Avion Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE:AVR)(OTCQX:AVGCF) has announced new drill results for the northern end of the Tabakoto pit where NW-trending mineralized structures have been identified and tested.
This area hosts the NW1 and NW2 cross structures which have been traced for 50 to 125 metres along strike and to approximately 300 metres depth.
Intercept highlights of the NW1 and NW2 zones include the following:
- 12.07 g/t Au over 12.5 metres
- 3.58 g/t Au over 8.6 metres
- 2.89 g/t Au over 6.9 metres
- 5.33 g/t Au over 2.25 metres
The NW1 zone is exposed in the north end of the Tabakoto pit where a channel sample returned 12.4 g/t over 24.4 metres. Drill holes have defined several steep southeast plunging zones. Additional drilling is being carried out to better define the core of these mineralized systems now that the plunge of the zones is defined.
In addition to the NW1 and NW2 zones, numerous other mineralized zones were intersected. Modeling work is in progress to put these other intercepts into context and develop a testable model.
Highlights of these other intercepts are as follows:
- 8.56 g/t Au over 7.5 metres
- 67.71 g/t Au over 3.3 metres
- 24.11 g/t Au over 3.8 metres
- 275.35 g/t Au over 2.0 metres
- 3.16 g/t Au over 12.0 metres
The NW1 and NW2 zones lie along a four kilometre long northerly trend that is cut by both northeast- and northwest-trending cross structures that often host high grade gold mineralization. These structures are the focus of Avion's Tabakoto pit area exploration program and underground mine development at Tabakoto. Exploration in 2010 has focused drilling on seven of these cross-structures, in the immediate Tabakoto pit area. This news release presents the results obtained on the final two structures that were tested. Additional drilling has commenced and will include testing of all seven zones/structures with a continued goal to better define these zones.
John Begeman, Avion's President and CEO, stated: "It is great to see additional high grade intercepts from the Tabakoto pit area. The strongest of these high grade structures will be the early focus of Avion's underground development. It is management's opinion that with the abundance of mineralized structures in the Tabakoto Pit area that more drilling will lead to the definition of more resources which could extend the life of the project."
In 2010, Avion has completed over 453 core and reverse circulation drill holes totaling approximately 58,160 metres of drilling at its Tabakoto and Hounde properties. This work has focused predominantly on the Dioulafoundou, Tabakoto, Djambaye II, Ségala and Vindaloo areas. Drilling has recommenced on the Houndé property, Burkina Faso, which Avion acquired in October, 2010 (See News Releases dated July 5, 2010 and October 7, 2010) with approximately 4,000 metres of further drilling planned. In addition, drilling is planned for the Kofi property, Mali, which Avion is in the process of acquiring (See News Release dated March 31, 2010) and is expected to be finalized soon.
Assays have been capped at 32 g/t Au as per the latest technical report on the Tabakoto deposit. Avion's procedures for handling core have been presented in previous news releases (See for e.g. Avion News Release dated May 13, 2010).
Don Dudek, P.Geo., the Senior Vice President, Exploration of the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this press release.
Source: Avion Gold Corporation