Centamin PLC (LSE:CEY, TSX:CEE, OTC:CELTF) said it is making strong progress on pre-feasibility work at its Doropo project in north-eastern Cote d'Ivoire.
The company is working on an upgrade to the resource, on potential operating and capital cost-saving opportunities within the processing flowsheet, and on identifying resource growth potential within the license area.
Infill drilling has added 2.4mln ounces of indicated resources to take the total to 2.52mln ounces at a grade of 1.52 grams per tonne gold.
“The Doropo pre-feasibility study workstreams are advancing well and delivering positive results,” said Centamin chief executive Martin Horgan in a statement.
“Following the completion of an extensive infill drilling programme through 2021 and 2022, we have now delivered the first mineral resource estimate constrained in pit shells, with 2.5mln ounces in the indicated category now eligible for assessment in the maiden reserves estimate. Furthermore, as part of the pre-feasibility study metallurgical test work programme, we have identified an opportunity to remove the flotation and regrind circuit that was outlined in the PEA in favour of a whole of ore leach flowsheet. Given the potential to deliver significant capital and operating cost savings, we are undertaking further comparative test work ahead of publishing the outcome of the pre-feasibility study, which is now expected in the first half of 2023," he added.
Over the last 18 months, a 124,000 metre reverse circulation and core infill drilling programme was completed at Doropo. Infill drilling was undertaken on a 25 metre by 50 metre spacing versus previously wider-spaced drilling of 50 metre by 50 metre. Samples were prepared on-site and sent to independent laboratories in Cote d'Ivoire and Ireland, with industry-standard quality assurance and quality control applied.
In addition, the exploration team have focussed on surface mapping, geochemistry, portable x-ray fluorescence analysers multi-element analysis and reviews of the artisanal mining sites. Furthermore, historic data has been reinterpreted and reanalysed including the auger, RC, air-core and core drilling data, airborne geophysical data, and inductively coupled plasma multi-element data.
As a result, three main areas with multiple targets have been identified: the Main Cluster, with ten potential resource extensional targets and five new targets, the Vako Shear Zone, with seven exploration targets, and the Kilosegue deposit, with four potential resource extension targets.
A 20,000 metre reverse circulation (RC) programme commenced in the fourth quarter of 2022 to drill test these targets.