New Mineral Resource Estimate Of 645,000 Ounces In Russia
Trans-Siberian Gold plc (AIM:TSG) has updated the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Asacha Gold Mine in Kamchatka, Far East Russia.
The Total Mineral Resource Estimate (Measured + Indicated + Inferred) has increased to 645,000 oz Au as at December 31, 2020
This equates to a 43% increase in Asacha’s overall gold resource inventory, with 61% of the Mineral Resources in the Measured and Indicated category.
Chief Operating Officer, Eugene Antonov, said the purpose of the updated MRE is to incorporate new data available from exploration drilling and mining development, and to account for mining depletion. The results of 99 drillholes for 30,524m and 1,338 channel samples over 3,034m were added to the database since the previous resource estimation.
The modelling approach and parameters used by SRK for the new MRE model were generally similar to the approach and parameters used for preparing the previous MRE.
“I am delighted to report a significant upgrade to the resources at our flagship Asacha Gold Mine following a successful drilling campaign,” Mr Antonov said.
“Our resource base has increased significantly in quantity and confidence category levels extending the life of mine at Asacha.”
The previous Mineral Resource Estimate for the Main Zone had a total of 89,000 oz in Measured and Inferred. Although mining depletion in the last eight months of 2020 is estimated to have removed 25,000 t of in situ mineralisation, at 11 g/t for 9,000 oz Au, after this depletion the Main Zone Measured and Indicated in the new estimate now contains 93,000 oz of Au.
The increase has occurred because the new channel samples included in the update are, on average, higher grade than the block estimates in the corresponding areas of the previous model.
None of the new core drilling information affects the Mineral Resource estimate for the Main Zone.
East Zone Vein 25 North
From this estimation update, the major increase to the Asacha Mineral Resources comes from the extension of the main Vein 25 North domain up to 100m down dip, and up to 200m along strike to the north.
The new drilling shows a 150m gap in the Vein 25 North mineralisation, from approximately 55570N to 55720N. North of this gap, SRK modelled a mineralised domain (V25 North E) based on four holes from TSG’s two northernmost lines of drilling. Therefore, potential remains for Vein 25 to continue northward along strike
The infill and extension drilling of Vein 25 North has also defined two minor domains (V25 North B and D), approximately parallel and to the east of the main mineralisation. These secondary domains were not modelled as part of the previous Mineral Resource estimate.
East Zone Vein 25 South
The new drilling has not extended the Vein 25 South domains, but the new channel sampling within these domains has significantly increased the average grade and defined a small new domain (Vein 25 South C). The previous model contained 93,000 oz in Indicated and Inferred (no Measured component), the new model (after mining depletion) has 87,000 oz in Measured, Indicated and Inferred. Vein 25 South mining depletion in 2020 is estimated to be 16,000 t of in situ mineralisation, at 40 g/t, for 21,000 oz Au.
East Zone Vein 7 and 8
The infill drilling in the vicinity of these veins has enable the previous interpretation of “Vein 8” and “Vein 8B” domains to be combined into one larger and higher grade “Vein 8” domain. The new Vein 8 domain also includes a substantial component of Indicated Mineral Resources, whereas the two Vein 8 domains in the previous model were both Inferred. The Vein 7 interpretation has not changed from the previous model.
The Group continues to conduct its drilling campaigns. Vein 25 remains open at depth and to the north, while its southern extension has not yet been drilled.
TSG has identified new potential exploration targets at and near the Asacha deposit based on the geophysical anomalies identified in the course of an aeromagnetic survey completed in Q4 2020.
