Apollo Minerals (ASX:AON) has announced it’s kicked off maiden gold drilling at its Salanie gold project in Gabon, Africa.
Previous samples taking from visible quartz veining have assayed at grades over 420g/t of gold and 120g/t of gold respectively – though, rock chip assays should be treated with caution from an investor’s POV. They do not indicate the presence of anything underground.
With that said, the company has a 12km long piece of “underexplored” greenstone belt to sniff out with drill rigs.
An initial 1,200m program will target three key prospects named A1, A3 and P6 respectively. All of which have been the subject of historical mining boasting high grades, according to the company, in the 1950’s.
The company is targeting P6 first, reporting an average historical grade of 16g/t gold. It isn’t clear how that average was calculated.
However, previous trenching at another prospect, A1, displayed gold mineralisation at surface including 10.3m @ 3.4g/t gold and 3m @ 5.1g/t gold. Rock chips nearby yielded 33g/t. In the background, soil sampling results are due back with the company in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to commence drilling at Salanie, the first drilling and modern exploration to be undertaken in 70 years,” Apollo MD Neil Inwood said.
“We have three high priority target areas defined, each centred on previously high-grade historical mining areas; with visible gold identified at surface at A1. Combined with our regional exploration generative work, we are convinced that these will be the first of many high-quality targets to be uncovered.”
AON last traded at 2cps.