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Proposal for a US $ 200,000 Exploration Programme on the Tafassasset Exploration Licence, Aïr Mountains, Niger

by Wolfgang Hampel (2001), 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables

Proposal for a detailed exploration programme to increase the inferred mineral resource on the Ti-N-Keradet vein gold deposit to approximately 200,000 oz including an indicated to measured resource category of 50,000 oz in accordance with AUSIMM/JORC. On the Algerian side (Tiririne I, II and III) of the border a measured resource of more than 500,000 oz at > 10 g/t Au has been identified.

In general, the programme aims at a better understanding of the local geology and the ore controlling factors. The company's earlier exploration campaigns confirmed the widespread occurrence of massive auriferous quartz veins but they were unable to confirm earlier high grade results (by the Algerians) of in excess of 10 ppm Au of the 1970s and 1980s. This was probably due to a low sample weight and too wide sample spacings. The programme has a threefold approach and includes a) detailed reinterpretation of the Landsat images and aerial photographs to identify the possible extensions of known auriferous veins, b) the dense re-sampling of the main lode field including a shallow 1,200 m RC-fence drilling programme and trenching  and c) a sampling programme of two new vein fields. Further to the sampling of high grade veins, the programme aims at establishing an additional low grade resource in the host rocks.

The sampling will take into account the coarse grained nature of gold with sample weights of 8-10 kilos; instead of the formerly used 50 gr fire assay, 1 kilo bottle roll assays are proposed. A quality assurance programme using blanks, standards and doubles is strongly recommended.

Parallel to the sampling programme, the proposal includes detailed geological mapping, the determination of the regolith profile and the multi-element scans for later geochemical surveys. An additional reconnaissance exploration programme for the surrounding Tadera Prospection Licence targets the potential for rare metal bearing alkaline ring complexes and gemstone bearing pegmatites, skarns, marbles and cipolins.