The project
We are developing open pit reserves for the planned Stage 3 cut-back and delineating potential underground resources beneath the final planned Nyabirama (“Rama”) open pit. We are carrying out an aggressive infill and step-out drill programme targeting the down-dip extensions of the Rama ore body.
The opportunity
The resource/reserve infill and extension drilling is targeting approximately 700Koz of gold to justify the Rama underground feasibility study in 2012. This would also significantly extend the life of this ore-body.
Forward activity
Results from the drilling during 2011 and early 2012 have returned intercepts showing multiple zones of higher grade mineralisation, including some wider zones (in excess of 10 metres) with grades in excess of 5g/t gold. We are very encouraged by the progress of this programme to date and anticipate expanding the drill programme during 2012 to follow-up the positive results once an initial resource estimate is completed mid-year.
In addition to the Rama Deeps area we are also looking at better delineating more resources on the western edge of the Rama open pit, beneath the current ROM pad position. The opportunity is to expand the Rama open pit to the west by confirming and potentially expanding the resources in this area, which previous broad spaced drilling has shown the potential for 100-200Koz of mineable material.
Nyabirama drill location plan showing 2011/2012 completed drilling (blue) and planned holes (green) for the 2012 programme targeting resources west of the current planned stage 4 open pit design
Nyabirama schematic cross section 8425mE showing recent results from infill drilling targeting underground resources
Nyabirama schematic cross section 8500mE showing recent results from driilling targeting open pit and underground resources below the current stage 3 and stage 4 pit designs