Hummingbird Resources has nearly completed its $5million drilling and exploration programme for 2020 as it assesses its resources at Yanfolila in southwest Mali.
The gold exploration and development company has drilled more than 21,509 metres this year and completed 95% of the programme.
Hummingbird said that one of its key internal goals this year was to refine further the company’s mine expansion plans and show the potential for increased resources at Yanfolila.
The 2020 programme is focused on identifying high-grade resources at the Komana East Underground (KEUG) deposit, additional open pit oxide resources and reserves at Sanioumale West (SW) and Sanioumale East (SE), and to test new greenfield resource targets within its mining licences and nearby Diaban exploration licence area.
The KEUG 2020 drilling programme is now complete after more than 4,535m were drilled from 14 holes.
The results of hole KEUGDD014, 3.5m at 5.41 grammes per tonne (g/t) gold, showed that mineralisation was still open and increased the potential for further resource.
Completed drilling results from KEUG include 2.5m at 6.16 g/t from 292.6m depth (KEUGDD011B); 3.5m at 5.41 g/t from 195.6m depth (KEUGDD014).
At the SW open pit deposit, 16 km north of the process plant, the drilling campaign has also ended with more than 13,000m drilled as part of the infill and resource expansion programme for the deposit.
Drilling continues at SW with results showing 15m at 18.25 g/t from 16m depth (SNWRC0433), 7m at 9.75 g/t from 68m depth (SNWRC0393), 21m at 3.16 g/t from 24m depth (SNWRC0396), 8m at 7.04 g/t from 23m depth (SNWRC0364), 4m at 13.24 g/t from 25m depth (SNWRC0342), and 29m at 1.77 g/t from 27m depth (SNWRC0350).
Hummingbird said it had 2,000 sample assays still outstanding.
Exploration and mineral resource infill drilling continues at the SE open pit deposit and is expected to be completed by the end of October 2020.
The drilling campaign at the Diaban target remains on hold while Hummingbird focuses on KEUG, SW, and SE.
Chief executive Dan Betts said that the company was encouraged by the results so far at Yanfolila.
“This year’s drilling and exploration programme has seen greenfield targets produce some significant drill intersections which is always exciting for a company but probably most notable are the consistently positive results coming from the Sanioumale drill programme.
“The team are now modelling and developing these results.”
Chief geologist Murray Paterson added that there was potential to extend further beyond the previous drilling limits, and that company was also preparing strategies for the 2021 programme.