Caracal Gold has discovered a new high-grade zone above the current underground workings and the areas drilled as part of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on the Kilimapesa Hill deposit.
The East African gold producer already controls over 1,300,000oz of JORC-compliant gold resources.
It said the discovery is projected to allow for about 360 tpd of high-grade material, with average grades from 3.31 g/t to 4.74 g/t, to be processed.
A mining plan confirming 90 days of high-grade material has been prepared and is being actioned, with exploration to define the full potential of the high-grade zone underway.
"The Caracal and Kilimapesa exploration teams have always believed that significant high-grade zones exist within the Kilimapesa Hill deposit,” said company chief executive Robbie McCrae.
“As we open and expand the open cast mining pits, to support the expansion project, we expect to find more of these zones. The potential size of this high-grade zone is encouraging and is further confirmation and validation of our understanding of the Kilimapesa Hill deposit and our development strategy. We have had a plan to expand the MRE on the Kilimapesa Hill deposit.”
He said the plan includes additional drilling along strike and at depth.
The drilling strategy also includes the optimisation and expansion of the current milling plant alongside the development of a 65,000tpm heap leach facility and these will get the company to the 24,000oz per annum target.
Mining started on the zone early this month and 360tpd is being processed through the milling plant.
Current recoveries are 75% and plant availability is over 85%.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
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