お知らせ • Apr 10
Starcore International Mines Ltd. Updates on Exploration At Kimoukro Gold Project in Cote D'ivoire - Soil Geochem and Auger Drilling Campaign
Starcore International Mines Ltd. announced results of the auger drilling soil sampling, and soil Geochem follow-up, on its Kimoukro gold project, in the central Ivory Coast, some 30 km south of the country's capital, Yamoussoukro. The field activities completed in 2024 include: Installation of the main camp and opening of a private access road stretching 3.5 km from the paved road A4 near the village of Kimoukro, into the permit boundary. Hole-dipole Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey, and ground magnetic survey, for a total of 55 line-kilometres, spaced 100 m apart and oriented N 110, covering a surface of 5.5 km2. A 3000 m auger drilling campaign in saprolite and soil, covering the untested areas in the central part of the permit; auger drilling was carried out essentially over the lines opened for the IP survey, avoiding the artisanal mining zone where, access was not possible for adverse terrain. Presentation of the auger drilling exploration results. The auger drilling campaign was completed in November 2024 using the local contractor, Geo-Explo Services SARL. The program was designed to confirm the previously identified topsoil gold anomaly and to test the remaining central part of the project, where alluvial clay cover returned barren samples in surface. This auger drilling campaign is a first-pass exploration in the full soil profile, following historic surface sampling over a 25x25 m soil sampling grid in the mineralised area, while the surface sampling grid remained first-pass, 200 x 200 m, in barren surface samples. A total of 355 holes were drilled with auger on a 100x100 m grid, amounting to 2,988 meters of drilling. Site preparation, carried out with the assistance of local labourrers, spanned one month. Drilling commenced in late August and concluded in late November, with a one-month suspension from October 4th to November 4th due to heavy rainfall. Two drilling rigs were employed: a motorized, trail-mounted rig with. a 2.5 m column height and a 16 cm auger diameter, used for most holes. A lightweight, manually operated rig was used for drilling in rugged terrain, particularly near artisanal mining areas. Phase 2 to phase 3 drilling continued mostly in alluvial cover, in the central and western parts of the permit. Drilling restarted after the rainy season with phase 4, approaching the area of active artisanal mineworks, which was tested with portable auger due to ground conditions. Phase 5 included infill of an unsampled area, to complete the c.a 3000 m program. Some areas remain untested between the blocks of phase 1, 2 and 5. Except for weather conditions and problematic access in the days right after rain, the drilling continued with no major issues during the 35 days of effective drilling. A corresponding tag was inserted into the sample bag, and an additional tag was retained as a reference in the sampling matrix for future verification. At the end of each hole, at least one picture was taken at the spot, with coordinates, hole name and sample interval. This was in order to have proof of evidence, but more importantly, to introduce best practice operational procedures. A sample number is left every 40 samples, for blank samples or standard sample (CRM). At the end of the working day, all the samples were transported with a motor tricycle and stored in the village, at the place of the geology team. Auger drilling was not conducted within the artisanal mining area due to unfavourable ground conditions (bump terrain, frequent open holes together with water and mud ponds). However, the area was encompassed within the survey, confirming and expanding the previously defined in-soil gold anomaly greater than 50 ppb Au; peak values where of 1.7 ppm Au in saprock, 0.7 ppm Au in sa Prolite, and 0.53 ppm Au in residualite. Based on the assay results from auger and surface soil samples, an updated delineation of the gold anomaly in the overburden has been compiled. The in the overburden has be compiled. The in the over Bology field work continued with reconnaissance mapping and geochemical soil sampling, an updated delineation of reconnaissance mapping and geochemical soil samples continued with reconnaissance mapping and geophysical soil sampling, aiming to cover the assay results from auger drilling program continued with reconnaissance mapping and geology field work continued with manual auger drilling program continued with manual auger drilling, aiming to cover, the ongoing activities continued with manual auger drilling continued with reconnaissance mapping and geochemistry continued with reconnaissance mapping and ge geochemical soil sampling, aiming to cover, aiming to cover, the remaining area of the assay results of the ongoing activities continued with reconnaissance mapping and geologic soil sampling, targeting the assay results from auger drill drill drill drill results from auger drilling program continues with manual auger drilling, the ongoing activities continued.