Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has commenced a new diamond drilling campaign at its 3.02 million-ounce Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, which is designed to underpin 2021 gold resource growth and a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on its proposed large‐scale open-pit mining.
Up to six rigs completing 7,000‐11,000 metres of drilling per month, will target multiple new and existing prospects on three parallel corridors to drive further resource growth.
Abujar’s pre‐feasibility study is on track for delivery in the first quarter of 2021.
Environmental approval has been granted and the mining licence approval process is well advanced.
Tietto is well-funded to achieve Abujar project milestones with over $60 million cash in the bank as at the end of September.
‘Quickly deliver more gold resources’
Tietto managing director Dr. Caigen Wang said: “We are excited to have so many drill targets with strong potential to quickly deliver more gold resources at the 3.02 million-ounce Abujar Gold Project.
“We have our six diamond drill rigs on-site, four of which are running currently and two expected to mobilise before year‐end, and expect to complete 7,000 metres to 11,000 metres of drilling per month up to the second quarter-end 2021.
“This drilling capacity allows us to finish approximately 2,500 metres of geotechnical drilling for our open pit DFS study as well as 28,000 metres of infill drilling for mining studies and more than 40,000 metres for new resource growth and exploration drilling.
“The unique capacity that Tietto has for exploration and resource drilling with its own diamond drill rigs allows the company to aggressively grow the Abujar gold resources at extremely low drilling costs whilst progressing its PFS/DFS work, as well as moving towards securing the last two statutory approvals, the mining licence and mining convention.”
Extend drilling to Gamina
Tietto’s own NOCK1000 DD rig, which is capable of drilling 1,000 metres holes, has arrived on-site and will start drilling beneath AG deposit in January 2021.
Tietto will extend drilling from GGL to Gamina, which hosts large historical artisanal workings on the Abujar North tenement.
Three mineralised gold corridors
Tietto’s systematic exploration over the 70 kilometres strike of the Abujar project’s three tenements has so far identified three mineralised gold corridors - the West Corridor, Central Corridor and East Corridor.
It has defined a total of 33 gold prospects to date.
Systematic drilling is planned to test the new prospects identified to date and it is planned to use six company‐owned diamond drill rigs to complete most of this exploration drilling.