PROJECTS AND EXPLORATION
SMD ASANTE’S ANSWER
• Location: Ghana
• Phase: Development
• Resource: Gold
A
sante Gold continues to evaluate the Sustainable Mining
by Drilling (SMD) technique for application at its Kubi gold
mine in Ghana.
The Kubi gold mine is 16km south of AngloGold’s Obuasi mine
along the prolific Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana. SMD is a large
bore precision drilling method that enables direct mining of
narrow deposits. The SMD method is being developed and
commercialised by Anaconda Mining, in collaboration with
Memorial University of Newfoundland and utilises technology
proven in other industries.
Anaconda has announced a ’proof of concept’ field trial at one
of their deposits in Newfoundland, targeting to start up in late
August/September with the trial lasting around two months.
“Asante is excited about the potential for this new ‘disruptor’
technology to transform Kubi from a gold deposit to a gold
producer. Like the invention of hydraulic fracking turned
previously uneconomic gas and oil deposits into highly
economic production, so SMD mining has the potential to
unlock major value in the narrow, hard rock mining space. We
will continue to closely monitor developments as they occur,”
says MacQuarrie.
According to Douglas MacQuarrie, president and CEO of Asanti,
the SMD method has many advantages over conventional narrow
underground mining techniques and appears well suited to the
more than five gram per tonne mineralisation at Kubi.
Asante Gold’s Kubi gold mine is about 16km south of AngloGold’s Obuasi
mine.
OKLO CONFIRMS DISCOVERY
• Location: Mali
• Phase: Exploration
• Resource: Gold
N
ew assay results from Oklo Resources’ Kouroufing gold project in west
Mali, has confirmed another discovery.
Kouroufing is about 20km southeast of Oklo Resources’ Dandoko project.
The results, obtained at a site called Kome, confirmed another bedrock gold
discovery within the Kouroufing project. “With several other auger anomalies
pending deeper drill testing, our confidence in the project hosting multiple,
high-grade gold trends is growing by the day," says Simon Taylor, managing
director at Okla.
"Meanwhile, the current drilling programme at Dandoko along the
12km-long gold corridor is continuing to provide the opportunity to further
enhance the company’s already fertile exploration pipeline,” says Taylor.
Oklo Resources has made another significant gold discovery in Mali.
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African Mining September 2019
www. africanmining.co.za