRK.
And copper explorer Asiamet Resources Limited (LON:ARS CVE:ARS) is mulling going deeper at its BKM prospect in Kalimantan after it hit more thick mineralisation in the BK044 Zone.
In fund raising moves, Ortac Resources Ltd (LON:OTC) announced a £2mln share placing to support the group’s Casa Mining venture. The company is issuing 66.6mln new shares, priced at 3p per share.