TORONTO, Jan. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Compass Gold Corp. (TSX-V: CVB) (Compass or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the latest exploration work at the Boumban Central and Farabakoura prospect areas, located on the Company’s Sikasso Property in Southern Mali (Figure 1).
HighlightsDrilling at Boumban Central (16 RC holes, 2,404 m) intersected gold mineralization in a similar geological environment to that encountered 5-km south at the Farabakoura artisanal workingsBest interval at Boumban Central was 3 m at 1.33 g/t Au, within 10 m @ 0.57 g/t Au (from 31m)Exploration results show the geology of Compass’s Farabakoura Trend is similar to Hummingbird’s Komana East gold mine area, located 40 km to the eastDrilling at the Farabakoura artisanal workings intersected a NE-trending structure containing multiple (9) gold zones in one hole (OARC65 included 8 m at 1.17 g/t Au, (from 33 m), 4 m @ 0.81 g/t Au (from 61 m), and 3 m @ 1.54 g/t Au (from 73 m))Compass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, “Based on these results, we believe the Compass team is onto a major gold-bearing trend, and we are excited to get on with the next stage of drilling.”He added, “Last year, our exploration work indicated the presence of a structural trend, extending more than 11 km to the north of our Farabakoura mineralized zone. These first drill holes on just a small portion of the 4.3 km Boumban Central target were located roughly 5 km north of the Farabakoura zone. The interpreted results suggest that the correct geology and structure for potentially hosting significant gold mineralization continues at least 5 km north along this major trend. The assay results on Boumban Central also show wide-spread, lower grade mineralization.“The additional drilling, 5 km to the south, within artisanal workings on the eastern side of the main Farabakoura Zone, also confirmed the presence of additional NE-trending mineralized structures within the overall NNW-trending Farabakoura Trend. Assay results from this drilling showed that significant mineralization extends to the east of the main Farabakoura zone. What is most exciting is that we have already identified nine large target zones along the Farabakoura Trend, which have yet to be drilled. This latest geological and structural information confirming the location of the Siekorole Shear Zone along our Farabakoura Trend will be invaluable in planning the next phase of drilling over the remainder of the 4.3 km strike length of the Boumban Central target zone, and across the other nine targets identified by our previous exploration work.”Boumban Central Reverse Circulation Drilling ResultsIn mid-December, the Company completed 2,404 m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling over selected geophysical and geochemical targets on the southern portion of the Boumban Central prospect (Figure 1), which is a 1.3-km-long and 400-m-wide zone within the greater Farabakoura Trend. This trend has an overall strike length of 15 km and an up to 2-km-wide zone of anomalous gold in shallow soil samples, and abundant artisanal gold workings adjacent to the Siekorole Shear Zone.The prospect was drilled by two fences of eight RC holes. The northwest-oriented fence (OURC49-56) was drilled on an azimuth of 135° (towards the SE), at dips of 50°, with lengths varying from 145 m to 156 m. The north-east orientated fence (OURC57-64) on an azimuth of 045° (towards the NE), at dips of 55°, with lengths varying from 140 m to 156 m. Drilling was performed by Capital Drilling, and collected samples were assayed at SGS (Bamako, Mali) by fire assay.FIGURE 1 – BOUMBAN CENTRAL DRILLING LOCATIONS is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2cd969f3-ba7b-47c1-9590-cbf1f25498fd The northeast-oriented eight-hole fence (OURC57-64) drilled at Boumban identified narrow, discrete, gold mineralization in three of the holes (Table 1). All the mineralization was present within a granodiorite with a higher magnetic signature than the granodiorite encountered in the NW-trending line, e.g., OURC56. This drilling provided vital information on the geology of this concealed area, as well as the mineralization associated with the Siekorole Shear Zone and its related structures, which have been shown to control high-grade mineralization at Farabakoura.The best mineralization occurred in drill hole OURC56, where six discrete zones of mineralization were intercepted within a granodiorite. The best intercept was 3 m @ 1.33 g/t Au (from 29 m), within 10 m @ 0.57 g/t Au. This mineralization is located to the west of the main Siekorole Shear Zone in a geological setting similar to the mineralization encountered at Farabakoura, 5 km to the south, and the Komana East open pit (owned by Hummingbird Resources PLC), 40 km to the south-southwest. The similarities are based on: the location of the shear zone bounding fault; the metamorphosed sedimentary rocks to the east of the fault (sandstones, siltstone, black shale); and the metamorphosed intrusive (granodiorite), volcanic (basalt and dacite) and volcaniclastic (tuffs) present to the west of the fault. The presence of gold mineralization encountered at Boumban emphasises that the rocks to the west of the Siekorole Shear Zone are the main target. The Boumban target area is 4.7 km by 1 km, and the additional planned drilling will focus on prospective intrusions and structures there.Table 1. Significant assays (>0.5 g/t Au) identified during recent drilling at Boumban Central1True thicknesses are interpreted as 60-90% of stated intervals
2 Intervals use a 0.2-gram-per-tonne gold cut-off valueFarabakouraFive holes (700 m) were completed at Farabakoura in mid-December (Figure 2). Holes OURC65-67 were drilled over a strike length 660 m of a NW-trending fault that was defined by ground magnetics and airborne EM. This interpreted fault also follows a series of artisanal gold workings at Farabakoura. OURC65 and 66 were both drilled with an azimuth of 140°, dip of 60°, and length of 140 m. OURC67 was drilled to the south (180°) with a similar dip and length. OURC65 was the best hole, and intersected nine zones of mineralization, including 8 m @ 1.17 g/t Au (from 33 m), 4 m @ 0.81 g/t Au (from 61 m), and 3 m @ 1.54 g/t Au (from 73 m) (Table 2). This hole targeted the same mineralization as encountered in OURC17, which included 32 m @ 0.93 g/t Au (see Compass press release, May 14, 2019) and also contained visible gold. OURC67 was designed to test potential along the NE-trending structure and the near surface east-west trending quartz veins. A vein containing 1 m @ 1.72 g/t Au was noted at a depth of 7 m, but the speculated NE-trending fault was not encountered before the end of the hole (140 m). OURC67 encountered abundant quartz veining at the location of the speculated east-west structure, but was unmineralized. OURC68 was drilled to test east-west trending mineralization with an azimuth of 140°, dip of 60° and length of 140 m. Like OURC67, abundant quartz vein was present at the target depths, but the veins contained only trace amounts of gold.OURC69 was drilled with an azimuth of 140°, dip of 60° and length of 140 m to test the premise that a secondary NE-trending vein swarm might be present in an area where diamond drilling identified high-grade gold mineralization (see Compass press release, September 5, 2019). Eight mineralized veins were noted over a length of 100 m, with the highest-grade intercept being 2 m @ 1.50 g/t Au. Based on the recently completed structural study, the dominant vein direction along the 15-km Farabakoura Trend should be NW-trending. FIGURE 2 – SUMMARY OF LATEST DRILLING AT FARABAKOURA ARTISANAL WORKINGS is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f31bf82-d9b2-45a6-a6e6-f53bc2cec991 Table 2. Significant assays (>0.5 g/t Au) identified during recent drilling at Farabakoura1True thicknesses are interpreted as 60-90% of stated intervals
2 Intervals use a 0.2-gram-per-tonne gold cut-off valuePending ResultsPrior to the New Year, the Company completed 1,200 m of drilling at Kabangoué, including a five-hole fence (750 m) at Kabangoué North, and a three-hole fence (450 m) at Kabangoué South. Samples have been dispatched to the assay lab, and results are expected within the next two weeks.Next StepsCompass is planning to conduct another 4,000 m of drilling during Q1 of this year. This will include a north-south fence of eight holes (900 m) at Farabakoura to further test the presence of the large NE-trending fault interpreted to control mineralization over the artisanal workings. The fence is also oriented to test the presence of NW- and E-W-trending veins identified during previous drilling at Farabakoura. After completing these holes, the next target to be drilled will be Boumban South (8 holes, 1200 m).Field teams are also busy performing local ground geophysical surveys (magnetic and induced polarization) and shallow soil geochemistry sampling on proposed drilling targets, and prospective areas identified by the structural geology study.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 Kodiéran. 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 initiating a new exploration program. They are examining the first of numerous anomalies noted for further investigation in Dr. Archibald’s August 2017 “National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali.”QAQCAll RC 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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