Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) has commenced its planned 10,000 metres auger drilling program at the Alahiné Gold Project in Guinea's gold-rich Siguiri Basin.
The auger program will focus on near-surface supergene gold zones previously identified by the company and undrilled prospects which display significant (>100ppb) soil gold anomalies.
Sahara Natural Resources has been engaged to complete the auger program while the samples will be analysed at the SGS laboratory in Bamako, Mali.
Numerous priorities and targets
Polymetals Resources chief executive officer Alex Hanly said: “As previously reported, our Phase 2 drilling program earlier this year at Alahiné generated significant gold intercepts, providing Polymetals with numerous near surface priorities and broader targets open at depth.
“The planned 10,000 metres auger program is designed to extend the high-grade near-surface potential defined in Phase 2, in addition to testing undrilled targets that display +100ppb gold in soils within the Alahiné licence.
“The use of relatively cheap auger drilling to vector in on gold mineralisation has been a very successful strategy deployed elsewhere in the Siguiri Basin, in particular by our peer, Predictive Discovery, who has now delineated a multi-million-ounce deposit which was initially identified by coincident soil anomalies and positive auger results, so we hope to replicate that success.
Auger program
The planned targets proximate to the near surface high-grade zones will be completed on a 20 metres x 20 metres grid.
Polymetals notes the successful use of auger drilling to identify gold mineralisation, with Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX:PDI) having now delineated a multi-million ounces gold discovery at its Bankan Project, also in the Siguiri Basin.
Predictive Discovery undertook considerable auger drilling to look beneath an expansive soil anomaly, and given the relatively low cost of auger drilling, this is a simple cost-effective strategy Polymetals Resources is also seeking to replicate.
Ten priority targets, adjacent to >100ppb gold in soil anomalies and nearby artisanal workings were selected for testing within this program.
Further preparatory fieldwork and laboratory studies will be carried out to confirm primary gold mineralisation targets within this well-endowed gold exploration licence.
Site visit in December
“Additionally, we are pleased to advise that chairman David Sproule, technical director Dr Christopher Johnston and myself will be conducting a site visit to Guinea in early December.
“We look forward to spending time with the Guinea team and also meeting with the local communities.”
Given the international travel restrictions in place since COVID-19, Hanly and the board have been unable to travel to site.
They will be spending the coming weeks with the country manager and exploration team, walking the tenements, engaging with the local communities and building on the exploration programs planned for 2022.
Unaffected by political developments
Moussa Magassouba, the former director-general of AngloGold Ashanti (ASX:AGG) Ltd’s local subsidiary has been appointed as Guinea’s Mines and Geology Minister.
Magassouba has more than 20 years' experience in the industry and industry experts believe the appointment is reassuring for the wider mining industry and expect Magassouba will be attentive to industry stakeholders.
Polymetals said despite the coup in September 2021, its operations on the ground have not been impacted.
It also noted the appointment of Guinea’s new Prime Minister Mohamed Beavogui to oversee the transition to a civilian-led government.
Water wells
Polymetals is actively engaged with the local community and has built strong relationships with the local community.
During October, the company drilled and installed water wells within Alahiné and Saourou villages to provide accessible water to the community.