VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2023
/CNW/ - DFR Gold Inc. (TSXV: DFR) ("DFR" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of a 10,000
metre drilling program (the "Drilling Program") on the Cascades
Project in Burkina Faso,
West Africa as announced on
13 February 2023. The completion of
5,641 metres of reverse circulation drilling represents the latest
part of a longer-term programme to systematically test exploration
targets within the mineralised shear corridor at the Cascades
Project.
Highlights of the recent drilling include:
- 5,641 metres of Reverse Circulation drilled in 57 drillholes at
five target areas
- Two significant new zones confirmed with resource potential
from first pass drilling at Sina Yar and Far East targets
- Intersections at Sina Yar included 34 metres @ 1.83 grammes per
tonne (g/t) of gold in CS23-RC077 from 50-84 metres
- At the Far East target a wide mineralised zone with 48m@
0.42g/t
- Extension of the 2022 discovery zone from step-out drilling at
the TT13 target
John McGloin, CEO of DFR Gold,
stated: "These positive drilling results reinforce the potential
scale of the gold resource at Cascades through the identification
of new zones and further delineation of already identified areas.
We are encouraged by the consistent mineralisation across the
licence area and are undertaking further analysis to determine the
optimal approach for the second phase of drilling."
Background to the Drilling
Programme
The recently completed programme at the Cascades Project is the
first part of a planned two-phase 10,000 metre programme. This
first phase targeted extensions to the current resources and
several new targets (Figure 1):
- Two newly defined targets immediately north and southwest of
the Daramandougou resource pit shell western Zone extension, and
Dara North respectively
- Step-out drilling on the TT13 target, a significant new gold
zone identified during 2022
- First-pass drilling on three other newly delineated targets in
the Wuo Land 2 licence area at Far East, Sina Yar and
TT13-West
Phase two of the Drilling Programme will be a results-driven
follow-on programme targeting the highest priority results from the
first phase.
Drilling Progress
Drilling commenced on 11 February
2023 and concluded on 18 April
2023 with 57 holes drilled for an aggregate of 5,641 metres.
Table 1 shows the planned drilling programme with the proposed
holes and meterage versus actual drilling completed. Fire
assay results have been received while Bottle Roll analysis results
are awaited.
Drilling Results
Sina Yar
Ten drillholes were drilled for an aggregate of 903 metres.
Significant mineralisation was intersected in each hole drilled. In
particular, three consecutive holes testing 250m metres of strike length of the main
north-south trending structure in metasediments intersected
significant widths of mineralisation as follows:
CS23-RC077 50-84 metres, 34 metres @ 1.83g/t
and
CS23-RC077 23-29 metres 6 metres @ 1.14 g/t and
CS23-RC078 53-71 metres, 18 metres @ 1.13g/t and
CS23-RC078 74-78 metres, 4 metres @ 1.25g/t and
CS23-RC078 88-96 metres, 8 metres @ 1.64g/t and
CS23-RC078 103-113 metres, 10 metres @ 1.02g/t
CS23-RC079 50-78 metres, 28 metres @ 0.53g/t
Target Area
|
Target description
|
Holes
targeted
|
Metres
targeted
|
Holes
drilled
|
Metres
drilled
|
Dara North
|
chargeability/resistivity anomaly; artisanal
workings; proximity to resource; further along
strike potential to north
|
8
|
640
|
8
|
809
|
Western Zone
Extn (incl NPG
targets)
|
chargeability/resistivity anomaly; no artisanal
workings; extension of resource structure
|
10
|
1,440
|
13
|
1,398
|
TT13
Step-Out
|
Tested by first pass
drilling; aim to demonstrate
continuity over 500 strike length;
|
9
|
720
|
10
|
872
|
TT13-West
|
Newly opened artisanal
zone 800 metres west
of TT13 discovery; already 500 metres long but
along strike potential to north; could be skinny
|
6
|
600
|
5
|
546
|
Sina Yar
|
Intensive artisanal
workings; broad area of
shallow pits but drilling focus on line/s deeper
pits into bedrock; geochemical anomaly
|
8
|
640
|
9
|
903
|
Far East-N
|
artisanal workings;
support from rock grab
samples; geophysics ambiguous
|
5
|
400
|
5
|
501
|
Far East-S
|
artisanal workings;
support from rock grab
samples; geophysics ambiguous
|
7
|
560
|
7
|
612
|
TOTAL
|
|
53
|
5,000
|
57
|
5,641
|
Table 1 Details of
the recently completed drilling programme at the Cascades Gold
Project
|
The mineralisation is hosted by narrow quartz veins within a
north-south trending mineralised envelope hosted by a banded
greywacke and sandstone metasedimentary sequence. Sina Yar is
currently the target of significant artisanal mining
activity. Mineralisation appears open to the north of the
drill tested area. In the more southerly holes mineralisation was
weaker and patchier although artisanal activity remains
intense. A highly altered felsitic intrusion has been mapped
towards the southern end of the Sina Yar workings, similar in the
intrusions mapped at both the Daramandougou and Wuo Ne mineral
resource areas. Follow-up drilling is planned at Sina Yar,
starting with stepping out to the north of CS23-RC077.
Far East
The three northernmost holes at the Far East target appear to have
snagged a significant zone of mineralisation albeit at so far
lowish grade. Significant intersections included hole CS23-RC066
32-60 metres, 28 metres @ 0.56g/t.
Although the intersections are low grade, historical drilling by
High River Gold intersected a number of high grade intercepts
nearby and grab samples by DFR in 2022 returned grades up to 9.3g/t
in quartz veins being exploited by artisanal miners. The
mineralisation appears to be open north of CS23-RC066 and the
current orpaillage appears to extend at least 250 metres (and
likely 450 metres) further north of CS23-RC066.
TT13 target
The TT-13 target was tested by DFR with a first pass drilling
programme of 9 holes in July 2022. A
1,800 metre strike length of intermittent mineralisation has been
delineated from field mapping and drone surveys. The zone is
characterised by near continuous artisanal workings at
surface. The 2022 drilling here delineated a 300 metre strike
length with significant mineralisation in three holes for example
CS22-RC029 27-36m, 9 metres @ 1.0g/t
plus 56-66m, 10 metres @ 1.81g/t. The
current campaign targeted the northerly and southerly extensions of
the zone. Mineralisation is somewhat patchy but several holes
intersected significant mineralisation which extends the zone. For
example, hole CS23-RC098, collared 370 metres north of CS22-RC029,
returned 8 metres @ 1.21g/t (30-38 metres) plus 4 metres @ 1.81g/t
(63-67 metres).
TT-13 West target
In the first pass drilling at the newly delineated TT-13 West
target five easterly inclined holes targeted a vertical shear zone
in a new orpaillage area 800 metres west of the TT13 target. The
artisans are targeting an array of thin, reportedly high grade,
quartz veins in metasediment but mineralisation intersected was
patchy. Highest grade intersected in the drilling was CS23-RC086,
61-62 metres downhole, 1 metre @11.6g/t gold. The broadest
intercept was in CS23-RC088 63-78 metres, 15 metres @ 0.88g/t.
Western Zone SW-Extension and Dara North targets
Drilling at the Dara North and at the Southwestern Extension of the
Western Zone was targeted primarily at combined
resistivity/chargeability geophysics anomalies and at each target
significant mineralisation was not intersected over mineable
widths. At Dara North a pervasive linear zone of artisanal mining
confirms the northerly extension of Western Zone mineralisation
from the main Daramandougou artisanal area. However, the
mineralised zone thus far appears to be quite thin and relatively
patchy within the 750 metres of strike length tested.
Note on the laboratory
assays
All assays referenced here are for Fire Assay analyses performed
by SGS Laboratories in Ouagadougou. All samples reported here
were either one-metre primary samples or composites of three
one-metre primary samples. Splits (3kg) of one-metre primary
samples from selected mineralised intersections have been prepared
for "Leachwell" Bottle Roll. Experience from comparisons between
fire assay and bottle roll analyses from previous drilling
programmes at the Cascades Project points to a likely small
percentage increase in grade for bottle rolls versus fire
assays.
This drilling report will be updated when all of the Bottle Roll
analysis results have been received.
Artisanal Miners
The Company was notified of a recent accident involving
unlicensed artisanal miners in which a ground collapse resulted in
fatalities at a location within the 304km2 exploration
licence area of the Company's Cascades Project. There has been no
licenced mining activity within the Company's exploration area in
recent years and none of the Company's staff were present in the
area when the accident occurred. DFR has offered its support to the
relevant authorities in their investigation of this tragic
incident.
David J Reading, M.Sc., FIMM, Fellow SEG, a director of DFR and
a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 has prepared or
supervised the preparation of, or approved, as applicable, the
technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Reading
has over 40 years' experience in the mining industry covering all
stages of mine development, including exploration, feasibility,
financing, construction and operations. He has an MSc in Economic
Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and
Mining and of the Society of Economic Geologists.
Notes to Editors:
DFR Gold is a TSX Venture Exchange listed exploration and mine
development company focused on gold in West Africa. DFR Gold holds interests in a
portfolio of West African gold exploration projects including the
highly prospective Cascades gold project ("Cascades") in
Burkina Faso. Cascades has a
Mineral Resource* prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 comprising
5.41 million tonnes of indicated resources at an average grade of
1.52g/t Au for a total 264,000 ounces of gold: and 6.93 million
tonnes of inferred resources at an average grade 1.67g/t Au for a
total of 371,000 ounces of gold. Please see the Company's technical
report titled "Amended and Re-stated Technical Report on the Labola
Project Burkina Faso" dated April 2,
2022, with an effective date of April
20, 2022 for further information regarding Cascades. This
report can be located at www.dfrgold.com.
In Madagascar, DFR Gold has an
advanced high grade hard rock zircon exploration prospect located
in the west of the country, approximately 220km east of the port of
Maintirano and close to a state road. DFR Gold acquired Beravina
from Pala Investments and Austral Resources in 2016.
Website: www.dfrgold.com
The Company's public documents may be accessed at
www.sedar.com
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Additional Mineral Resource Estimate Disclosures
- *Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have
demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources
may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal,
marketing, or other relevant issues. The Mineral Resources in this
note were reported using CIM (2014) Standards on Mineral Resources
and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines and adopted by CIM
Council.
- The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this
estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient
exploration to define this Inferred Resource as an Indicated or
Measured Mineral Resource. It is uncertain if further exploration
will result in upgrading the Inferred Resource to an Indicated or
Measured Mineral Resource category.
- The Mineral Resource has been constrained by an open pit
evaluation using a gold price of US$1900 per ounce, and then reported at a cut-off
of 0.5 g/t Au.
- Contained metal and tonnes figures in totals may differ due to
rounding.
Forward-Looking
Statements:
This release contains certain "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
All statements other than statements of historical fact in this
release that address activities, events or developments that DFR
Gold expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking
statements in this news release include statements regarding the
Debenture Offering and the completion thereof; and the intended use
of proceeds of the Debenture Offering. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words
such as "aim", "aspire", "strive", "will", "expect", "intend",
"plan", "believe" or similar expressions as they relate to DFR
Gold. Forward- looking information is subject to a variety of risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to
materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking
information.
There are a number of important factors that could cause DFR
Gold's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or
implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors
include, among others: the ability to obtain requisite regulatory
approvals; the ability to finance the drilling campaign; commodity
prices; the gold exploration and mining industry in general; the
potential impact of the announcement on relationships; including
with regulatory bodies, employees; suppliers, customers and
competitors; changes in general economic, business and political
conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in
applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government
regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or
other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the
forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual
results may vary materially from those described herein as
intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or
expected.
DFR Gold cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is
not exhaustive. When relying on DFR Gold's forward-looking
statements and information to make decisions, shareholders should
carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties
and potential events. DFR Gold has assumed that the material
factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such
forward looking statements and information to differ materially
from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors
is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no
assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of
such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in
this release represents the expectations of DFR Gold as of the date
of this release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such
date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking
information and should not rely upon this information as of any
other date. While DFR Gold may elect to, it does not undertake to
update this information at any particular time except as required
in accordance with applicable laws.
SOURCE DFR Gold Inc. (formerly Diamond Fields Resources
Inc.)