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Nokuthaba Brita Ncube, ncubenokuthababrita@gmail.com
NATURAL resources exploration and development company, Pambili Natural Resources Corporation, has announced promising results from its ongoing drilling programme at Golden Valley Mine (GVM).
The first assay results indicate that the down-dip extension of gold mineralisation continues over significant widths and potentially economic grades.
The drilling programme, designed to identify a production resource rather than a code-compliant mineral resource estimate, has revealed that gold mineralisation extends into deeper, unmined sulphides.
In a statement, Pambili noted that the assays were conducted by Antech Laboratories, an accredited laboratory in Kwekwe.
“The assay results from Hole EADD001 confirm the down-dip extension of mineralisation at GVM, where historic mining focused on the shallower oxide mineralisation. Historic production from the project totals 2500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 9g/t,” the company said.
The intersection of upper and lower mineralised zones suggests that gold mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth. Pambili plans to develop a crosscut from the existing sub-vertical shaft to expose the upper mineralised zone and the up-dip extension of the lower mineralised zone.
Additionally, the company intends to implement an on-strike development programme, contingent on identifying recoverable grades. The initial objective is to obtain metallurgical samples of the mineralised sulphides.
Pambili chief executive officer, Mr Jon Harris expressed optimism about the findings.
“The Pambili team is highly encouraged by the grades and widths of gold mineralisation encountered in the unmined sulphides beneath the historic workings at our Golden Valley Mine,” he said.
“With regional sulphide mineralisation continuing to depths of more than 1km, our focus is now on establishing whether the potential scale of gold mineralisation at GVM is far more significant than previously recognised,” he added.
Mr Harris added that the company is eager to learn more about the extent of the anomalous zone as they extend the planned crosscuts from the sub-vertical shaft.
Located 15km from Bulawayo, GVM has an installed capacity to process 40 tonnes of ore per day. The mine’s development aligns with the country’s broader gold sector ambitions.
The country’s gold exports are projected to generate US$4 billion in annual revenue starting this year, driven by new investments, the reopening of previously closed mines, and expansion projects at existing operations.
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