TORONTO, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Compass Gold Corp. (TSX-V: CVB) (Compass or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the recently completed drilling at the Sodala prospect, located on the Company’s Sikasso Property in southern Mali (Figure 1).
HighlightsDrilling at Sodala identifies a broad, shallow gold target, associated with a shear zoneAir core drilling (9 AC holes, 467 m) intersected gold mineralization within a 280-m wide fault zone cutting artisanal gold workingsFurther geophysical testing and drilling planned on permit to test a large (1,000 m x 500 m) shallow soil anomalyCompass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, “Additional bedrock drilling on the Sankarani East permit has identified gold mineralization within a newly discovered shear zone centred on the Sodala artisanal workings. The results of this latest drilling validate Sodala as a major target for additional geophysical testing and follow-up drilling. This work has also given us a much clearer understanding of the controls on mineralization, and explains the location of a pronounced soil anomaly, which includes a 31.3 g/t Au sample collected by Compass.”He added, “As we’ve recently reported, geophysical and geological testing has led to our discovery of two new mineralized trends at Tarabala and Samagouela, and it now appears that Sodala lies on a similar structure. We have abundant evidence that several permits within our 850-square-kilometre property display the necessary geological features to potentially host open-pittable gold deposits, all within one of the most prolific gold districts in the world.”Permit overview map: http://compassgoldcorp.com/sikasso-properties/Sodala Drilling Overview
In mid-April, the Company completed 310 m of shallow air core (AC) drilling over 175 m of artisanal workings at Sodala on the western side of the Sankarani East permit (Figure 1). This was the first drilling on the prospect, and focused on artisanal workings occurring within a 270-m-wide shear-zone, and cut by NE-trending faults that appear to control mineralization. The latest drilling comprised 377 m of AC and 90 m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling. The purpose of the drilling was to determine the grade, width, and orientation of mineralization recorded at the artisanal workings, and to use this information to identify the mineralized structures responsible for some exceptionally high shallow soil samples collected in 2018. The high-grade samples were collected within 700 m of the artisanal workings and the five highest recorded soil grades were 31.3, 10.1, 2.49, 1.29 and 0.50 g/t Au.Previous drilling on the prospect (see Compass press release, May 7, 2020) identified three narrow, near-surface, mineralized structures with 1 m @ 0.78 g/t Au (from 1 m, SAAC29), 1 m @ 2.71 g/t Au (from 16 m, SAAC31), and 1 m @ 0.82 g/t Au (from 8 m, , SAAC32). All of mineralization was associated with a small hydrothermally altered felsic unit. The current drilling was planned to test the same mineralization in order to determine the precise orientation and dip of the veins.Figure 1: Geology, major faults, soil anomalism and artisanal workings at Sodala is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/438a4ae4-e5e4-4f99-bba5-5e01f5be9a55The current drilling comprised a single fence of predominantly AC holes. In order to achieve the planned depth, the drill rig was reconfigured to use reverse circulation (RC) equipment in areas where more resistant quartz veins were encountered. The fence was specifically designed to test gold-bearing quartz veins mapped in the artisanal workings and noted in the drilling in April, and the interpretation of Gradient IP geophysics that the workings were coincident with a major north-south shear zone.Drilling Results
The best mineralization occurred in drill holes SAAC60 (Figure 2), where five mineralized intervals were recorded over the 52m length of the hole (Table 1), and SAAC64, where four mineralized intervals were recorded. The longest mineralized intercept was 4 m @ 0.61 g/t Au (from 8 m, SAAC60). Grades were typically between 0.20 and 0.70 g/t Au, with higher grades up to 2.45 g/t Au (from 33 m) present in SAAC64.Drilling revealed the veins were present within a graphite-rich shear zone, and determined that the veins dip between 40 and 75°and trend to the northwest (325°). All this information is consistent with geological mapping in the area, and interpretation of the ground geophysical surveys.Figure 2: Satellite map of the Sodala prospect showing the location of bedrock drilling in relation to the target structure is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57da2b7e-9aee-4fa5-ae88-09155096e6eaTable 1. Assays greater than 0.2 g/t Au identified during recent drilling at Sodala1True thicknesses are interpreted as 60-90% of stated intervals
Technical DetailsAll AC drill holes in this campaign (SAAC57-64) were drilled on an azimuth of 255° (towards the west-southwest), at dips of 55°, with lengths varying from 48 m to 54 m. The fence was planned to cut the main artisanal workings at Sodala at the intersection between the main north-south trending Sodala shear-zone and a northeast-trending splay fault. The site of the workings is also coincident with an interpreted highly-altered felsic intrusion and proximal to an exceptionally high shallow soil gold anomaly with assays up to 31.30 g/t Au. This is the highest grade of 6,749 soil samples collected on the Sankarani and Sankarani East permits by Compass. Soil samples greater than 0.5 g/t Au are present up to 750 m from the workings, and appear to correlated closely with a second northeast-trending splay fault with a 1000 m strike length. This area will be the primary focus of additional drilling in the coming months.Drilling was primarily performed by AC methods, but in areas of abundant quartz veins it was necessary to complete the planned holes using RC equipment. Drilling was performed by IDC Drilling (Mali), and collected samples were assayed at SGS (Bamako, Mali) by fire assay. Geophysical interpretation of the Gradient IP data was performed by Jeremy S. Brett, M.Sc., P.Geo. (MPH Consulting Limited), and structural analysis by independent consultant geologist David Lewis, M.Sc., P.Geo.Next StepsThe technical team, which is only awaiting infill shallow soil assay results from Massala (Sankarani permit), is interpreting the results from all recent exploration programs, and placing them in a geological framework. These latest drilling results will help to determine the precise location for follow-up drilling on the identified target structures at Tarabala, Sodala and Samagouela. This drilling will start when weather conditions permit after the cessation of the rainy season, normally in October. Gradient IP surveys are also being planned in areas containing strong gold in shallow soil anomalism coincident with regional target structures.About Compass Gold Corp.Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX- V. Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in southern Mali with a combined land holding of 867 km2. The Sikasso Property is located in the same region as several multi-million-ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Komana. The Company’s Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is conducting the current exploration program. They are examining numerous anomalies first noted in Dr. Archibald’s August 2017 “National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali.”QAQCAll AC samples were collected following industry best practices, and an appropriate number and type of certified reference materials (standards), blanks and duplicates were inserted to ensure an effective QAQC program was carried out. The 1 m interval samples were prepared and analyzed at SGS SARL (Bamako, Mali) by fire assay technique FAE505. All standard and blank results were reviewed to ensure no failures were detected.Qualified PersonThis news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, Compass’s Technical Director, who is the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under National Instrument 43-101 standards.Forward‐Looking Information
This news release contains “forward‐looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company’s planned exploration work and management appointments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward‐looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by such information. The statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward‐looking information except as required by applicable law.For further information please contact: Website: www.compassgoldcorp.comNEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
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