Alpha: Ground Geophysical Surveys Define Multiple New Targets at Aburna Gold Prospect
Alpha: Ground Geophysical Surveys Define
Multiple New Targets at Aburna Gold Prospect
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 2, 2023) -
Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:
ALEX) ("Alpha"
or the
"Company")
announces an exploration update over the 100% owned, 771km
2
Kerkasha Project located in southern Eritrea. Recent exploration has focused on the Company's district
scale, orogenic Aburna Gold Prospect.
Following completion of separate 5km x 2km GAIP (Gradient Array Induced Polarization) and ground
magnetic surveys in March to July this year, as well as 4,356m of trenching at the Aburna Gold Prospect,
the Company has defined four primary targets covering >5km of strike. These include ("Target 1"), a
large 2km long chargeability target and separate 400m diameter ground magnetic target, modelled to
be an intrusive and potential porphyry at depth (Figure 2b, 2c). The GAIP survey has also established
other new, priority targets including a 2km combined chargeability and resistivity anomaly ("Target 2")
1km east of existing drilling at Northeast Area prospect (Figure 1).
Separately, the completion of 19 additional trenches by the Company since March this year has
confirmed a new trend of mineralisation directly north of the Northeast Area prospect which also
coincides with a 1km long, linear chargeability target ("Target 3"). Significant mineralisation has now
been intersected in trenching over a strike of >1km on the Northeast Area prospect (Figure 4).
Highlights
10km
2
GAIP and ground magnetic surveys completed across Aburna Gold Prospect
Ground magnetics detect 400m diameter, potential intrusive/porphyry in Central Area beneath
existing drilling
GAIP identifies multiple, large chargeability and resistivity targets close to existing drilling and
trenching targets
4 new GAIP targets identified with >5km of strike to be drill tested
Trenching results define 1km strike extension to Northeast Area prospect
Drilling of priority GAIP + ground magnetics targets expected to recommence in Q4 2023
Michael Hopley, Alpha President & CEO said "I am pleased to report results from the recently
completed GAIP and ground magnetics surveys at Aburna which covered all six main prospects
across the 7.2km x 2km gold in soil anomaly.
We believe that these results further underscore the district scale footprint of Aburna and
clearly demonstrate the potential to both significantly extend gold mineralisation defined from
current drilling, and to test multiple new priority targets. In particular, the team is highly
encouraged by a new 2km long chargeability target which runs from the Aburna colonial gold
mine through to Hill 52, as well as a separate major magnetic anomaly at Central Area,
interpreted to be a potential porphyry at depth and modelled to be at least 400m in diameter
(Figure 2b, 2c). Previous drilling at Central Area by Alpha has repeatedly hit mineralisation
including 18m @ 2.27 g/t Au (ABR031) from 38m, and 34m @ 1.5 g/t Au (ABR064) from 130m,
but was not deep enough to intersect the modelled intrusive / porphyry body. This makes this a
particularly compelling drill target to test in the upcoming drill program, expected to start later
this year.
The Company is also pleased to report the results from 4,356m of trenching which have defined
a new target at the Northeast Area prospect. We look forward to keeping shareholders updated
with progress which includes the remaining drill results from recent drilling completed at
Aburna."
Figure 1. Aburna licence - overview of key targets identified from GAIP + ground magnetics
survey
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_d4ef99c814914a2a_001full.jpg
An updated version of the Company's presentation is available here:
https://alpha-exploration.com/wp-
content/uploads/2023/09/Alpha-Exploration-Presentation-October-2023.pdf
Summary of new priority geophysics targets:
Target 1: >2km long GAIP target
Extends from the area of colonial gold workings in the south of licence through to existing Hill 52
and Central Area prospects (Figure 2a)
Existing drilling close to northern boundary of target includes ABR005: 15 m @ 5.9 g/t Au from 6 m
& ABR018: 28 m @ 3.7 g/t Au from 50 m. Also coincides with major >100 ppb Au soil anomaly
target (Figure 2a)
Northeast extent of Target 1 coincides with major ground magnetic anomaly at Central Area where
recent drilling has intersected wide areas of mineralisation including ABR064: 34 m @ 1.5 g/t Au
from 38 m and ABR031: 18m @ 2.27 g/t Au from 130m (Figure 2b, 2c)
Central Area magnetic anomaly interpreted to be an intrusive and potential porphyry target (Figure
2b, 2c)
Target 1 GAIP anomaly is related to major granodiorite/ mafic contact which is known to be a
priority source of mineralisation at Aburna and other orogenic gold systems (Figure 1)
Figure 2a. Target 1: 2km long chargeability target directly south east of existing drilling and
trenching and separate 400m diameter ground magnetics target
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_alpha_figure2a.png
Target 1: Central Area prospect and deep magnetic feature (potential porphyry) with existing
drill traces above in blue. 3D model (Fig. 2b) & NW-SE section (Fig. 2c)
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_target2.jpg
Target 2: > 1.25km GAIP target
NE orientated major chargeability high and equivalent resistivity low extending for >1.25km in
strike (Figure 3)
Target 2 lies southeast of existing mineralisation that includes ABR037: 16m @ 14.07 g/t Au from
14m and ABR044: 13m @ 4.24 g/t Au from 120m.
Figure 3. Target 2: >1.25km Combined IP chargeability & resistivity anomaly relative to historic
drilling and trenching
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_alpha_figure3.png
Target 3: 1km long + >500m long chargeability targets directly east of "Northeast Area" drilling
NE striking chargeability target > 500m long and separate 1km long NNE striking structural target
(Figure 4)
Potential of >500m long chargeability target confirmed from recent drilling (ABR069: 6m@ 5 g/t Au
from 90m) and prior trenching at southern end of anomaly (ABCHAN012: 8m @ 2.2 g/t Au)
Additional 1km long structural target within >100 ppb Au soil anomaly and recent trenching
including 8m @1.79 g.t Au and 17m @ 1.03 g/t Au from trenches ABTRCH063 and ABTRCH065
respectively and as described below (Figure 4)
Figure 4. Target 3: chargeability targets north and east of existing Northeast Area prospect
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_alpha_figure4.png
Target 4: 1km structural target directly north east of Celebration Hill prospect
Target lies along strike and directly east of prior drilling at Celebration Hill where prior drilling
includes ABR008: 14m @ 3.8 g/t Au from 49m and ABR027: 26m @ 1.4 g/t Au from 126m (Figure
5)
Numerous mapped colonial era workings and extensive soil anomaly >100 ppb Au
Major contact between granodiorite and mafic volcaniclastic unit which is a priority mineralisation
target on Aburna and other orogenic gold systems
Figure 5. Target 4: 1km long structural target NE of existing Celebration Hill prospect
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8361/182604_alpha_figure5.png
Trenching results confirm 500m strike extension to Northeast Area prospect
Since March 2023, 19 additional trenches for 4,356 samples have been completed at Aburna in a third
phase of trenching on the project to test extensions to mineralisation seen at Northeast Area and the
Dasharna prospects. Significant gold mineralized has been intersected in trenches ABTRCH062,
ABTRCH063 and ABTRCH065, to the northwest of the Dasharna prospect.
Further trenching undertaken southwest of the Hill 52 prospect and northeast of the Northeast Area
prospect has revealed well developed carbonate alteration within sheared meta-basaltic lithologies with
abundant discordant, barren quartz veins; that is considered to be a favourable host rock for gold
mineralization at Aburna and is typical of the upper portions of the Aburna gold-mineralized orogenic
system and may therefore justify deeper drilling in these areas.
Significant intervals from recent trenching are presented in Table 1. Both ABTRCH063 and
ABTRCH065 resulted in mineralised intervals of 8m @1.79 g/t Au and 17m @ 1.03 g/t Au, respectively.
ABTRCH065 was a replicate trench excavated 100m northeast of ABTRCH063 and approximately
500m northeast of recent scout drilling (results pending) which is approximately 500m northeast of our
earlier drilling at the Northeast prospect. These results suggest there may be over 1000m of mineralized
strike length in the Northeast prospect.
Table 1: Mineralised intervals from Alpha's third phase of trenching at Aburna.
Trench ID
Prospect
Significant interval
ABTRCH057
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH058
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH059
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH060
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH061
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH062
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH063
North East
8m @ 1.79g/t Au
ABTRCH064
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH065
North East
17m @ 1.03 g/t Au
ABTRCH066
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH067
Hill-52 Area
No significant return
ABTRCH068
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH069
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH070
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH071
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH072
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH073
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH074
Dasharna
No significant return
ABTRCH075
Dasharna
No significant return
Note: To qualify as a 'significant exploration interval', the mineralised interval must comprise at least three, 1-meter samples in length, starting
and ending with >0.125 gpt Au and contain no more than three samples in a row of <0.125 gpt Au. At this early stage of exploration, the true width of
the mineralization is uncertain, but it is estimated to be 70% to 80% of reported intervals.
For more details, see Alpha news releases dated June
27, 2022, September 14, 2022, November 24, 2022, and May 24, 2023.
Ground Gradient Array Induced Polarisation ("GAIP") Study & Ground Magnetic Survey
Induced Polarization (IP) is a geophysical method which indirectly measures the chargeability of the
subsurface.
Measuring the decaying voltage as a function of time after an injection of a direct current, it
is possible to calculate the apparent chargeability.
Many metals or sulfides have high chargeability while
dry, unmineralized igneous/metamorphic rocks tend to have a very low chargeability.
The GAIP survey was completed between June and July 2023 and covered an area of 5km x 2km
comprising all of the 6 key prospects defined to date at Aburna. Data was collected along survey lines
spaced at 80m with reading stations spaced at 20m within 10, 1km x 1km blocks. The survey was
undertaken by Géophysique TMC from Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada and utilised a GDD 5kW transmitter
and two Elrec Pro 10-channel receivers. Data processing and modelling was undertaken by Southern
Geoscience of Perth, Australia.
Ground magnetic surveys are used to measure small variations in the Earth's magnetic field produced by
shallow sources under the ground. The magnetic properties of ferrous objects, or naturally occurring
materials such as ore bodies allows them to be detected and mapped by magnetic surveys.
The ground magnetics survey covered an area of 5km by 2km and was completed between March and
June 2023 by Alpha's technical team using a Geometrics G858 & G857 magnetometers and Emlid
Reach2+ DGPS base station. Data processing and modelling was undertaken by Southern Geoscience
of Perth, Australia.
Sampling, Sub-sampling and Analysis
Alpha engaged an independent Consultancy, RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration (RSC) to develop a
Standard Operating Procedure ("SOP") for trench and channel sampling in June 2021 and all the
trenching and channel sampling results in this release used the RSC SOP. The RSC SOP utilizes blank
standards and industry standards that are inserted at the beginning and end of every batch (and every 20
samples within the batch) for all batches submitted to ALS for assay. Channel samples were taken by
Alpha field crews by clearing the shallow colluvial material from the surface with picks and shovels to
reach bedrock and then rock-chipped channel samples in 1-meter continuous intervals. Trench samples
were taken in the same manner from the bottom of trenches dug by a mechanical digger generally to a
depth of about 2 meters.
Samples were crushed (to 90% passing 2.8 mm) and pulverised (to 85% passing 75 μm). Two scoop
samples were taken from the pulveriser bowl: approximately 120 g for laboratory analysis and
approximately 100 g for portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis. The coarse and pulp rejects were
stored at a warehouse in Asmara. The Company inserted certified reference material from OREAS
(www.ore.com.au) into the sample stream, while Nabro inserted barren granodiorite material into the
sample stream as a blank. Samples were shipped to ALS Geochemistry (ALS), Loughrea, Ireland, for
analysis. ALS analysed all drill samples for gold by method Au-AA26 (50 g charge fire assay, AAS
finish). ALS is independent of the Company and its quality management systems framework is
accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 or certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
About Alpha
Alpha (TSXV: ALEX) is an exploration company that is rapidly advancing a number of important gold
and base metal discoveries across its 100% owned, large (771 km
2
) Kerkasha Project in Eritrea.
The Aburna Gold Prospect is an exciting new gold discovery where recent drilling has established a
high-grade discovery with grades including 16m @ 14.07g/t Au and 23m @ 6.74 g/t Au. The Anagulu
Gold-Copper Prospect includes recent drilling intersections of 108m @ 1.24 g/t Au & 0.60% Cu & and
49m @ 2.42 g/t Au & 1.10% Cu within a major porphyry unit mapped over at least 2km.
The Company
has also advanced the Tolegimja VMS Copper-Zinc-Gold Prospect and over 17 other gold prospects
since listing in 2021.
The Company is managed by a group of highly experienced and successful professionals with long track
records of establishing, building and successfully exiting a number of world class gold and base metals
discoveries in Eritrea and across the wider Arabian Nubian Shield.
For further information go to the Alpha webpage at
www.alpha-exploration.com
or contact:
Michael Hopley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Exploration Ltd.
Email:
Tel: +44 207 129 1148
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this press release, including the results of the Aburna drill
program and how these results relate to the ongoing exploration at the Kerkasha Project has been
reviewed, verified, and approved by Michael Hopley, President, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha and a
"qualified person" for the purposes of national Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects.
Cautionary Notes
This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to
United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts,
contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to
statements or information with respect to future dataset interpretations, sampling, plans for its projects
(including the Anagulu prospect), surveys related to Alpha's assets, and the Company's drilling
program. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use
of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may"
or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are
intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. With respect to forward-looking
statements and information contained herein, Alpha has made numerous assumptions including
among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions and the price of
gold and other minerals. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Although management of Alpha believes that the assumptions made and the expectations
represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements
and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or
industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward looking statements or information. These factors include, but
are not limited to: risks relating to Alpha's financing efforts; risks associated with the business of Alpha
given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally;
the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in
interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering
assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and
resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or
processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability
of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals,
industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and
environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest;
changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws
(including regulations respecting mining concessions); risks related to the direct and indirect impact
of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to
obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to exploration activities; those factors
discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus; and other risk factors as detailed
from time to time. Alpha does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.