(Ecofin Agency) - ASX-listed Resolute Mining has reported new high-grade gold intercepts from an ongoing extension drilling program at its Syama mine, in Mali. The firm told its shareholders that a completely new zone of mineralisation had been identified south of the Syama deposit and the new zone appeared to be separate from the main Syama orebody, minningweekly.com reported.

Resolute’s CEO and MD, John Welborn (picture), said that two of the intersections were quite important as they intersected gold mineralisation at a relatively shallow depth in an area where drilling had never been done. “The results indicate a potential new mineralisation lens which is separate from the main mineralised zone at Syama. We see enormous potential along strike to the south and down dip, and that potential is being confirmed by these and other drill results returned this year,” he said.

The deep drilling program was launched at the end of 2015 aiming to expand the Syama underground resource, and initially expected to be at depth, with most of drilling targeting mineralisation below the existing underground reserve.

The Syama underground mine is expected to have a mine-life of more than 12 years and produce 250,000 ounces of gold per year. Besides this project, Resolute’s other assets in Africa include the Bibiani gold mine in Ghana.

Louis-Nino Kansoun