Marvel Gold Ltd’s (ASX:MVL) (FRA:GR2) latest reverse circulation (RC) drilling aimed at expanding the 910,000-ounce resource at Tabakorole Gold Project in southern Mali has confirmed further strike extensions that are expected to grow the resource along strike to the west.
Two holes in particular, 20TBKRC015 and 20TBKRC014, intersected high-grade mineralisation and are expected to improve the existing JORC-compliant resource with 6 metres at 5.8 g/t gold from 61 metres in the former and 16 metres at 2.0 g/t from 75 metres in the latter, and this is outside the resource.
As well, two holes in the northwest strike extension returned 4 metres at 1.9 g/t from 16 metres (20TBKRC025) and 15 metres at 2.0 g/t from 25 metres (20TBKRC018), both on the same section, which have confirmed further strike extensions beyond the currently modelled resource.
Results exceed average grade
Managing director Phil Hoskins said: “The grade of these results is particularly encouraging, exceeding the average grade of the northwest portion of the resource.
“The intersection of 16 metres at 2.0 g/t gold is also very exciting as it sits outside previously modelled mineralisation and potentially represents the discovery of a new zone of mineralisation.
“This drill program is expected to achieve its objective of defining additional mineralisation, confirming strike extensions in both directions, and delivering impressive results within the existing resource.
“There are numerous follow-up targets coming out of this drill program which, combined with the extensive regional soils and ground magnetics, give us ample opportunity for continued resource growth at Tabakorole.”
Diamond drilling completion
Since completing the RC drilling program, Marvel Gold has also completed a five-hole diamond drilling program in the southeast portion of the deposit with results expected in April.
This drilling is seeking to infill the area between the existing resource and hole 21TBKRC-001 which intersected 23 metres at 2.0 g/t gold.
There are also follow-up targets from the most recent RC drill program which the company expects to drill prior to updating the JORC mineral resource estimate.
Air core drilling targeting strike potential
Marvel Gold has started a 6,000-metre aircore program to the southeast of the Tabakorole deposit to further target the strike potential in this area.
Shallow aircore drilling will continue to be utilised over the entire 300 square kilometres landholding where the company has collected extensive multi-element soil geochemistry and high-resolution ground magnetics to define regional targets.
The discovery of satellite deposits would complement continued resource growth around the existing deposit.