Oriole Resources plc announced that a 10,000 metre air core (AC) drilling programme has been completed on schedule at the Senala gold project in Senegal.
The AC drilling, conducted by joint venture partner IAMGOLD, aims to define better the geochemical footprint of gold mineralisation at the Faré prospect. Results are due during the first quarter of 2021.
Historical drilling has returned best results of 20m grading 31.13 g/t gold including 10m grading 60.98 g/t gold from reverse circulation (RC) drilling, and 59.60m grading 2.20 g/t gold and 49.50m grading 1.75 g/t gold from diamond drilling.
Oriole added that, subject to the AC drill results, IAMGOLD planned a further 5,000m follow-up RC drilling and 1,000m diamond drilling to test mineralised intervals previously identified by Stratex International during November 2020.
IAMGOLD is currently in the third year of its earn-in to an initial 51% interest in Senala and, under the terms of the option agreement, must spend a further $1 million by the end of February 2021 to keep the option in good standing.
In Cameroon, Oriole expects first results from its maiden diamond drilling programme at the Bibemi project during Q1 and Q2. The total planned programme now stands at 28 holes for 3,080m and will focus on testing the depth extension of surface gold mineralisation identified at four main prospects – Bakassi Zone 1 , Bakassi Zone 2 , Lawa West and Lawa East – over an 8.3km system.
Best results from work completed to date include up to 135.40 g/t gold from selective rock-chip sampling from November 2018, and 9m grading 3.14 g/t gold from trench sampling in May 2019. Completion of the drilling programme at Bibemi will see Oriole satisfy conditions to earn a 90% interest in Bibemi and the nearby Wapouzé project.
At Wapouzé, pilot trenching is underway to test key gold-in-soil anomalies identified from previous soil sampling campaigns. Sampling and detailed mapping are also being conducted and, subject to results, the drill rig might be moved to test targets at Wapouzé following the programme at Bibemi.
Oriole is still awaiting approval for eight new licences in central Cameroon, as well as the final results in Djibouti from Thani Stratex Djibouti, in which Oriole has an 11.80% interest, of its Phase 1 programme at the Hesdaba project. bit.ly/39CMagU
Oriole operates in West Africa and is focused on the early stages of exploration in Cameroon (Bibemi and Wapouzé projects) and the more advanced Senala gold project in Senegal, where IAMGOLD has the option to spend $8 million to earn a 70% interest. Year two commitments have been met at all three projects. Oriole also has several interests and royalties in companies throughout Africa and Turkey that could deliver future cash flow, and it continues to assess new opportunities in both regions.