The project
The East Zone Extension has been the focus of our near-mine expansion activity at Tulawaka. The objective: to identify and delineate additional high-grade gold reserves and resources below the current East Zone underground infrastructure, with the main aim of extending the life of the Tulawaka mine.
The opportunity
Our exploration drilling has continued to extend the high-grade mineralised shoots below the 7 Level resource we had previously defined, indicating potential to extend the mine life further. Overall, our drilling programmes indicate that existing mineralised zones continue to at least 150 metres below the floor of Tulawaka’s now-completed open pit.
Longitudinal Section of 2011 UG drilling (red) and planned 2011/2012 UG drilling (blue), and selected intersections from the 3rd Quarter, 2011
Forward activity
We are continuing with drilling programmes, aiming to extend known high-grade zones for a further 100-200 metres below currently defined depths. We can then consider the possibility of a significant expansion to add further reserves and extend the mine life. Almost entirely, this would be an underground operation.