LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 02/04/13 -- Amara Mining plc (formerly Cluff Gold plc)(AIM:AMA)(TSX:AMZ), the dual AIM and TSX-listed West African focused gold mining company, is pleased to announce the results of the final 16 holes of the 106 hole, 2011/2012 sulphide drilling programme at its Yaoure Project in Cote d'Ivoire.
HIGHLIGHTS:
-- All of the 106 holes drilled have encountered mineralisation
-- Drill results to date continue to confirm the potential for a large,
moderate-grade sulphide deposit underlying the previously mined oxide
resources at Yaoure
-- Significant intercepts including:
-- 6.2m at 3.4g/t from 384.0m in hole YDD0071
-- 9.0m at 5.1g/t from 377.0m in hole YDD0102
-- 13.0m at 5.6g/t from 392.0m in hole YDD0110
-- Inferred mineral resource update targeted for Q1 2013
Peter Spivey, Chief Executive Officer of Amara, commented:
"These final drilling results continue to demonstrate Yaoure's potential to become an important part of Amara's portfolio. It is particularly encouraging that all the holes have encountered mineralisation, suggesting we have not yet defined the limits of the deposit and providing scope for further exploration. Work is ongoing on the resource update, which we expect will deliver a significant increase on Yaoure's current resources."
Drilling Programme
The diamond drilling programme at Yaoure concluded in early November 2012, with a total of 23 holes (1,967 metres) drilled in 2011 and a further 83 holes (29,988 metres) drilled in 2012. All 106 holes encountered mineralisation and the results of the final 16 holes, plus the remaining 7 of the 11 deepened holes(i), are reported in the Appendix. A drilling map is available on Amara's website at http://www.amaramining.com/Operations/Yaoure.
In line with the previously reported drilling results, these latest results continue to confirm the potential for a large-scale sulphide deposit underlying the previously mined oxide resources at Yaoure. Amara's focus is on the wider, moderate-grade, shallow-dipping zones of mineralisation where continuity is being established. It is expected that the thinner, higher grade sub-vertical cross-cutting veins with frequent visible gold will enhance the overall grade of the orebody.
Amara has now drilled out an area with an across-strike width of 1km targeting both the Yaoure Central and CMA mineralisation on drill fence lines with an average spacing of approximately 160m by 160m. Every hole drilled to date in the current drilling programme at Yaoure has intersected mineralisation. The confirmation of mineralisation in these final holes suggests that the extent of the orebody has not yet been defined. Therefore a key element of Amara's strategy at Yaoure for 2013 is to continue step-out drilling with the intention of understanding the full extent of the mineralisation associated with the Yaoure Central and CMA pits. In addition, in-fill drilling is being conducted to demonstrate the level of continuity of the higher grade intercepts reported.
Amara expects to announce a significant increase on the existing Yaoure Central resource (249,000 ounces - 4.9Mt at 1.6g/t(ii)) in Q1 2013 based on the results of the 2011/2012 drilling campaign.
Metallurgical testwork
Phase one of a metallurgical test campaign to understand the leaching kinetics of the mineralised material at Yaoure has been completed where variability leach and CIL recoveries averaged well in excess of 90%. The results also confirmed the non-refractory nature of the gold mineralisation and will be reported in full with the resource update.
Phase two of the test work, which is designed to identify the optimal processing route, will include tests such as heavy medium separation, gravity, flotation, the effect of grind and simulated heap leach via coarse bottle rolls. This test programme is expected to be completed by the end of May 2013 and the results will be announced thereafter.
This report includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this report, including, without limitation, the positioning of the Company for future success, statements regarding exploration, drilling results, resource calculations and potential future production at Yaoure, and future capital plans and objectives of Amara, are forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Amara's expectations include, among others, the Company's ability to delineate sufficient sulphide resources for the development of a CIL/CIP operation, risks related to international operations, the actual results of current exploration and drilling activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future price of gold. Although Amara has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Amara does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
The diamond drilling programme at Yaoure was undertaken by two independent drilling contractors. Drill cores for assaying were taken at a maximum of two metre intervals, typically one metre, and were cut with a diamond saw with one-half of the core placed in sealed bags. The core samples were sent to the Intertek sample preparation facility in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, prior to fire assay, mainly at Intertek Minerals Ltd in Accra, Ghana, but also at the SGS laboratory in Tarkwa, Ghana). In addition, two batches of samples (two holes) were sent to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, for sample preparation and fire assay. The core samples were crushed down to minus 2 mm, with half the sample then being pulverised down to 85% passing 75 microns, prior to analysis for gold by fire assay using a 50 g sample. As part of the Company's QA/QC procedures, internationally recognised standards, duplicates and blanks were inserted. The laboratories used are independent of the Company.
Peter Brown is a "Qualified Person" within the definition of National Instrument 43-101 and has verified the data disclosed in this release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information contained herein, and reviewed and approved the information contained within this announcement. Dr Brown (MIMMM) is the Group Exploration Manager.
(i) The results of the initial 4 of the 11 deepened holes are set out in the news release entitled "Further Drilling Results from Yaoure Gold Project", dated 03 December 2012
(ii)Encompassed within the 169,000oz (3.4Mt at 1.6g/t) in measured mineral resources and 123,000oz (2.2Mt at 1.7g/t) in indicated mineral resources set out in the Company's 2010 Annual Report. See also the technical report titled, "Technical Review of the Angovia Gold Mine, Mount Yaoure, Cote d'Ivoire" dated 16 October 2008 and filed on SEDAR
APPENDIX: Results of remaining 16 holes, plus 7 deepened holes
BHID From m To m Interval m AU
1
Diamond Drill Holes targeting Yaoure Central mineralisation
YDD0080 83.90 89.00 5.10 1.80
230.00 241.38 11.38 1.42 2
including 230.00 234.00 4.00 1.41
and 238.84 241.38 2.54 4.14
YDD0102 8.00 13.00 5.00 0.61
68.00 71.00 3.00 0.60
78.00 82.00 4.00 0.73
218.20 222.00 3.80 8.53 3
244.00 246.00 2.00 0.86
377.00 386.00 9.00 5.08 3
YDD0103 157.00 162.00 5.00 1.64
179.00 184.00 5.00 1.43 2
278.00 280.00 2.00 13.94
294.00 296.00 2.00 0.63
353.00 357.00 4.00 1.19
YDD0104 23.15 70.00 46.85 0.44 2,5
including 40.00 53.50 13.50 0.91 5
and 67.00 70.00 3.00 0.61 5
101.00 105.40 4.40 1.00
142.90 145.00 2.10 0.49
160.00 162.00 2.00 2.31
369.00 371.00 2.00 0.75
YDD0107 193.00 195.00 2.00 0.71
281.00 285.00 4.00 0.44
YDD0108 314.55 317.00 2.45 0.77
321.00 325.00 4.00 0.67
329.00 332.55 3.55 1.82
368.70 374.00 5.30 1.04
YDD0109 73.00 78.00 5.00 1.07
140.00 142.00 2.00 2.51
240.00 242.00 2.00 1.38
306.00 310.80 4.80 0.60
Deepened Diamond Drill holes targeting Yaoure Central mineralisation
YDD0031 298.00 302.00 4.00 0.40
YDD0037 252.000 255.00 3.00 2.03
350.000 358.00 8.00 0.57
YDD0040 387.00 389.00 2.00 6.28
YDD0042 394.00 398.00 4.00 0.45
415.00 417.00 2.00 2.49
YDD0053 333.00 336.00 3.00 0.57
YDD0071 384.00 390.24 6.24 3.39 3
419.00 422.00 3.00 0.59
429.00 440.00 11.00 0.82
453.00 455.00 2.00 1.26
463.00 465.92 2.92 2.17
YDD0079 583.00 585.50 2.50 7.30
Diamond Drill Holes targeting CMA North & Central mineralisation and Yaoure
Central mineralisation below
YDD0105 183.00 185.00 2.00 0.80
288.00 294.00 6.00 1.75 2
including 288.00 290.00 2.00 3.12
388.00 391.20 3.20 0.72
511.00 513.00 2.00 1.61
527.00 529.00 2.00 0.51
552.00 556.00 4.00 3.32
YDD0110 103.00 105.70 2.70 0.86
265.00 267.00 2.00 0.62
392.00 405.00 13.00 5.59
479.00 483.30 4.30 0.94
Diamond Drill Holes targeting CMA South mineralisation
YDD0089 309.00 313.00 4.00 0.56
YDD0099 219.00 227.00 8.00 1.19
265.00 269.00 4.00 4.34
YDD0111 100.65 102.25 1.60 2.57 4
Diamond Drill Hole targeting new SE-trending zone extending from the
southern end of the CMA Central pit
YDD0112 137.00 139.36 2.36 0.62
149.00 152.00 3.00 1.24
158.00 161.00 3.00 1.83
310.00 318.00 8.00 0.56
390.00 392.00 2.00 0.43
UTM UTM Elevation Azimuth Inclination EOH
BHID East North UTM RL
Diamond Drill Holes targeting Yaoure Central mineralisation
YDD0080 220712.778 776682.971 261.309 270 50 335.28
including
and
YDD0102 221140.979 776483.797 274.923 270 75 422.56
YDD0103 220942.955 776384.394 296.978 270 60 375.37
YDD0104 221312.743 776683.813 284.567 270 60 539.76
including
and
YDD0107 220608.272 777983.011 217.51 270 60 300.40
YDD0108 220807.787 777980.347 226.386 270 60 382.76
YDD0109 220952.156 776784.020 251.248 270 60 353.30
Deepened Diamond Drill holes targeting Yaoure Central mineralisation
YDD0031 220924.914 777583.699 236.527 270 60 310.26
YDD0037 220931.839 777183.726 219.991 270 60 381.57
YDD0040 221037.444 777384.303 249.375 270 60 393.13
YDD0042 221037.933 777184.203 253.236 270 60 432.88
YDD0053 221137.016 777484.458 252.051 270 60 375.83
YDD0071 221324.078 776425.575 274.776 325 60 465.92
YDD0079 221534.409 777486.128 258.831 270 60 594.60
Diamond Drill Holes targeting CMA North & Central mineralisation and Yaoure
Central mineralisation below
YDD0105 221338.583 777782.546 246.535 270 60 572.76
including
YDD0110 221806.510 777684.737 266.918 270 60 530.50
Diamond Drill Holes targeting CMA South mineralisation
YDD0089 221166.723 775834.927 294.825 325 60 381.40
YDD0099 221431.364 776260.727 265.307 325 60 364.69
YDD0111 220735.474 776113.839 308.994 325 45 198.16
Diamond Drill Hole targeting new SE-trending zone extending from the
southern end of the CMA Central pit
YDD0112 221764.030 776586.131 339.171 220 45 421.36
1. Interval lengths are not true widths. Composite intersections are based
on a minimum width of 2m and a cut-off of 0.4g/t gold. Internal dilution
of up to 2.00m at less than 0.4g/t has been allowed for continuity.
2. Aggregated composite intersections in which internal dilution of greater
than 2.00m at less than 0.4g/t has been allowed for continuity.
3. All samples with visible gold or returning greater than 10g/t are being
re-assayed by 500g Metallic Screen Fire Assay (MSFA). Where MSFA is
available, this has been used in the calculation of the intersection
rather than the original 50g Fire Assay, regardless of whether the MSFA
is higher or lower than the original 50g Fire Assay.
4. No intersection greater than 2m. Best intersection in hole shown for
completeness.
5. Intersection in waste at top of hole.
