B2Gold off to a good start at Quebradona

B2Gold’s (BTO-V, BGLPF-O) first set of drill results from its Quebradona joint-venture property in Colombia has confirmed grades from surface sampling and trenching with some near-surface intersections extending beyond 200 metres.

By funding the 5,000-metre drill program, B2Gold will secure a 51% stake in the 24-sq.-km property with partner AngloGold Ashanti (AU-N).

The drill program is nearly complete, with less than 1,000 metres to go.

The company has received assays for the first six holes totalling 1,700 metres, with the first set of results from the La Mama zone, part of the Aurora porphyry gold system.

The entire length of hole 2 returned a 52.7-metre intersection grading 1.36 grams gold per tonne, 2.1 grams silver and 0.144% copper.

Hole 4 returned 86 metres grading 2.08 grams gold, 2.6 grams silver and 0.166% copper.

Hole 6, drilled the deepest to 235 metres, yielded 229 metres grading 0.8 gram gold, 2 grams silver and 0.145% copper, including 125 metres averaging 1.07 grams gold.

The holes were drilled over a 400 by 300-metre area. Mineralization in all six holes is hosted by potassic- altered intermediate volcanic rocks, diorite, and microdiorite, with abundant magnetite-quartz and stockworking.

The Aurora system covers an 800 by 700-metre area and also includes the La Isla zone.

Both La Mama and La Isla are open to the south, north and at depth. A second drill program is planned to further test Aurora with a focus on three other porphyry gold targets on the Quebradona property.

B2Gold has a deal with Anglo- Gold Ashanti for several other Colombian properties in return for a stake in B2Gold of up 26%, if all warrants are exercised.