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afrol News, 1 October - Follow- up drilling for gold and diamonds in Senegal's Bambadji zone so far have proven disappointing. The Canadian IAMGOLD Corporation reports of several smaller discoveries of both minerals, but not in sufficient concentrations to consider mining in the area. According to an exploration update published by IAMGOLD yesterday, drilling operations on the company's Bambadji permits in eastern Senegal however are rapidly progressing. Although no major discoveries have been made, the promising geochemical anomalies will be further investigated. A drill program consisting of a total of 1,716 metres of diamond drilling, 1,693 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling and 3,283 metres of rotary air blast (RAB) drilling was completed between May and July, IAMGOLD reports. At the GF target, which had not been drill-tested previously, two fence-lines were drilled in order to test a 200 metre-wide by 1.5 kilometre-long soil geochemical anomaly. The northern fence-line had "intersected good mineralisation in two adjacent holes, as well as anomalous values in the adjacent holes." In one hole, a 14 metre intersection averaged 3.6 gram gold per metric ton (g/t Au). The adjacent drill whole intersected 14 metre averaging 2.7g/t Au. Most zones of the fence-lines however had less than 1.0g/t Au. These long geochemical anomalies would "require further drilling," IAMGOLD announced. The Boto 2 target, also never previously drilled, consists of a 750 metre-long area of high geochemical gold values. Both drill fence-lines intersected gold mineralisation; the highest section tested here averaging 11.1g/t Au. Other sections had far lower values, though, so also this zone would "require follow-up drilling," the company's statement reads. Two fence-lines of drill holes as well as diamond drilling (166 metres) were further completed across the Bandiasse prospect on the BA anomaly. This anomaly had first been first defined by soil geochemistry over which trenching was done. Most trenches had low average values, but grab samples from various sub-outcrops in the area ranged up to 34g/t Au. There was however no intersections that correlated well with the good trench results. "Further field examination of the prospect" were to be made. Drilling was undertaken on "various other targets without encouraging results," IAMGOLD says. The testing at Boto 5, the prospect, which had provided the best drill results in previous campaigns, showed "no significant mineralisation." - Due to mechanical problems, several programmes could not be completed by the onset of the rainy season in July 2002, IAMGOLD reports. The outstanding drilling was to be resumed as soon as conditions permit, probably in November.
Sources: Based on Iamgold and afrol archives
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