Orezone Gold Corp: Positive Results Continue at Bombore With Seven Drills Operating
12.09.2011 | Marketwire
Higher grades and continuity add further confidence to resource growthOTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire - Sept. 12, 2011) - Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE) is pleased to announce additional positive drill results from an ongoing 170,000 m infill and expansion drill program at its 100% owned Bomboré Gold Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Results include 234 reverse circulation (RC) holes (11,942 m) and 43 core holes (6,979 m) from the northern and southern portions of the 11 km long Bomboré resource.
The objectives of the program are to expand and upgrade sulphide resources with core drilling at depth, as well as to upgrade and expand near-surface oxide resources with reverse circulation drilling (RC).
With 60% of the drilling completed to date and 37% of the assays reported, the results indicate success in achieving both objectives with a significant increase in resources and improved project economics expected.
This is the fifth substantial release of drill results from the ongoing program at Bomboré where cumulative results indicate higher grades (+37% in the oxide, +35% in the sulphide) and narrower widths (94% in the oxide, 71% in the sulphide) compared to the October 2010 NI 43-101 compliant resource model (“the 2010 model“) (see Table 1). The average cut grade of the entire database to date, using a lower cutoff of 0.5 g/t and a topcut of 5g/t, is 1.19 g/t. The average cut grade of the current drill program is 1.04 g/t, which although is 36% higher than expected, is lower than the overall average due to a large backlog of leach residue assay results that have not yet been reported from the better grade zones (P8P9). The extensions of the mineralization discovered below the Maga and Siga South pit shells will result in a significant increase in sulphide resources in these areas. Drilling also demonstrates increased continuity between the pit shells that will result in lower open pit mining strip ratios for the oxide zone.
“These drill results continue to increase our confidence in achieving our current resource growth targets, and demonstrate that the mineralization in the Siga South area is robust down to 200 m and remains open below,“ said Ron Little, CEO for Orezone. “We are especially pleased given that the results to date have come from areas of the deposit with the least amount of historical drilling (see maps for Siga South (www.orezone.com), and Siga West and East (www.orezone.com). In contrast, the remaining 70,000 m of drilling from this campaign will occur in the heart of the 2010 model where confidence, grades and continuity have always been highest.“
The drill results and conclusions are preliminary and may be further improved as a significant number of fire assay results for the leach sample residues are still pending. The residue fire assays typically increase the total cut grade by 10%. Table 1 summarizes the above and provides a comparison of the results to date with the 2010 model.
Table 1: Comparison of Current Program with 2010 Resource Model
Total Program Statistics to Date Average
Grade Comparison with 2010
Resource Model
Zone holes meters % Complete Uncut
(g/t) Cut(1)
(g/t) Cut Grade
(g/t) Width
(m)
Maga-RC 50 3,455 17 % 1.37 1.33 117 % 74 %
Maga-DD 50 7,702 38 % 1.19 1.11 131 % 61 %
CFU-DD 4 653 24 % 1.05 1.05
P8P9-RC 66 3,377 0 % 1.04 0.95 149 % 94 %
P17-RC 18 888 100 % 2.09 1.71 209 % 61 %
P17-DD 7 1,095 100 % 2.05 1.73 129 % 102 %
P16-RC 20 1,096 100 % 1.44 1.35 223 % 105 %
P16-DD 7 1,001 100 % 2.51 1.80 252 % 87 %
P11-RC 132 6,771 70 % 0.88 0.88 227 % 146 %
Siga S-RC 208 10,517 100 % 2.27 0.99 143 % 154 %
Siga S-DD 60 9,699 99 % 1.14 1.00 133 % 86 %
Siga W-RC 117 5,901 98 % 0.89 0.87 156 % 72 %
Siga W-DD 7 1,355 16 % 1.06 1.00 140 % 60 %
Siga E-RC 141 7,649 80 % 1.07 0.98 124 % 75 %
Siga E-DD 9 1,221 13 % 0.85 0.85 132 % 36 %
All-RC 752 39,654 47 % 1.49 1.04 137 % 94 %
All-DD 144 22,725 27 % 1.18 1.05 135 % 71 %
Table 2 Breakdown of Drilling Meterage for this Release
Core RC
Zone # of holes m # of holes m
CFU 0 0 0 0
Maga 0 0 0 0
P8P9 0 0 66 3,377
P17 0 0 0 0
P16 0 0 0 0
Siga S 29 4,830 19 950
Siga W 5 928 10 500
Siga E 9 1,221 23 1,201
P11 0 0 116 5,914
Total 43 6,979 234 11,942
(1) Weighted average grade of individual assays cut to 5 g/t
“At Siga South, gold mineralization now displays vertical continuity up to 200 m in the down-dip direction, and remains open at depth on most sections, with a possible shallow northerly plunge,“ added Pascal Marquis, SVP Exploration for Orezone. “Based on the positive results to date, a minimum of an additional 50,000 m of definition drilling is warranted for next year to further expand upon the 2011 resource targets.“
Highlights of the core drilling include 1.36 g/t gold over a 31.5 m length, at a vertical depth of 155 meters (hole BBD0183), and 0.92 g/t gold over a 13.5 m length, at a vertical depth of 195 meters (hole BBD0189). The dip of the mineralized zones is approximately 55 degrees, nearly orthogonal to the core drilling, which means that the true width of the mineralized intervals is > 90% of the core length.
Table 3: Highlights of Core Hole Results for this Release
From To Length Uncut
Grade(2) Cut
Grade(3) Total
Zone Section Hole # (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) Assay(4)
Maga 2975 BBD0144 12.50 17.50 5.00 5.28 2.32
Siga W 11550 BBD0200 149.00 156.50 7.50 1.56 1.56 Pending
Siga W 11550 BBD0220 60.50 72.50 12.00 0.88 0.88 Pending
Siga W 11500 BBD0218 66.00 73.50 7.50 1.52 1.52 Pending
Siga W 11500 BBD0218 137.50 148.00 10.50 1.08 1.08 Pending
Siga W 11500 BBD0219 54.00 63.00 9.00 1.47 1.47 Pending
Siga W 11450 BBD0216 14.00 19.50 5.50 2.16 2.16
Siga W 11450 BBD0216 113.00 129.50 16.50 0.86 0.86 Pending
Siga S 11350 BBD0199 41.00 63.00 22.00 0.89 0.89 Pending
Siga S 11250 BBD0302 56.00 68.00 12.00 1.22 1.22 Pending
Siga S 11250 BBD0302 90.50 108.50 18.00 0.67 0.67 Pending
Siga S 11200 BBD0198 81.50 90.50 9.00 6.53 1.97 Pending
Siga S 11200 BBD0198 99.50 107.00 7.50 1.42 1.42 Pending
Siga S 11150 BBD0197 72.50 92.00 19.50 1.19 1.10 Pending
Siga S 11050 BBD0227 117.50 126.50 9.00 1.15 1.15 Pending
Siga S 11050 BBD0228 165.00 175.50 10.50 1.14 1.14 Pending
Siga S 10950 BBD0224 169.00 181.00 12.00 1.45 1.40 Pending
Siga S 10900 BBD0221 119.00 123.50 4.50 2.56 2.25 Pending
Siga S 10900 BBD0222 158.00 170.00 12.00 3.03 1.83 Pending
Siga S 10850 BBD0196 104.00 116.00 12.00 1.01 1.01 Pending
Siga S 10800 BBD0192 89.00 110.00 21.00 1.35 1.35 Pending
Siga S 10750 BBD0189 251.00 264.50 13.50 0.92 0.92 Pending
Siga S 10700 BBD0185 105.50 129.50 24.00 0.95 0.95 Pending
Siga S 10650 BBD0183 182.00 213.50 31.50 1.36 1.36 Pending
Siga S 10600 BBD0175 1.50 15.00 13.50 1.03 1.03
Siga S 10600 BBD0177 3.50 8.50 5.00 5.62 3.28
Siga S 10600 BBD0178 155.00 191.50 36.50 0.85 0.85 Pending
Siga S 10550 BBD0173 27.50 36.00 8.50 1.76 1.76
Siga S 10500 BBD0168 6.00 25.50 19.50 2.22 1.86
Siga S 10500 BBD0169 46.00 65.00 19.00 1.09 1.09
Siga S 10200 BBD0161 30.00 40.00 10.00 2.81 1.52
(2) Weighted average grade of uncut individual assays
(3) Weighted average grade of individual assays cut to 5 g/t
(4) Composite width and grade are preliminary where fire assay residue results are pending
RC drilling on the Siga E - P11 zones indicates good continuity within the Siga E 2010 Whittle pit shells, and better than expected continuity in the northern part of the P11 zone and southern part of the P8P9 zone.
The RC drill holes confirm the continuity of the mineralized zones in the near-surface oxide material. These results complement RC results reported in May for Siga West and Siga South that indicated the cut grades (top cut of 5 g/t) are higher than expected, with widths better than those expected in the model in the Siga South zone and narrower than expected in the Siga West zone.
Highlights from the latest RC drilling include 25.0 m @ 1.69 g/t gold (hole BBC2045), and 23.0 m @ 1.19 g/t gold (hole BBC1862).
Table 4: Highlights of RC Results for this Release
From To Length Uncut Grade(5) Cut Grade(6) Total
Zone Section Hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) Assay(7)
P11 50050 BBC1875 5.00 20.00 15.00 0.78 0.78 Pending
P11 48950 BBC1836 40.00 48.00 8.00 1.27 1.27 Pending
P11 48900 BBC1831 6.00 15.00 9.00 1.85 1.75 Pending
P11 48200 BBC1862 6.00 29.00 23.00 1.19 1.19 Pending
P8P9 900 BBC1934 33.00 40.00 7.00 1.96 1.70 Pending
P8P9 800 BBC2045 11.00 36.00 25.00 1.83 1.69 Pending
P8P9 750 BBC2037 2.00 8.00 6.00 2.87 1.74 Pending
P8P9 750 BBC2037 24.00 41.00 17.00 0.72 0.72 Pending
P8P9 750 BBC2038 8.00 14.00 6.00 2.09 1.85 Pending
Siga E 12600 BBC1703 15.00 29.00 14.00 0.95 0.95
Siga E 12550 BBC1699 12.00 30.00 18.00 0.70 0.70
Siga E 12550 BBC1701 9.00 20.00 11.00 1.15 1.15
Siga E 12500 BBC1695 1.00 5.00 4.00 4.31 2.87
Siga E 12450 BBC1690 11.00 37.00 26.00 0.73 0.73
Siga E 12450 BBC1691 2.00 14.00 12.00 1.14 1.14
Siga E 12450 BBC1691 23.00 40.00 17.00 1.14 1.14
Siga E 12400 BBC1689 0.00 26.00 26.00 1.40 1.40
Siga E 12350 BBC1688 24.00 34.00 10.00 1.06 1.06
Siga E 12050 BBC1626 23.00 34.00 11.00 6.35 1.85
Siga E 12050 BBC1627 0.00 15.00 15.00 1.35 1.35
Siga E 12050 BBC1627 37.00 50.00 13.00 0.84 0.84
Siga E 12000 BBC1629 31.00 37.00 6.00 2.13 2.13
Siga E 12000 BBC1630 0.00 14.00 14.00 1.77 1.77
Siga E 12000 BBC1651 34.00 54.00 20.00 0.80 0.80
Siga E 11900 BBC1640 38.00 46.00 8.00 1.37 1.37
Siga E 11850 BBC1646 22.00 35.00 13.00 1.38 1.19
Siga E 11450 BBC1673 30.00 47.00 17.00 0.80 0.80
Siga W 12450 BBC1582 16.00 24.00 8.00 3.12 1.63
Siga W 12300 BBC1606 27.00 37.00 10.00 1.54 1.54
Siga S 11250 BBC1789 25.00 41.00 16.00 0.92 0.92 Pending
Siga S 11100 BBC1480 12.00 24.00 12.00 0.85 0.85
Siga S 11100 BBC1481 28.00 42.00 14.00 0.78 0.78
Siga S 10550 BBC1425 6.00 46.00 40.00 1.51 1.48
Siga S 10550 BBC1426 5.00 20.00 15.00 1.31 1.31
Siga S 10500 BBC1419 29.00 47.00 18.00 0.73 0.73
Siga S 10500 BBC1420 5.00 26.00 21.00 1.06 1.06
Siga S 10500 BBC1420 29.00 47.00 18.00 1.34 1.34
Siga S 10500 BBC1747 17.00 45.00 28.00 0.84 0.84
Siga S 10450 BBC1745 6.00 40.00 34.00 1.41 1.41
Siga S 10400 BBC1744 9.00 15.00 6.00 2.22 2.22
Siga S 10350 BBC1742 17.00 34.00 17.00 1.13 1.13
Siga S 9700 BBC1724 34.00 41.00 7.00 1.83 1.82
Siga S 9650 BBC1721 22.00 28.00 6.00 5.66 1.68
(5) Weighted average grade of uncut individual assays
(6) Weighted average grade of individual assays cut to 5 g/t
(7) Composite width and grade are preliminary where fire assay residue results are pending
The mineralized intervals are based on a lower cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t, a minimal width of 3 m and up to a maximum of two consecutive meters of dilution being included. The true width of the mineralization is equal to about 85% of the drill length intervals in Maga, P16 and P17 areas, and to 95% of the drill length intervals in the Siga area. The half-core samples were collected by Orezone employees using a diamond saw. The core samples from the weathered (oxide) zone were prepared by Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex) and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l., and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 1 kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWell™ catalyst. The samples from the fresh or sulphide zone were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l. in Ouagadougou and then split by Orezone to 50 g using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 50 g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex).
The RC drilling samples were divided by Orezone employees using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 2 kg split was prepared by Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex) and SGS Burkina Faso s.a.r.l., and then split by Orezone to 1 kg using RSDs. A 1 kg aliquot was analyzed for leachable gold at BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l in Ouagadougou, by bottle-roll cyanidation using a LeachWell™ catalyst. The leach residues from all samples with a leach grade in excess of 0.2 g/t were prepared by BIGS Global Burkina s.a.r.l. and then split by Orezone to 50 g using Rotary Sample Dividers (RSDs). A 50 g aliquot was analyzed by fire assay at Abilab Burkina s.a.r.l. (a subsidiary of ALS-Chemex).
Orezone employs a rigorous Quality Control Program (QCP) including a minimum of 10% standards, blanks and duplicates. This program was executed under the supervision of Pascal Marquis, SVP Exploration for Orezone, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and approved the technical information in this release. A complete table of results and the NI 43-101 Bomboré Resource Report that describes the Bomboré resource model can be found at
www.orezone.com.
Orezone has now completed 101,842 meters (60%) of the 170,000 m drill program and reported 37% of the assay results received to date. Upon completion of the program and receipt of all results by Q1 2012, a total resource update will be announced in Q2 2012. Drilling has continued through the rainy season with up to seven rigs (five core, two RC) operating. The immediate priorities are to complete the first pass of core drilling for the entire Siga and P11 areas, while the RC program continues at P8/P9. The drilling of newly discovered mineralization that remains open-ended, including both shallow oxide targets and deeper sulphide extensions, is beyond the scope of the 2011 program, and will be a priority for more drilling in 2012. Aside from the drilling, the environmental impact study is well underway along with continued metallurgical and optimization studies. The new camp has been commissioned, and the new access roads are nearly complete and are already being utilized.
About Orezone Gold Corporation
Orezone is a Canadian company with a gold discovery track record of +10 M oz and recent mine development experience in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Bomboré, the Company's 100% owned flagship project, is one of the largest gold deposits in the country and is situated 85 km east of the capital city, adjacent to an international highway. Resources are constrained within optimized open pit shells that span 11 km, and include 1.6 M oz indicated and 1.9 M oz inferred resources with an average drill depth of only 60 meters. The Company is currently completing a $24 M, 170,000 meter drill program to significantly expand resources and support the completion of feasibility studies in 2012. Orezone's goal is to develop Bomboré into a world-class deposit by 2012 and become a mid-tier producer by 2015.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements“ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are frequently characterized by words such as “plan,“ “expect,“ “project,“ “intend,“ “believe,“ “anticipate“, “estimate“ and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may“ or “will“ occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding, among others, the completion of a 170,000m drill program; capital and operating cost estimates; gold production for the project; completion of a feasibility study in 2012; completion of a resource update in early 2012; commencement of production at the Bomboré Project; and completion of metallurgical testing and social impact studies.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS are based on certain assumptions, the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, the ability of contracted parties (including laboratories and drill companies to provide services as contracted); uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Comparisons between any resource model or estimates with the subsequent drill results are preliminary in nature and should not be relied upon as potential qualified changes to any future resource updates or estimates.
Readers are advised that National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators requires that each category of mineral reserves and mineral resources be reported separately. Readers should refer to the annual information form of Orezone for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by Orezone since January 1, 2011 available at www.sedar.com, for this detailed information, which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.
Contact Information
Orezone
Ron Little, CEO
(613) 241 3699 or Toll Free: (888) 673 0663
rlittle@orezone.com
Orezone
Pascal Marquis, SVP Exploration
(613) 241 3699 or Toll Free: (888) 673 0663
pmarquis@orezone.com
www.orezone.com