Birim extends Tombe-Parabu (December 17, 2003)

Reverse-circulation drilling by Birim Goldfields (BGI-T) on the Bui project in Ghana, West Africa, has extended the recent Tombe-Parabu North gold discovery some 70 metres to the north.

Hole 186, encountered a steep to moderately dipping pyritized and silicified zone, and returned 18.4 grams gold per tonne over a down-hole length of 6 metres starting at 36 metres down hole. A 2-metres interval (from 71 m) lower in the hole runs 6.7 grams gold.

Hole 185, sunk 40 metres to the west , cut 4 metres (from 14 m) of 1.1 grams gold. Results from the remaining holes on the North anomaly generally grade between 1 and 3 grams gold over widths from 2 to 7 metres, similar to the first batch of results released in early November.

Assay results from a hole collared 50 metres to the south of the discovery hole (no. 127) are pending. The hole cut a 10-metre-wide silicified zone.

In November, RC drilling by Birim was highlighted by hole 127, which returned 4.5 grams gold over 17 metres, beginning 22 metres downhole. The hole also surrendered an 11-metre section (from 47 m) running 2.9 grams gold. The hole was collared some 800 metres north of drilling done in 2000.

The best result from the previously undrilled Tombe-Parabu South anomaly came in hole 155. That hole returned 2 metres (from 35 m) running 21.5 grams gold. Other results include around 1-2 grams gold over widths from 2 to 6 metres.

The latest holes are part of a recently expanded RC drilling program that saw 105 holes drilled for 7,319 metres. The angled holes (-45) typically reach to a depth of about 60 metres. The company plans to resume drilling in January.

In the meantime, an excavator will continue a trenching program on the 6-km-long and 250-metre wide Tombe-Parabu gold-in-soil anomaly. Birim has so far cut four (for 1,790 metres) of twelve planned trenches. A composite sample from a 300-metre trench on the South anomaly returned 20.9 grams gold over 4 metres. The sample was collected from the eastern margin of the gold-in-soil anomaly.

Birim’s chief executive Denis Simoneau said in a prepared statement, "More drilling is required to get a good handle on the geometry of the northern gold zone and, to that effect, we are in the process of outlining a drill program for the New Year to follow up these potential extensions.”

The new zone remains open at depth and along strike to the north.