Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has delivered more high-grade gold hits including 12 metres at 20.96 g/t in an infill drilling program at AG Core within the 3.45 million-ounce Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
Standout assays include:
- 12 metres at 20.96 g/t gold from 298 metres, including 5 metres at 48.57 g/t and 2 metres at 120.21 g/t;
- 6 metres at 6.36 g/t from 329 metres including 4 metres at 9.4 g/t; and
- 9 metres at 8.1 g/t from 258 metres, including, 2 metres at 28.64 g/t
The infill drilling is part of an expanded program targeting delineation of measured resources expected to be mined during the first two years of Abujar gold production.
Tietto’s six diamond rigs are actively drilling on-site, with more than 100,000 metres of drilling forecast for 2022.
Dual ‘Drill and Build’ strategy
Tietto managing director Dr Caigen Wang said: “Our infill drilling continues to add high‐grade gold intercepts to AG Core.
"ZDD1229 has reported multiple high‐grade intercepts downhole including 12 metres at 20.96 g/t gold from 298 metres and 6 metres at 6.36 g/t gold from 329 metres.
"These intercepts confirm continuity of these plunging high‐grade shoots at depth.
“Tietto will incorporate these high‐impact drilling results into a mineral resource update planned for later this year.
"This update will also incorporate the results from an expanded infill drilling program aiming to grow our measured resources over a 2.9-kilometres strike between Section Lines 0 to 29 at AG Core and AG South, as we expect to mine this area during the first two years of Abujar gold production.
“Our exploration team has moved four of our DD rigs to drill test exploration targets at 22 prospect (West Abujar Shear) and at AGM and PGL prospects, both located on the main Abujar Shear, which remains largely untested.”
Infill drill program
Tietto’s latest batch of assays comprises seven diamond holes across 2,780.5 metres of infill diamond drilling at AG Core and three diamond holes totalling 274 metres at AG South.
The seven DD holes drilled at AG Core were designed to fill several drilling gaps at depth and allow inferred resources into indicated resources while the three DD holes at AG South are part of the program designed to convert indicated resources into measured resources.
Drilling results from both areas will be incorporated into the next mineral resource estimate update expected later this year.
Forward plan
Tietto remains very well positioned to advance its dual strategy of ‘Drill and Build’ throughout 2022.
The company continues to drive rapid resource growth at the Abujar Project and fast‐track development to achieve first gold in the December quarter this year.
Tietto will deliver an update on Abujar’s life of mine (LOM) production plan this quarter, using the updated mineral resource estimate, increased mill throughput gold prices (spot price is+35% greater than US$1407/ounce used in the DFS), targeting a material increase to existing LOM production and higher.
The company has expanded this to incorporate a scoping study to determine the economic benefits of a heap leach operation at APG running in parallel to the Abujar CIL operation.
Tietto is advancing the construction of the processing plant and associated infrastructure, which remains on schedule.
Abujar Gold Project is progressing towards the first gold pour by the end of the December quarter and is on track to become West Africa’s next producing gold mine.
“Fully funded”
Dr Wang adds: “We are fully funded to production at Abujar, which has potential to be one of the largest gold producing mines in Côte d’Ivoire, with an expected production of 260,000 ounces of gold in the first year and 1.2 million ounces of gold in the first six years.
“Tietto has an experienced team on board to deliver Abujar on time and on budget. We are on track to deliver another mineral resource update this year.
"Shareholders can also expect further updates from our aggressive diamond drilling program as we advance our dual strategy of ‘Drill and Build’ and develop our Abujar Project into West Africa’s next gold mine, with first gold by the end of Q4 CY22.”