The phase four drilling programme included approximately 19,000 metres of reverse circulation ("RC") and diamond drilling. The RC drilling targeted the infill areas between diamond holes previously drilled, with the new diamond holes testing for down dip and strike extensions to the current mineralised system. Ndablama is located within the northern block of the Company’s 100% owned, Bea Mountain Mining licence in Liberia, 40 kilometres north-east of Aureus’ flagship New Liberty Gold project.
Highlights
• Results are presented for 16 diamond drill holes (3,882 metres) from the phase four drilling programme at Ndablama. Drilling was undertaken on the down dip and northern extensions to the current Inferred Mineral Resource of 451,000 ounces at 2.1 g/t Au. Intercepts include:
• 2.4 g/t over 30 metres from 211 metres
• 2.4 g/t over 28 metres from 238 metres
• 2.2 g/t over 23 metres from 338 metres
• 2.0 g/t over 25 metres from 205 metres
• 2.8 g/t over 14 metres from 304 metres
• 3.2 g/t over 7 metres from 275 metres
• Phase four diamond drilling results received to date (37 holes) confirm continuity of the mineralised system down dip for another 300 metres beyond the limits of the initial maiden resource, more than doubling the down dip extent of the mineralised system. Intercepts commence from 90 metres below surface to a maximum of 240 metres below the surface. All drill holes have intersected the mineralised system and confirm the shallow westerly dip of less than thirty degrees. The mineralised zone is still open in all directions.
• To date results have been announced from 37 holes (8,907 metres) from the planned 62 holes (13,000 metres) diamond drilling programme. Assay results are pending for 12 holes and 13 are still to be drilled.
• The results announced today include the first 14 RC drill holes (2,347 metres) carried out as infill holes in advance of upgrading the current inferred resource. Intercepts include:
• 2.1 g/t over 37 metres from 89 metres
• 2.1 g/t over 33 metres from 91 metres
• 2.7 g/t over 26 metres from 168 metres
• 1.6 g/t over 36 metres from 95 metres
• 1.2 g/t over 50 metres from 58 metres
• 4.6 g/t over 9 metres from 94 metres
• The infill RC drilling results confirm mineralisation continuity within the already defined ore body. This programme was designed to close the drill spacing down to 50 metres. The infill programme is now complete for a total of 39 holes and approximately 5,828 metres. Assay results are pending for 25 holes.
• The full phase four RC and diamond drilling programme is expected to be completed by the end of July 2014 as the rainy season has now commenced. To date over 90% of the drilling programme has been completed.
• On receipt of all the results for the phase four drilling programme the Company will undertake a new NI 43-101 Resource estimate for Ndablama in early Q4 2014.
• Ndablama forms part of a five kilometre long pressure shadow corridor. Exploration work has confirmed that gold mineralisation is associated with a shallow, westerly dipping shear zone which can be followed at surface for five kilometres. To date only two kilometres of this zone has been drill tested, and includes Ndablama and Leopard Rock targets.
• Trenching results at Ndablama North and Leopard Rock South include intercepts of:
• 5.7 g/t over 7 metres (Ndablama North)
• 1.4 g/t over 8 metres (Ndablama North)
• 1.1 g/t over 14 metres (Ndablama North)
• 1.3 g/t over 10 metres (Leopard Rock South)
• 1.6 g/t over 11 metres(Leopard Rock South)
• 2.3 g/t over 7 metres (Leopard Rock South)
Follow up exploration drilling will be undertaken in these areas during the next field season commencing in Q4 2014.
Commenting on the latest Ndablama drilling results, David Reading, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aureus Mining, said:
"The Phase Four drilling programme at Ndablama has further underpinned the management’s belief that Aureus has another prospective gold field beyond the New Liberty area. The results demonstrate that there is gold mineralisation throughout the pressure shadow zone, and that there is continuity of grade between the holes drilled earlier this year. We look forward to receiving the assay results for the remaining holes drilled to date, completing the drilling programme and updating the resource estimate before year end."
