Had been expecting a resource upgrade to a higher figure than this, but there is going to be a further upgrade before the end of the year.
RNS Number : 9847I
Goldstone Resources Ltd
01 August 2012
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GoldStone Resources Limited
("GoldStone" or the "Company")
UPDATED RESOURCE AT HOMASE/AKROKERRI
UPDATE OF THE JORC COMPLIANT GOLD RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR THE HOMASE/AKROKERRI PROJECT, ASHANTI GOLD BELT, GHANA
The directors of GoldStone are pleased to announce that the Company has received an updated mineral resource estimation ("the Estimate") which is compliant with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of Australasia (JORC) reporting code, for the Company's Homase/Akrokerri project.
Highlights:
· Homase/Akrokerri gold resource increased to 502,000 ounces
· Overall gold grade increased from 1.42 g/t to 1.74 g/t
· Additional resource update expected based on results of 20 drill holes under the Homase/Akrokerri resource
Hendrik Schloemann, GoldStone's Exploration Director, commented: "We are particularly pleased that the overall grade increased from 1.42 g/t to 1.74 g/t gold and are encouraged to raise the resource above the 500,000 ounce mark. We are also optimistic about the potential for an additional resource update based on 20 completed drill holes not included in this update."
The Homase/Akrokerri gold resource, which was updated using results from 23 drill holes completed between June 2011 and March 2012, is 8.99 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.74 g/t gold, containing 502,000 ounces of gold. The Estimate has been compiled by SEMS Exploration Services Limited, an independent West African based firm of consulting geologists, engineers and surveyors. Results of the Estimate, for which a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold was applied, are summarised below:
MINERAL RESOURCE BY CATEGORY
CATEGORY
TONNAGE
GRADE
CONTAINED GOLD
Tonnes (million)
(Au g/t)
Ounces
Measured
1.55
2.26
113,000
Indicated
4.17
1.75
234,000
Measured & Indicated
5.72
1.89
347,000
Inferred
3.27
1.47
155,000
Total
8.99
1.74
502,000
MINERAL RESOURCE BY MATERIAL
CATEGORY
TONNAGE
GRADE
CONTAINED GOLD
Tonnes (million)
(Au g/t)
Ounces
Oxide
2.39
1.27
98,000
Fresh Rock
6.60
1.90
404,000
Total
8.99
1.74
502,000
FURTHER MINERAL RESOURCE AND EXPLORATION POTENTIAL
The Estimate is based on results from 23 drill holes drilled in the Homase licence area which intersected mineralisation along a strike length of 640 metres under the northern half of the Homase open pit, where the previously known high grade shoot is located. In addition to these drill holes the Company has completed a further 20 drill holes aimed at depth extensions of the Homase/Akrokerri mineral resource and covering an additional 1,600 metres of strike length. The results from these drill holes will be the subject of a further mineral resource upgrade if they are positive.
Various gold prospects within the permit area add substantial exploration upside to the project and will be investigated for their resource potential. Gold in soil anomalies indicate that potential exists for mineralisation to extend north and south along strike of the Homase/Akrokerri mineral resource. The potential of the mineralisation at Adubrim, a prospect associated with a structure that runs parallel to the extent of the existing resource, will also be investigated. The geometry of the Akrokerri quartz vein system, from which 75,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 24 g/t were mined by colonial miners, is presently being assessed by the Company's geologists to determine if the vein system has economic potential. Structurally interesting targets such as the Esuoyao adits in the north-eastern portion of the Homase permit and others in the south-eastern corner of the Akrokerri permit which appear to lie on the same structural trend as the 42 Moz Obuasi gold mine are also prioritised for follow-up. Additional exploration targets may also become apparent when the results of the recently completed VTEM survey are interpreted.
COMPETENT PERSON
The updated Estimate is based on drilling data and exploration work undertaken by previous explorers, drilling data from 23 drill holes drilled by GoldStone between June 2011 and March 2012 and an in depth knowledge gained by the authors of the Estimate. The authors of the report are Messrs Simon Meadows Smith, Andrew Netherwood and Joe Amanor of SEMS Exploration Services Limited, West Africa. Mr Meadows Smith has more than twenty years' experience in the mineral exploration and mining industry in Australia and Africa and was Shea Gold's exploration manager when it carried out exploration on the Homase and Akrokerri permits. Mr Amanor has over thirty years' experience in the Ghanaian gold mining industry, part of which he served as Chief Geologist with AngloGold Ashanti ("AGA"). He was directly responsible for Mineral Resource estimations on all AGA projects in Ghana. Andrew Netherwood is an experienced Mining Engineer.
BACKGROUND TO THE HOMASE AND AKROKERRI PERMITS
The Estimate is attributable to the Homase licence area only which GoldStone holds in joint venture with Cherry Hill Mining Company Ltd, a Ghanaian company. In terms of the joint venture the Company currently owns 65% and has the right to earn 85% through the completion of a feasibility study of any nature. The Minerals Commission of Ghana granted an extension of the Homase Prospecting Licence to Cherry Hill on 1 June 2011. The Company lodged an application in April 2012 for the extension of the prospecting licence, which expired on 28 July 2012. The extension is expected to be granted shortly by the Minerals Commission of Ghana.
The holder of the Akrokerri Permit is GoldStone Akrokerri Ltd ("GoldStone Akrokerri") (previously known as Pan African Resources Ghana Ltd) in which the Company currently holds a 95.1% interest. The Akrokerri Permit was renewed on 12 May 2011 for a 12 month period. The Company has applied for an extension of the permit, which is expected to be granted shortly.
The interest the Company holds in each licence is subject to a 10% free carried interest in favour of the Government of Ghana, which will become effective once a Mining Lease is granted.
APPROVAL
Dr. Hendrik Schloemann, who holds a PhD in geology, has reviewed and approved the geological content of this announcement other than the remarks regarding the resource estimate.
In addition, the technical content of this announcement in so far as it relates to the resource estimate has been reviewed by Mr. Simon Meadows Smith, Managing Director of SEMS Exploration Services Limited, which is a West African based firm of consulting geologists, engineers and surveyors. Mr. Meadows Smith is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), holds a degree in geology and has over twenty years' experience working in the Pre-Cambrian terrains of West Africa and Western Australia primarily in the exploration for gold.
Enquiries:
GoldStone Resources Limited
+27 21 551 9009
Jurie Wessels
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