We have invested heavily in Blanket Mine in the last 7 years, including investment in 2023 (which will be continued in 2024) in a new tailings facility with an anticipated life of approximately 14 years, to create a mine infrastructure which can sustain production beyond the current production horizon. The Central Shaft and related infrastructure are vital not only to increase production, but to give us the capacity to re-start exploration with a view to extending the life at Blanket Mine.
“I am delighted with the results of the drilling campaign so far. In particular, the grades are very encouraging when compared to the historically achieved mining grades from Eroica which have been approximately 4-5g/t. Mark Learmonth, Caledonia’s Chief Executive Officer, commented on the initial drilling results: These results, along with the results of further planned exploration, will be reflected in a revised mineral resource statement which will be published in due course. The zone also remains completely open below these intersections.
In addition, the deepest hole drilled in the programme, hole ERC750EX2214, returned strong intersections some 120m vertically beneath the current inferred resource, which returned true widths of 5.78m grading 8.18 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold and 8m grading 7.7g/t gold. Overall, the results confirm the Eroica zone persists to depth as earlier modelled, and, encouragingly, the results indicate that grades and widths are significantly higher than previously thought. This is above the bottom of the new Central Shaft and therefore any resources that are identified in this area will be served by the planned Central Shaft infrastructure.ĭiagram: Vertical Long Section of Blanket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Taken Place Approximately 5,600m of drilling were completed between Januand approximately a further 12,900m are planned for the remainder of 2023.Īt the Eroica zone, drilling from an exploration drive on the 750m level of the mine has focussed mainly on converting inferred resources to indicated resources, in addition to drilling areas outside of inferred resources as the mineralization extends to depth, between 850m and 1150m below surface (see diagram below and Figure 1 in Appendix 1). Following completion of the Central Shaft and related infrastructure, deep level drilling resumed in January 2023 and is currently focussed on the Eroica ore body where a crosscut has been mined to allow optimal access to drill the deeper zones of the steeply-dipping ore body.
The complete drilling results and locations are provided in Appendix 1 belowĭeep level drilling at Blanket Mine was suspended several years ago due to underground logistical constraints and the impact of Covid-19 on contractor operations. Orebody Intersection depth from surface (m) Highlights of the results include: Hole Identifier Initial results indicate that the existing Eroica ore body continues at depth with grades and widths being generally better than expected.
Approximately 5,600 meters (“m”) of drilling have been completed between January 2023 and the end of May 2023. ST HELIER, Jersey, J(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (“Caledonia” or the “Company”) (NYSE AMERICAN, AIM and VFEX: CMCL) is pleased to report encouraging results from the ongoing underground drilling program at Blanket Mine which currently targets depth extensions to the Eroica ore body.
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