Feb 25 2016
Banro Corporation ("Banro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional mineralization intersections from its on-going near mine RC drilling program at the Namoya Summit deposit.
The near mine drilling program at Namoya is intended to identify new resources and increase the geological confidence of the resource base with the goal of enhancing the medium term economics of the mine. During the last half of 2015, near mine exploration activities continued to build on the results published in the Company's September 18, 2015 press release, with the main focus of RC drilling activities being in the Namoya Summit and Filon B deposits, including infill and step out drilling from previous drill holes. As well, exploration drilling was carried out in the newly-discovered Namoya Summit hanging wall and Filon C targets (see the locality map referred to below).
Interim Program Update
During the interim period following the September 18th press release, 54 RC drill holes totalling 4,681 metres were drilled at Filon B, Namoya Summit Footwall zone, Namoya Summit Main zone, Filon C and Namoya Summit Hanging Wall zone. The significant mineralization intersections from the interim program include the following:
Namoya Summit & Filon B
- Hole NRC-091 intersected 10.00 metres grading 2.23 g/t Au from 67.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-092 intersected 42.00 metres grading 2.29 g/t Au from 51.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-093 intersected 7.00 metres grading 2.05 g/t Au from 0.00 metres (2.00 metres of void from 7.00 to 9.00 metres),
- Hole NRC-107 intersected 15.00 metres grading 2.44 g/t Au from 0.00 metres (and 5.00 metres of void from 15.00 to 20.00 metres),
- Hole NRC-108 intersected 5.00 metres grading 3.23 g/t Au from 17.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-109 intersected 10.00 metres grading 18.48 g/t Au from 34.00 metres, including 1.00 metre of void from 38.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-112 intersected 6.00 metres grading 17.65 g/t Au from 82.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-115 intersected 13.00 metres grading 2.21 g/t Au from 98.00 metres.
Namoya Summit Hanging Wall and Filon C
- Hole NRC-100 intersected 13.00 metres grading 3.41 g/t Au from 12.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-129 intersected 29.00 metres grading 3.84 g/t Au from 52.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-134 intersected 16.00 metres grading 4.16 g/t Au from 34.00 metres,
- Hole NRC-137 intersected 8.00 metres grading 2.27 g/t Au from 57.00 metres.
Commenting on the results at Namoya John Clarke, President and CEO of the Company, said; "These results continue to indicate the upside potential of the Namoya Summit deposit and demonstrate potential at Filon B area which is known to host very high grade mineralization. We will continue to pursue detailed and careful evaluation of the Namoya Summit deposit, especially at Filon B and the newly discovered Hanging Wall zone, to ensure that we understand these structures and to delineate significant additional resources. These results, together with the previous results, have provided the necessary information to assist with Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve upgrades at Namoya which are planned for the second quarter of 2016."
The RC drilling program was undertaken using an in-house Prospector rig. A total of 54 RC holes averaging 87 metres were completed for a total of 4,681 metres to generate 4,681 RC samples. Drilling was oriented N-S (0° and 180° azimuth) at the Filon B area and towards 225° in the Namoya Summit area. Drilling inclination ranged from 55° to 80° in both areas. RC drill holes were planned in fences ranging from 15-40 metres in Filon B area and between 40-80 metres at the Namoya Summit Main and Filon C areas. It is estimated that the true width of mineralization approximates 85% of mineralization intersections in the drill holes. The table referred to below provides a summary of all intersections from the interim RC drilling program at Namoya.
All RC samples for assaying were taken consistently at one metre intervals and were riffle split with one-half of the sample placed in sealed bags and sent to the Company's on-site sample preparation facility. The samples were then pulverized down to 90% passing 75 microns. Approximately 150 grams of the pulverized sample was then sent to the on-site SGS Laboratory (which is independent of the Company) where the samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay using a 50g charge. As part of the Company's QA/QC procedures, reflecting internationally recognized standards, duplicates and blanks were inserted into the sample batches.
Progress Summary of the Drilling Program
After the successful drilling campaign, the mineral resource team will incorporate the drill results from these additional near surface zones into the Namoya Summit reserve with the aim of delivering an enhanced production profile for the commencement of mining at the Namoya Summit in H2 of 2016.
A total of 38 RC drill holes representing 3,324 metres were drilled at Filon B, Namoya Summit Footwall zone, and Namoya Summit Main zone. The resource area has been interpreted to have a strike length of 400 metres. It is open to the northwest and southeast, with multiple gold bearing lodes that extend to a depth of 65 metres, and exhibits a pinch and swelling characteristic; widths between 2 and 30 metres down-dip.
A northwest - southeast trending zone of new mineralization (Namoya Summit Hanging Wall zone) has been delineated about 400 metres to the northeast of Namoya Summit Main zone. Mineralization was discovered by trenching and auger drilling over a strike length of almost 700 metres and followed up by RC drilling. A total of 11 RC drill holes, representing 861 metres have been completed in the area. Significant mineralization was intersected including holes NRC129, NRC134, and NRC137. Follow up drilling will be undertaken to fully evaluate this new hanging wall mineralized zone.
Within the Namoya Summit Main pit shell, a new east-west mineralized zone, Filon C, was also discovered by trenching and auger drilling. Five (5) RC drill holes totalling 431 metres have been completed in the area. Significant mineralization intersections include hole NRC100. Follow up drilling will be undertaken to fully determine the strike extension of this new mineralized zone.
Results from the RC holes are tabulated in a table which can be accessed on the Company's website at www.banro.com/assets/docs/RC-intercections-Feb-2016.pdf.
A locality map of the reported drill holes can also be found on the Company's website at
www.banro.com/assets/docs/NamoyaSummit-FilonBDrillholeLocationMap.pdf.
Qualified Person
The drilling results disclosed in this press release have been reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled by the Company's geological staff based in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo ("DRC"), under the supervision of Daniel K. Bansah, who is a Member and Chartered Professional of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM(CP)), the Company's Head of Projects and Operations, and a "qualified person" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101). Mr. Bansah has reviewed and approved this press release.