Giyani progresses exploratory work on three manganese prospects

20th September 2021 By: Marleny Arnoldi - Deputy Editor Online

TSX-V-listed Giyani Metals Corporation has provided updates on the various exploration programmes it has under way at the southern extensions of the K.Hill project, as well as the Otse and Lobatse manganese prospects, in Botswana.

CEO Robin Birchall says the multiple exploration programmes are set to deliver value for the existing resource of the K.Hill project, while the other prospects are proving useful to build the company’s resource base.

Following assessment of initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling data received from the discovery of a new mineralised horizon at K.Hill Extension, the extent of which exceeded the company’s expectations, a new three-hole diamond drilling (DD) campaign of about 300 m has been launched.   

The programme aims to intersect the new mineralised horizon and will assist in determining the orientation and structure of the orebody, as well as the nature of mineralisation.

The core recovered from the DD will also allow for accurate determination of density, as well as provide sample material for hydrometallurgical and comminution test work.

Drilling has started and is expected to take four weeks to complete.

Geologic data from the completed RC campaign at K.Hill Extension has already been submitted to consultancy SRK for processing and construction of a geological model.

Information from the DD campaign will also assist SRK in verification of the model and representation of the orebody in future resource estimation.

Giyani says any resource estimated for K.Hill Extension will be in addition to the indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate for the K.Hill project reported earlier this month.

OTHER PROSPECTS

A planned RC drilling campaign of about 3 000 m over certain priority targets has also started at the Otse prospect and is expected to be completed within two months.

The initial holes will focus on areas surrounding the historical pits from when Otse was subject to small-scale mining.

The drill locations have been selected to target various anomalies identified by an induced polarisation survey, which has shown excellent correlation to previous mapping and sampling conducted over Otse indicating high-grade mineralisation.

Following completion of drilling, it is expected that a maiden resource will be determined for Otse. The prospect is located 40 km east of the K.Hill project.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance mapping aimed at identifying and recording the positions of all the entrances to historical underground workings has been completed at the Lobatse prospect.

The next phase of exploration on this site will comprise an underground survey, which will allow Giyani to develop a three-dimensional model of the historical mining activity.

This model will assist future exploration efforts in avoiding mined areas, as well as being able to estimate accurately any future resource or reserve model.

The planned underground survey is currently out to tender.

The Lobatse prospect is located about 50 km from the K.Hill project and has similar mineralogy along a strike length of 2 km.