DESERT GOLD COMPLETES INITIAL 72 HOLE DRILL PROGRAM Assay Results Expected in the Next Two to Four Weeks
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For Immediate Release
DESERT GOLD COMPLETES INITIAL 72 HOLE DRILL PROGRAM
Assay Results Expected in the Next Two to Four Weeks
Delta, British Columbia, January 29, 20 20. Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (“Desert Gold” or “the
Company”) (TSX.V: DAU, FF: QXR2, OTC: DAUGF) is pleased to announce the completion of a 74-hole
drill program over the Company’s SMSZ Project in Western Mali, near the border with Senegal.
The ~400 km2 SMSZ Project is both named after, and, overlies a 38 km section of the Senegal Mali Shear
Zone (see Figure 1), which is related to 5 large mines located both to the north and south, along strike,
including B2 Gold’s Fekola Mine, Barrick’s Gounkoto and Loulo Mines and AngloGold Ashanti/Iamgold’s
Sadiola and Yatela Mines 1. To the Company’s knowledge, the SMSZ Project is the largest, contiguous,
non-producer land package over this very prospective structural feature.
The drill hole program was completed in e arly January with 74 holes totalling 3,507 metres drilled. All
holes targeted previously untested gold- in-auger anomalies, artisanal open pits, soil anomalies and IP
geophysical anomalies. Two of the 74 holes, totalling 200 metres, were RC (reverse circulation) holes with
the remainder being air core (AC) holes. AC drilling is a cost -effective way to test targets in deeply
weathered terrains. All samples have been in the laboratory for a couple of weeks with assay results starting
to trickle in.
On-going exploration and data review, has resulted in an increase in the number of target areas from 47 to
59 (see Figure 2) and in the adjustment to some of the planned target and work areas.
This program tested targets over target areas 16, 41, 45 and 56 (see Figure 2). All of the holes represent
first pass testing of new targets. Follow -up drilling, at known previously drilled gold zones, material new
discoveries and new targets, is expected to commence in Q1, 2020. A summary of the recently tested target
areas follows:
• Target area 16 –1,200 by 500 metre, laterite covered, gold-in auger targets in an area where three
gold zones are interpreted to intersect.
• Target area 41 – previously untested 2,000 metre by 500 metre area of artisanal open pits to 150
metres long, numerous mine shafts and shallow workings that returned grab samples to 10.5 g/t
gold
• Target area 45 – new, 400 metre by 150 metre artisanal shaft mining area that may represent a bulk
mining-type exploration target.
1 Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the
Company’s SMSZ Property.
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• Target area 56 – new, 3,200 metre long IP chargeability anomaly with both coincident and flanking
resistivity highs. Surface mapping noted abundant quartz veining and hematite-altered rocks.
Jared Scharf, Desert Gold’s CEO comments “It is incredible to see the increasing amounts of target areas,
proximal to the Senegal Mali Shear Zone where it appears that the regional geological environment is right
for the discovery of a large gold deposit. Now that we have started to scratch the surface , I find it hard to
wait for the results from the recent drill holes and want to accelerate the work to test the other targets areas
that have been generated.”
Technical Details
Target area 16 (see Figure 2), is a series of five, interpreted, gold-in auger anomalous trends, with values
to 1,840 ppb gold, that lie over the intersection zone between the northeast-trending Barani East Zone and
the north-northwest trending Barani and Keniegoulou gold Z ones. One of the gold- in-auger anomalies is
approximately 150 metres wide. This area was never adequately tested as it lies under laterite cover. There
is good correlation with drilled mineralization and auger anomalies in this area with an intercept of 1.97 g/t
gold over 7 metres (~90% true width) associated with an auger-in-soil anomaly of 1,020 ppb gold. A total
of 50 AC holes totalling 2,211 metres, were drilled to test the gold-in-auger anomalies.
Target area 41 (see Figure 2) , Soa Prospect area, represents a large, approximately 2,000 metre by 500
metre, area of shallow to deep artisanal mine workings varying from open pits up to 150 metres long to
lines of 10 to 20 metre deep shafts aligned along specific structures, to widespread shallow pits designed to
collect gold in alluvium and shallow laterite cover. The pits and shaft zones, vary from northerly to
northwest-trending with a northeast-trending structural corridor that connects back to the Barani East Zone.
Twenty AC holes totalling 1,000 metres, are p lanned to test some of the more obvious targets that have
never been drilled before. Grab samples from the area, returned up to 10.5 g/t gold. One trench, returned an
interval of 0.89 g/t gold over 28 metres, This trench appears to have been excavated near the intersection
of northerly- and northwest-trending structures; true width is unknown. A total of 18 holes totalling 896
metres tested 6 of >12 target areas.
Target area 45, is a new, 400 metre by 150 metre, area of 2- to 15-metre deep shafts discovered by mapping.
The shafts sometimes appear to follow north - to north- northeast-trending features, but, are quite
widespread, suggesting potential for a bulk tonnage target. Saprolite derived from the mine shafts, suggests
the presence of oxidized s ulphides. Soil anomalies in the area are modest in strength. This target was
initially tested by four AC holes totalling 200 metres.
Target area 56, shows up as a coincident, 3,200-metre long, chargeability high and resistivity flank to high
induced polarization (IP) anomaly. This anomaly lies along the western side of a granodiorite intrusion,
located immediately north of the Barani East Deposit, with the anomaly trend potentially cutting the
southwest extension of the Barani East host shear zone. Two, 100 m long RC holes were drilled to test a
portion of the anomaly lying near the southwest corner of the granodiorite intrusion. Surface mapping noted
abundant quartz veining and hematitic sedimentary rocks.
Mapping, by two, dedicated mapping t eams has been ongoing for more than two months, with an initial
focus on the recent drill target areas and target areas extending outward from the Barani East Deposit. The
Barani East Zone is a gold -bearing, carbonate -hosted, sulphide replacement zone that has returned
intercepts to 7.82 g/t gold over 13 metres*. A recent review of drill core, displays wide-spread silicification,
secondary calc-silicate alteration and widespread gold enrichment associated with disseminated sulphides
and occasional sulphide-rich stringers. Additional drill testing of this prospect is planned in 1H, 2020. As
well, the core and chips from this zone will be re-logged with a goal to develop a 3D alteration model and
mineralization vector.
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In early 2020, exploration activities, i ncluding drilling, soil sampling and geophysical surveys, on the
remaining 55 target areas is expected to commence. Ongoing data review, including IP geophysical data
has resulted in the addition of 12 new target areas located proximal to the Senegal Mali Shear Zone, with
ten of the target areas located to the east of the shear zone. This IP data exhibits a strong positive correlation
with existing mineralization resulting in high expectations for additional discoveries. Additional details
reading these new target areas will be presented in a subsequent news release.
Figure 1. Property Scale Compilation Map*
*All gold grades over width, with the exception of the Soa prospect, represent drill holes with the true widths, for most holes,
ranging from 70 to 95%. **The Soa Prospect result is from a trench with true widths unknown. Estimated true widths for the Berola
Prospect are unknown. True widths at the Gourbassi Zones range are estimated to range from 60% to 90%.
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Figure 2. Target Summary Location Map
This press release contains certain scientific and technical information. The Company is solely responsible
for the contents and accuracy of any scientific and technical information related to it. Don Dudek, P.Geo a
director of Desert Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43- 101, has reviewed and
approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release.
About Desert Gold
Desert Gold Ventures Inc. is a gold exploration and development com pany that holds 3 gold exploration
projects in Western Mali (SMSZ, Segala West and Djimbala) and its Rutare gold project in central Rwanda.
The Company’s current focus is its 391 km2 SMSZ Project that spans approximately 38 km of the prolific
Senegal Mali Shear Zone.
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On Behalf of the Board of Directors
“Sonny Janda”
____________________
Sonny Janda
Chairman
Contact:
Jared Scharf, President & CEO
Email: [email protected]
Tel. No.: +1 (858) 247-8195
For further information please visit our website www.desertgold.ca or information available on
www.SEDAR.com under the company’s profile.
Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward –looking statements" or "forward-looking information"
(collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could”,
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this release contains forward -looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain
corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not
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