Unigold Inc. (TSX-V:UGD, OTCQX:UGDIF) said it has hired experienced mine manager Gordon Babcock as its chief operating officer (COO) as the company advances the Candelones project in the Dominican Republic towards development.
The current COO Wes Hanson will become vice-president (VP) of exploration and continue to head up exploration at the firm's flagship Neita concession.
An engineer, Babcock has over 35 years of experience in both underground and open-pit operations, project development, engineering, exploration and mine consulting. He has been involved with new operations, asset optimizations and strategies in Peru, Chile, Brazil, Honduras, Spain, Bolivia, Argentina, the USA and Canada.
"We are fortunate to have been able to attract someone with Mr. Babcock’s exceptional skills and experience developed over 35 years in operations and project management," said Joseph Hamilton, CEO of Unigold in a statement.
"Mr. Babcock will be instrumental completing the feasibility study for the Oxide project at Candelones and demonstrating how the Sulphide project can be developed to integrate into the long-term plans for the Candelones deposits."
READ: Unigold announces non-brokered private placement of up to $2.34M
Thanking Hanson, the company boss added: "Wes has been involved with Candelones for the past 8 years and has been instrumental in developing the geological concepts that will carry the project forward.
"Mr. Hanson will assume responsibility for the company’s exploration efforts in addition to the geology support that will be required as the Sulphide project is assessed. I look forward to continuing to work with Wes as the company turns its attention to the larger Nieta concession and the assessment of 15 high priority targets that have been identified through our regional exploration work."
Unigold has been active in the Dominican Republic since 2002 and its Candelones oxide gold deposit is within the 100% owned Neita Fase II exploration concession in the northwest part of the country.
The Neita Concession property is considered the largest single project within a 75 kilometers-wide Cretaceous-age area known for hosting major gold-copper-silver deposits.
Unigold has identified over 20 areas within the concession area that host surface expressions of gold systems. Unigold has been concentrating on the Candelones oxide mineralization and continues to expand the deeper sulphide resources with ongoing drilling.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com