Wia Gold Limited (ASX: WIA) has identified high-grade intercepts in assay results from the first three diamond drill holes at the Kokoseb project in Namibia.
Holes KDD001, KDD002 and KDD008 have confirmed the outstanding opportunity of this large-scale anomaly.
Results include 17.4m at 2.70 g/t Au, 4.8m at 4.38 g/t Au, 27m at 1.67 g/t Au and 19.9m at 1.47 g/t Au.
The diamond drilling programme consisted of 12 holes, with results of the remaining nine holes expected in July. In addition, assay results from the last trenches returned pleasing grades and results from remaining infill soil sampling grids extended the anomaly and together with the results of diamond drilling, establish Kokoseb as a significant gold discovery.
The company now plans to undertake a systematic 20,000m reverse circulation drilling programme, with the first drill rig to mobilise later this month.
“We are delighted with these results from our maiden diamond drilling program at Kokoseb, which have defined a significant new gold discovery in Namibia and demonstrate the large-scale opportunity at Kokoseb,” Chairman, Andrew Pardey, said.
“Not only does Kokoseb have scale, as shown by the most recent soil sampling results and by the in-situ mineralisation intersected in trenches, it also hosts high-grade mineralisation, with all three diamond drillholes returning high-grade gold intercepts.
“Our progress at Kokoseb, which has been one of progressive acceleration, now has significant momentum, with a 20,000 metre reverse circulation drilling program and further follow up programs to commence shortly.”
A series of highly significant gold intercepts from first three diamond drill holes Assay results have been received from the first three diamond drillholes – KDD001, KDD002, which are both on the same section and KDD008, which is located 1.3km NE of KDD001 and KDD002.
The first section drilled at Kokoseb includes two drillholes, KD001 and KD002 which returned the following significant intercepts:
· KDD001 17.4m at 2.70 g/t Au from 49m, including 5.2m at 5.91 g/t Au
· KDD002 12.2m at 1.09 g/t Au from 89.1m 3.2m at 2.49 g/t Au from 104.5m 4.8m at 4.38 g/t Au from 110.9m 2.7m at 2.37 g/t Au from 122.9m
The holes were drilled under Trenches 1 and 2, from which significant intercepts of 8m at 1.03 g/t Au and 3m at 1.03 g/t Au were previously reported.
The mineralised zone was not completely intersected at surface in the trenches (mineralisation stops at the end of Trench 1) and has a true width ranging between 14 and 27m intersected in the drilling. Gold grades are also significantly higher in the fresh rock in the drillholes than in the oxidised rock at surface on the section.
This scenario, considered to be a result of the weathering process, is expected to occur beneath other trenches at Kokoseb and demonstrates that the grade of the underlaying fresh rocks can be significantly higher than grades at surface.
Significant intercepts from a third hole – KDD008 – include:
· KDD008 3.8m at 0.79 g/t Au from 19.6m 3m at 1.30 g/t Au from 30m 27m at 1.67 g/t Au from 36.5m, including 8.5m at 2.44 g/t Au 2.8m at 0.83 g/t Au from 70m 7.1m at 1.35 g/t Au from 75.3m 4.6m at 1.50 g/t Au from 86.7m 19.9m at 1.47 g/t Au from 131m 7.7m at 1.27 g/t Au from 155.7m KDD008 was drilled under Trench 5, which previously returned the best surface intercepts, including 52m at 1.65 g/t Au, 6m at 1.14 g/t Au and 10m at 1.05 g/t Au.
For this reason, this drillhole samples were prioritised at the laboratory. The mineralised zone intersected in Trench 5 can be directly correlated to the upper set of intercepts in KDD008, which has a true width estimate of 73m.
Both the lower set of intercepts, 19.9m at 1.47 g/t Au and 7.7m at 1.27 g/t Au are hosted by a different structure that appears to have a flatter dip, inferred to be 35° from the correlations with drillhole KDDD012, located on the same section. Results for KDD012 are pending.
Next steps
The immediate next step at Kokoseb is the commencement of a systematic 20,000m reverse circulation drilling programme, with the first drill rig planned to mobilise towards the end of June.
Two additional programmes are planned in June, including the selection of samples for preliminary metallurgical testwork, the results of which are expected towards the end of July and a selection of samples for thin section and polished section work, in order to further the Company’s understanding of the mineralisation style and the occurrence of gold.
For further information please visit: https://wiagold.com.au/
