A continued exploration programme
has further defined the geology of the
Tolukuma vein system, verified the
resource indicated by Newmont, and
identified potential for additional
mineralisation. The resource at
Tolukuma Hill, designated as Zone C, is
a measured 440,000t @ 17g/t Au and
46g/t Ag with an additional indicated
resource of 120,000t @ 16g/t Au. A
diatreme breccia localised at an
intersection of structures, and a
relationship of gold to base metal
sulphides, are highly indicative of a
porphyry association. Typical epi-
thermal features such as crustiform
banded quartz and quartz pseudomorphing.
platy calcite are also present and
locally contain lesser gold mineral-
isation. Pre-existing dilatant
structures have acted as a host to the
ore fluids, resulting in the formation
of the semi-continuous Tolukuma-Gulbadi
veins over a 1100m strike. A fluid flow
model suggests that mineralising fluids
were sourced from the diatreme margins
and migrated laterally along dilatant
structures. Bonanza gold grades are
derived through fluid quenching in the
flexure between a hanging wall split
which hosts much of the Tolukuma Hill
resource and the feeder graben
structure. Thus, the relationship
between the pre-mineral structural
geometry and fluid upflow at the
margins of a diatreme breccia, controls
the ore setting. Potential for more ore
remains within the Gufinis and the 120
veins as well as in the outlying
Prospects.