Alphamin Resources Corp. has released a maiden inferred mineral resource at the Gecomines target compliant with the Canadian NI43-101 reporting standard on its wholly owned Bisie tin prospect in east-central Democratic Republic of the Congo . The Gecomines target resource currently comprises 4.0 million tonnes at 3.5 per cent Sn for 141,200 tonnes of contained tin (at a 0.25-per-cent Sn cut-off), with copper, lead, zinc and silver also present.
The initial resource estimate is based on mineralisation between 50 metres and 250 metres below surface, as the top 50 metres had been depleted by previous artisanal workings. Drilling was focused on 400 m of the Gecomines target, which is thought to be a small part of up to four kilometres of mineralisation. The best results were reported from the four deepest holes drilled to date and further exploration and mine development planning will focus on the deeper levels of the deposit.
The company will now continue drilling below the high-grade mineralization intersected at Gecomines to confirm grade trends at depth. The current high-grade inferred mineral resource was greatly influenced by the three deepest holes and a preliminary economic assessment of the project, based on bulk underground mining, will be held back until this is done.
Further drilling will also test the extent of mineralization at the Golgotha target situated 750 m to the south. However Alphamin noted in a statement that work has been delayed by security issues recently: “The company has experienced delays in exploration and drilling since August 2013, when all staff were evacuated due to hostile rebel activities in the immediate surroundings. The company field camp was raided on 9 November 2013 by a group of villagers who caused damage to company equipment and assets. The company will assess the security situation on site, and work will only resume once calm has been restored to the area, and staff can return to the project site safely.”
