News release: Mandorin commences drilling on Tafuna Hill
Mandorin Goldfields Inc MGD
Shares issued 28,273,547 Nov 23 close $0.03
Wed 24 Nov 99 News Release
Mr. Malcolm Stevens reports
The company has commenced gold exploration and drilling on Tafuna Hill in
Zimbabwe.
Joint venture activity
Exploration work has commenced and is being conducted by the recently
formed joint venture with Independence Gold Mining Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd.
(Indepgold), the Zimbabwe gold mining subsidiary of Lonmin plc. Definitive
joint venture documentation is being finalized following the signing of a
heads of agreement on Oct. 19, 1999. Indepgold owns and operates seven gold
mines within Zimbabwe including the Shamva mine five kilometres away from
the joint venture's high-priority exploration target area of Tafuna Hill.
A joint venture management committee has been formed to oversee the
exploration project, primarily targeting gold mineralization within EPO's
1080 and 1072 and the associated mining claims.
History
A large number of adits, shafts and other openings cover much of the
14-square-kilometre area of Tafuna Hill. Over the last 100 years numerous
mines have independently declared a cumulative recorded production of
approximately 7.5 tonnes of gold at an average recovered grade of 13 grams
per tonne.
Consolidation of mining titles
Importantly the joint venture now controls 39 mineral claims within Tafuna
Hill. These claims cover many of the former individual mines and adjacent
areas. This consolidation of claims allows, for the first time in the
history of Zimbabwe, a systematic gold exploration program to be
undertaken.
Bulk testing
It is the intention of Mandorin and Indepgold to identify ore of sufficient
grade and suitable metallurgical properties for processing at the Shamva
plant. In locations where exposed reefs are possible centres for early
production, bulk samples are being obtained for initial metallurgical
trials. An initial trial production run of approximately 1,000 tonnes is
programmed for processing in the near future through one of the existing
plants operated by Indepgold.
Initial drilling program
On Tafuna Hill there are sufficient drill targets already evaluated to
warrant an early reverse circulation drilling program of 600 metres. The
aim of the drilling program is to test the possible expectations of known
reefs, exposed in underground workings. This is expected to be completed
prior to Christmas 1999.
Ongoing exploration
On Tafuna Hill the current program is concentrating on accessing as many of
the known former, and a number of more recently discovered, producing reefs
on Tafuna Hill, for mapping, resampling and assay.
Available airborne geophysical data, magnetics and radiometrics, obtained
from a survey undertaken in early 1999, will be evaluated and a systematic
ground follow-up mapping and sampling program will result.
Early in the new year (2000) the joint venture expects to have a large
number of targets adequately defined in preparation for further drilling.
Outside Tafuna Hill, but within EPO's 1072 and 1080, further geophysical
interpretation of the available data should be completed prior to Christmas
1999. This will be followed up with ground surveys within the Leviathan
(EPO 1080) and Button's area (EPO 1072). Two former small mines, Bob's and
the Red Dragon, are programmed for mapping and sampling prior to Christmas
1999.
As results are obtained they will be announced.
EPO 1073
The company is reassessing its joint venture arrangements with Globemin
Resources Inc., in light of encouraging discussions with another interested
party.
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