Noble Mineral Resources Limited (NMG), a mining company with a focus on exploring large scale gold deposits in Ghana has announced that drilling along a stretch of satellite deposits at its Bibiani Gold Project in Ghana has returned more wide, high-grade intersections, providing firm evidence that this tract of land could contain substantially more gold than initially thought. The Bibiani mineralisation initially viewed as satellite deposits is now emerging as a substantial source of high-grade ore. Exploration strategy adopted to substantially grow resources and reserves at Bibiani has struck immediate and outstanding successes, with significant resource upgrades to one hundred and ninety seven (197) grams per ton. The latest results come from drilling around the shallow Walsh pit, located 400m south of the Strauss deposit follows the first round of high-grade intersections which was eighty four grams per ton in the area. The results also raise the distinct prospect that the mineralisation which forms these deposits could be continuous and therefore may become the subject of one extensive single open pit, though Noble emphasises that further drilling is needed to establish the extent of this potential. Results are pending from subsequent drilling undertaken around Aheman and drilling is now taking place at Strauss. The rapidly emerging potential of the satellite deposits at Bibiani is highly significant because as well as providing substantial scope for a resource upgrade, these areas are expected to be the first source of primary ore feed for the refurbished mill. Commissioning of the 3Mtpa plant is scheduled to take place in May, with the first primary ore feed set for July. Noble plans to ramp up production at Bibiani to an annualised rate of more than 150,000 ounces. “The latest drilling results again highlights the enormous potential to grow the gold inventory at Bibiani,” Noble Managing Director Wayne Norris said. He added that “the exploration around the satellite deposits is still in its early days, but this area is already emerging as a far more substantial source of primary ore than initially thought.” Mr. Norris added that “Noble stands to become a significant mining house in West Africa and a lot of this will stem from the fact that we are able to develop and grow our resource and reserve base. “With two company-owned rigs already mobilised onsite, and two new multi-purpose rigs arriving in the first quarter of 2011, Noble has now taken control of its own destiny and will aggressively pursue opportunities in and around the existing operations.” He emphasised. In the meantime, drilling is about to start at the Bibiani pit as part of a strategy to extend the known limits of the mineralisation on the western side of the existing pit, towards the geologically significant Chirano trend. When this program starts, Noble will have three rigs operating at Bibiani with two more on the way. It aims to incorporate as many results of this aggressive drilling schedule as possible in the impending resource upgrade, which is expected to be released by the end of the March quarter. Source: Asempa News