Alphamin Resources ‘s next phase of diamond drilling has commenced on the Gecomines target area of the Bisie prospect, North Kivu province, east-central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Initially one drill rig will test mineralization over a strike length of 275 metres down to a vertical depth of 200 metres. A second rig is expected on-site during the second quarter. The Gecomines and Golgotha areas of the site were both extensively mined by artisanal miners up to 2010 and Aphamin started systematic exploration of the area in the second half of last year. The second phase infill drilling program of 23 drill holes for 3,000 metres has been designed to follow up on excellent initial tin results at Gecomines, with grades of up to in excess of 6% Sn reported.
The Bisie project is located in the Walikale district of North Kivu province, DRC, and is held by Alphamin’s 100%-owned Mining and Processing Congo SPRL (MPC). MPC holds a total of five tenements covering an area of 1,470 square kilometres with significant tin, gold and base metal potential. The Bisie prospect was the DRC’s largest producer of tin ore for a number of years and accounted for up to 75% of the country’s tin output. Mineralization at Bisie is from surface on a ridge which lies at least 200 metres above the surrounding countryside and therefore highly amenable to open-cut mining. This mineralization is open at depths below 150 metres.
