West African gold explorer Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR, OTC:GMRMF) has started a 5,000-metre aircore drilling program to test promising new prospects at the flagship Kada Gold Project in Guinea.
Field mapping and sampling have revealed new targets for exploration with recent results of up to 9.8 g/t gold returned in grab samples at the Sounkou prospect while samples from the Nounkoun prospect have returned up to 3.03 g/t.
Sounkou is about 13 kilometres southwest of the 930,000-ounce mineral resource estimate (MRE) at Massan and Nounkoun is along the main Kada-Siguiri structural trend, 8.5 kilometres due south of the Massan MRE area, with both in the Bamfele permit.
Both prospects have had no previous sub-surface exploration and will be targeted in the aircore drilling.
“Very encouraging geology”
Golden Rim’s managing director Tim Strong said: "After comprehensive mapping of the greater Kada and Bamfele permits, Golden Rim is very excited to commence aircore drilling on some promising new prospects.
“Both the Sounkou and Nounkoun prospects have returned high-grade rock chip samples and display some very encouraging geology.
Sample BFL21518 from outcrop that assayed 9.83 g/t gold at the Soubkou prospect.
"Aircore drilling aims to quickly investigate the mineralisation potential and provide the Kada project with additional zones to grow the project pipeline, testing targets including Sounkou and Nounkoun, as we work to build on our 930,000-ounce gold resource.
“We look forward to results from this program in addition to those from our RC and diamond drilling programs which we expect over the next few months.”
Gold in samples
At Sounkou, a river channel has exposed outcropping bedrock, which is characterised by iron-rich quartz veining hosted by felsic dykes.
These dykes often display a very high abundance of tourmaline, which is generally associated with areas of elevated gold grades in the Massan prospect.
Recent rock sampling in the area has yielded multiple samples of anomalous gold, with grades up to 9.8 g/t gold.
The Nounkoun prospect contains an abundance of tourmaline-rich volcanic breccias excavated by artisanal mining from a possible paleochannel. Samples of these breccias have yielded up to 3.03 g/t gold.
Aircore program
Aircore drilling will be conducted on 250-metre spaced lines, aiming to identify potential bedrock mineralisation within this area.
Golden Rim’s new aircore drilling program will also test geophysical anomalies at Bereko and Massan.
The company expects to receive first results from the program in mid-April.
Diamond drilling is ongoing at Kada with the first results anticipated in early April.