Firefinch Ltd’s (ASX:FFX) (FRA:N9F) infill and extensional drilling at the N’Tiola Deposit within the Morila Gold Project has intersected broad zones of economic mineralisation.
The drilling results are expected to result in an increase to the mineral resource at N’Tiola.
A new mineral resource is being prepared and will be used to refine the N’Tiola pit design and estimate ore reserves.
Drill results
Drilling has successfully intersected thick zones of economic mineralisation including:
- • 15 metres at 1.94 g/t from 107 metres
- • 15 metres at 1.93 g/t from 109 metres
- • 7 metres at 1.72 g/t from 40 metres
- • 6 metres at 1.40 g/t from 49 metres
- • 18 metres at 1.12 g/t from 132 metres
- • 11 metres at 1.04 g/t from 29 metres
- • 8 metres at 1.10 g/t from 68 metres
Maiden ore reserves
Drilling successfully targeted mineralisation within, or adjacent to, the pit shell which defines the current mineral resource at N’Tiola at 1.13 million tonnes at 1.25 g/t for 45,000 ounces of contained gold in the Indicated and Inferred category.
The pit shell used in preliminary mine planning and scheduling and the updated mineral resource will be used to delineate maiden ore reserves for N’Tiola.
At the same time, quotations are currently being received from mining contractors via a tender process.
Return Morila to full production
About 39,000 ounces of gold (0.85 million tonnes at 1.42 g/t gold) has been produced to date from open pit mining at N’Tiola.
N’Tiola is one of three satellite deposits - N’Tiola, Viper and Domba - which are expected to underpin the initial phase of the company’s plan to return Morila to full production, in combination with development of the Koting discovery.
Drill rigs to return to N’Tiola
Drilling is currently underway at Koting with two reverse circulation (RC) drilling rig.
The rigs are scheduled to move to drill the Viper deposit next.
Drill rigs are likely to return to N’Tiola to complete grade control drilling on near-surface mineralisation and carry out further infill based on the updated mineral resource.