Name of the Mine
Sanbrado mine.

Location  
The Sanbrado mine is located about 90 km east-south-east of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso.  

Mine Owner/s  
West African Resources has a 90% interest in the Sanbrado mine. The Burkina Faso government has a free-carried 10% interest in the mine.

Brief Description  
The Sanbrado operation is a multipit operation with ore being mined from the M5, M1 South, M1 North and M3 pits.

The mine comprises several openpits, all within 1 km to 2 km of the plant site, and an underground mine accessed through a boxcut and portal immediately to the south-west of the M1 South openpit. 

Brief History  
West African Resources poured first gold at Sanbrado in March 2020, six months ahead of schedule and $20-million under budget.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Gold.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation  
The Sanbrado deposit is associated with the Lower Proterozoic system of the Birimian (2.17-billion to 2.18-billion years), comprising metavolcanic (arc) and metasedimentary (basin) rocks.

The M1, M3 and M5 gold deposits are situated within discrete high-strain zones, which occur along the margins of major granitoids. These high-strain zones can range from metres to tens of metres wide and are located within the belts, which are themselves characterised by moderate to high strain.

Gold mineralisation is associated with the main hydrothermal event that produced strong silicification of the surrounding rock during reactivation of the pre-existing structures and fabrics.

Known mineralisation at M1 extends along strike for about 1 km, and is up to 30 m wide and 1 000 m in depth. The M5 mineralisation extends along strike for about 3 km, and is up to 100 m wide and 300 m in depth. The M3 mineralisation extends along strike for 750 m, and is up to 50 m wide and 75 m in depth. Mineralisation at all deposits remains open at depth.

Reserves  
Total proven and probable reserves as at August 3, 2022, were estimated at 181-million tonnes grading 1.1 g/t gold.

Resources  
Total measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources as at August 3, 2022, were estimated at 360-million tonnes grading 1.1 g/t gold.

Mining Method  
The Sanbrado openpits use conventional openpit mining techniques using drill-and-blast with material transported by hydraulic excavator and trucks.

The M1 South underground mine is a decline access mine using diesel-powered loaders and trucks; and electric-powered drilling equipment. Ore is mined using longhole open stoping with cemented rock fill.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
Ore is treated at the Sanbrado processing plant. The plant comprises a conventional semiautogenous ball mill crusher milling circuit, and gravity and carbon-in-leach processing with a nominal throughput capacity of 2.5-million tonnes a year.  

Prospects  
Sanbrado’s ten-year production outlook is expected to average 198 000 oz gold a year from 2022 to 2031.

Contact Details
West African Resources
Tel + 61 8 9481 7344
Email info@westafricanresources.com

Sources
West African Resources. Website: http://www.westafricanresources.com/.
West African Resources. West African increases unhedged resources 127% to 11.6-million ounces gold (February 22, 2022).