Exploration
Total exploration expenditure amounted to $18m
($12m expensed, $6m capitalised) during the first
quarter, compared to $19m ($11m expensed, $8m
capitalised) in the fourth quarter 2005.
BROWNFIELDS EXPLORATION
At Siguiri, in Guinea, drilling continued at the
Kintinian prospect, supporting previous intersections
as well as confirming north-west and south-east
extensions. Drilling to further interrogate soil
geochemical anomalies in the Sintroko area, located
5km south of the Kami pit, has also recorded
promising intersections. Follow-up drilling at
Foulata, located 35km west of the current Siguiri
operations, remains encouraging.
At Geita, in Tanzania, drilling between the Ridge 8
and Star and Comet deposits (at Nyamulilima) has
confirmed continuous mineralisation between these
deposits. Drilling at Lone Cone South Extension
indicates that the orebody extends westwards and
that an additional ore zone exists between the South
and Central orebodies. At Nyankanga South, drill
intercepts have confirmed significant mineralisation
as indicated by previous drilling.
Regional drilling on the Morila grant in Mali
intersected encouraging results in diamond hole
REG003, located approximately 1km south-west,
along strike of the Morila orebody. Broad-spaced
holes around this intersection have confirmed the
presence of a low-grade sub-economic mineralised
halo.
At Sadiola, oxide mineralisation exploration
continued and encouraging results were obtained
from FN3, indicating a potential southern extension
of the orebody. Assay results testing the gap area
between FE3S and FE4 are awaited. Further
metallurgical testing is underway on the deep
sulphides at Sadiola.
A high-resolution magnetic survey over the mining
licence at Navachab in Namibia was completed and
the interpretation is in progress. Follow-up drilling at
Grid A West (Gecko Prospect) yielded positive
results, which are also being evaluated. A third
phase of drilling will commence shortly.
In Brazil, drilling at Córrego do Sítio remains
concentrated on the Laranjeiras orebody and this
quarter returned results of 13.92 g/t over 2.05m on
the down-plunge. Two additional holes (10.28 g/t
over 2.65m and 9.95 g/t over 2.25m) have indicated
an additional, probable economic orebody south
of Cachorro Bravo.
In March, Serra Grande acquired the mining
rights to property adjacent to its current
operations, permitting full access to the
Palmeiras orebody, as well as to the potential
upside in surrounding mineralised structures.
GREENFIELDS EXPLORATION
Activities continued in the first quarter in
Australia, Alaska, China, Colombia, Russia and
the DRC, with an expensed expenditure of
$9m.
Exploration activities were concluded in
Mongolia and the landholdings are in the
process of being divested.
An agreement was concluded to acquire an
effective 8.7% stake in Vancouver-based
Dynasty Gold Corporation, which has
exploration projects in China, through a $2m
private placement. The proceeds will be used
to fund exploration at two Dynasty projects, Red
Valley and Wild Horse, both located in China’s
prospective Qilian metallogenic belt.
At the Kimin project in the DRC, drilling in the
Adidi/D7 Kanga (Mongbwalu) sector continued
to encounter significant gold intercepts,
extending mineralisation westward.
In the USA in Alaska, drilling commenced at
Lost Mine South to determine continuity and
expansion potential, with initially encouraging
results. Drilling is expected to commence at the
Terra project in the third quarter of this year.
Exploration activities in Colombia continued to
focus on regional reconnaissance, drill target
definition, permitting and drill site preparation,
with drilling currently in progress on three
targets. Initial drill intercepts are encouraging.
In Australia, at the Tropicana JV, drilling
continued at the Tropicana and Rusty Nail
prospects, extending the strike extent at
Tropicana to 1.3km. Significant new
intersections include 21m at 2.0g/t from 50m,
42m at 3.27g/t from 35m, and 9m at 4.17g/t.