JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Shanta Gold completed a second round of drilling as part of its ongoing exploration programme in and around its flagship asset, the New Luika gold mine, in the Lupa goldfield, in south-west Tanzania.
Following the “encouraging” Phase 1 drilling programme at the Ilunga mineralised prospect, about 2.5 km north-east of the New Luika central processing facility, the Phase 2 outcomes also showed promise for the region.
In an update to shareholders, the East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer said the Phase 2 upgrade drilling programme, comprising 20 drill holes in total, intersected visually distinctive and encouraging mineralised zones confirming the continuity of Ilunga both along strike and at depth.
“Phase 2 has primarily targeted the strike extension of Ilunga to the west, reaching about 300 m down-dip and a vertical depth in excess of 200 m. A prior resource (2015) of 74 000 oz – indicated and inferred – incorporated the top 100 m down-dip from surface,” said Shanta CEO Toby Bradbury.
The results from Phase 1 and Phase 2 would be incorporated into the existing model and a new resource estimate produced.