Compass Trench Sampling Along the Tarabala Prospect Identifies Several Wide High-grade Mineralized Zones Highest-Grade Interval at Massala; Includes 20 m at 4.13 g/t Au
Compass Trench Sampling Along the Tarabala
Prospect Identifies Several Wide High-grade
Mineralized Zones
Highest-Grade Interval at Massala; Includes 20 m at 4.13 g/t Au
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 13, 2023) -
Compass Gold Corp. (TSXV: CVB)
(Compass
or
the Company)
provides an update on the recent trenching sampling program at the
Tarabala prospect, located on the Company's Sikasso Property in southern Mali (
Figure 1
).
Highlights
Assay results have been received from five trenches, each 5 m deep and totalling 211 m
in length at Tarabala and Massala
Best interval from Massala: 20 m at 4.13 g/t Au, including 4 m @ 19.19 g/t Au (5 m depth)
Widest intercept: 24 m @ 1.24 g/t Au (1 m depth)
Highest-grade interval: 1 m @ 71.60 g/t Au (5 m depth)
Best interval from Tarabala: 12 m at 0.86 g/t Au, including 2 m @ 3.81 g/t Au (5 m depth)
The objective of the trenching program was to test several sections of the 3.5-kilometre Tarabala trend to
determine which sections contain the strongest gold mineralzation, including the best widths and grades,
to support the commencement of a small mining operation. The trenching looked to find gold grades in
the range of 0.8 g/t Au, which are believed to be sufficient to support a small near-surface mining
operation. While the results along the Tarabala section of the trend achieved these objectives, the
trenching at Massala along the northern end of the trend, returned widths and grades that far exceeded
these objectives. Additional trenching is being planned after the rainy season ends in October on two of
the most favourable zones at Massala.
Compass CEO, Larry Phillips
,
said,
"The results from the recent trenching at Massala are extremely
encouraging. The higher-grade intersections indicate that the first small mining operation could be
located at this northern end of the Tarabala trend. With some additional trenching on either side of the
Massala trench (MATR001), we should be able to quantify the tonnage of mineralization before
proceeding with the metallurgical studies to determine recoveries and optimal processing methods."
Dr. Madani Diallo, Director and Country Manager
, added, "These findings
affirm our belief that
several small-scale near-surface gold mines could be developed at Tarabala and Massala. It is
important to note that the mineralization present in the trenches corresponds with mineralization
identified by drilling at depths of over 100 metres. This
suggests that, after near surface mining down to
depths of 20 to 30 metres, there remains the potential to conduct larger scale open pit mining down to
100 metres or more."
Next Steps
The Company is developing a plan and budget to excavate more trenches closer to trench MATR001,
which, of the two trenches at Massala, returned the best grade. Once a budget has been completed,
Management will determine what funding will be required in addition to existing cash, in order to
complete the program. Depending on funding, this work would be initiated in November when the rains
abate. The assay results from that program, combined with the planned metallurgical study, would be
used to perform a resource estimate on the near-surface mineralization and provide relevant and more
detailed information concerning the potential for a near-surface small mining operation at Tarabala.
Figure 1:
Location of Tarabala and Massala prospects where trenching was completed. Additional
artisanal workings along the Tarabala and Massala faults are also displayed.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/180449_bc8555b3a44d3b8e_001full.jpg
Recent Tarabala and Massala Trench Sampling Results
Three trenches (TATR001 to 003) were excavated at the Tarabala prospect to test the surface
expression of a mineralized structure encountered during previous drilling (
see Compass Press release
April 18, 2023
). That drilling intersected gold mineralization over a distance of 1,800 m, with widths up to
25 m, and slighly narrower zones with higher grades, e.g.,
16 m @ 1.51 g/t Au
(SAAC02) and
19 m @
1.68 g/t Au
(SARC022).
Trench
TATR001
was excavated on a plateau 70 m south of the most extensive artisinal gold workings
on property.
The plateau is the result of a hard iron-cemented crust (termed cuirass or hard cap), that
makes artisanal mining very difficult.
Trenches TATR002 and TATR003 were located to the south of the
eroded plateau and excavated in much softer laterite.
Mapping of the walls of
TATR001
indicated the presence of numerous, highly broken-up narrow (1-5 cm)
oxidized quartz veins.
Sampling at depths of 1 and 4 m produced several discrete 1 m intervals,
containing a maximum of 0.54 g/t Au.
Bedrock RC drilling beneath the trench defined a mineralized zone
that contained 25 m @ 0.58 g/t Au (from 67 m, SARC003), which included 3 m @ 1.14 g/t Au, from 75
m.
Trenches
TATR002
and
TATR003
are located 350 m and 400 m, respectively, to the south of
TARR001
.
Due to the abundance of artisanal workings in the area,
TATR003
was offset 50 m to the
south.
The trenches were selected to test the surface expression of a mineralized zone identified by
drilling, including
5 m @ 1.23 g/t Au
(SAAC082).
The results from
TATR002
indicate that mineralization
was encountered at each depth tested (Table 1), and correlated between the depths.
Discrete
mineralized zones varied from
3 m @ 1.77 g/t Au
(5 m depth) to
12 m @ 0.86 g/t Au
(2 m depth).
TATR003
tested mineralization in the hanging wall (to the east) and located three zones 2-3 m wide,
with the best grade being 2 m @ 1.54 g/t Au (5 m depth).
Trench
MATR001
at Massala (Figure 1) was selected to test the surface expression of a mineralized
zone identified by drilling, including
24 m @ 2.35 g/t Au
(SAAC123).
The trench was excavated in
heavily laterized rock, with only a surfical cuirass developed.
Channel samples at depths of 1, 2 and 5 m
were analysed and the results presented in Table 1.
The 1 m depth sample identified gold mineralization
over
24 m @ 1.24 g/t Au
, the 2 m depth sample
18 m @ 1.44 g/t Au
, and the 5 m depth sample
20 m
@ 4.13 g/t Au
(including 1 m @ 71.6 g/t Au), Figure 2.
The sampling is in excellent agreement with the
previous drilling.
MATR002
was excavated 350 m to the south of MATR001, and was designed to test a narrow
mineralized zone intercepted in SAAC235 containing 3 m @ 1.11 g/t Au.
Sampling at a depth of 1 and 4
m over the 29 m length of this trench did not dectect gold grades greater than 0.13 g/t Au.
It is likely that
the trench did not continue far enough eastward to intercept the mineralization.
Figure 2:
Map showing the location of the completed trenches at the Tarabala and Massala prospects.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/180449_bc8555b3a44d3b8e_002full.jpg
Table 1
.
Results of channel sampling from trenches at Massala and Tarabala prospect.
Trench
Level
From (m)
To (m)
1, 2
Interval (m)
Au (g/t)
MATR001
1 m
5
20
15
0.39
MATR001
1 m
24
48
24
1.24
inc.
41
48
7
3.5
inc.
45
46
1
18.4
MATR001
2m
33
51
18
1.44
inc.
41
45
4
3.35
47
51
4
1.96
5m
33
53
20
4.13
inc.
40
53
13
6.23
inc.
41
42
1
71.6
TATR002
1 m
20
29
9
0.48
2 m
16
28
12
0.86
inc.
26
28
2
3.81
3 m
11
18
7
0.51
26
33
7
0.87
4 m
21
27
6
1.36
(still open)
32
34
2
0.72
5 m
15
16
1
1.19
24
27
3
1.77
TATR003
5 m
24
27
3
0.37
32
34
2
0.3
43
45
2
1.54
1
True thicknesses are interpreted as 70-90% of stated intervals.
2
Intervals use a 0.2-gram-per-tonne gold cut-off value.
Figure 3:
Cross section through trench MATR001 at Massala showing the location of the mineralization.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/180449_bc8555b3a44d3b8e_003full.jpg
Technical Details
Both trenches at each of Tarabala and Massala were excavated to a depth of 5 m. Trench lengths varied
from 28 to 50 m at Tarabala, and 29
to 70 m at Massala to account for the width of the mineralization
projected to surface from the previous drilling programs at both prospects. The total length of the
trenches was 211 m. Continuous horizontal channel samples were collected every metre for the length of
the trench. One-metre vertical channel samples were collected from 0 to 5 m depth, at a maximum of 5 m
along the trench. Sometimes the interval was reduced in areas of obvious mineralization characterized
by veining and discolouration.
Some of the samples were merged to produce 2 m wide composites in
areas of enhanced quartz veining in trenches MATR001 and TATR002.
The excavation was performed by a local contractor under the supervision of Compass geologists. All
samples were prepared by Compass staff, and an appropriate number of standards, duplicates and
blanks were submitted and analyzed for gold using cyanide-leach (LeachWELL) analysis at SGS
(Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso).
About Compass Gold Corp.
Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX- V.
Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits
located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in
southern Mali with a combined land holding of 1,173 sq. km. The Sikasso Property is located in the
same region as several multi-million-ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Komana.
The Company's Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the
supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is conducting the current exploration program. They are
examining numerous anomalies first noted in Dr. Archibald's August 2017 "National Instrument 43-101
Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali."
Qualified Person
This news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo,
Compass's Technical Director, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release
under National Instrument 43-101 standards.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities
laws, including statements regarding the Company's planned exploration work and management
appointments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such information.
The statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law.
For further information please contact:
Compass Gold Corporation
Larry Phillips - Pres. & CEO
T: +1 416-596-0996 X 302
Compass Gold Corporation
Greg Taylor - Dir. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
T: +1 416-596-0996 X 301
Website:
www.compassgoldcorp.com
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