First explored by the Portuguese in the 17th century, the central Brazilian state of Goias boasts a mining history dominated by diamonds, chromium, nickel and titanium. Yet the area has not generally been associated with the yellow metal.
Not until now. Santa Elina Gold (TSE) is sparking interest in the area’s gold potential with its exploration of the Fazenda Nova concession.
Comprising 14,000 hectares, the property is within Precambrian metamorphic rocks, where mineralization occurs in volcanic-sedimentary sequences affected by greenschist facies metamorphism, shearing and late granitic intrusion. Six anomalies have been identified by geochemical and geophysical methods, and, already, 152 auger drill holes have advanced 903 metres into these targets. Soil geochemistry has resulted in average values of 0.9 grams gold per tonne.
Drilling is under way on the Lavrinha and Vital zones. A small pit occupies part of the former, and channel samples taken along a 44-metre interval at 10 metres below the surface averaged an encouraging 3.43 grams. A total of 11 holes are planned, to a depth of about 80 metres.
Early results include hole BCD-23, which showed a 54.75-metre interval (from 2.35 to 57.1 metres) grading 1.25 grams. The best interval is from 55.8 to 57.6 metres at 12.75 grams. Hole BCD-24 shows values of 3.43 grams for the first 63.65 metres, with the highest value being nearly 14.5 grams from 51.3 to 63.65 metres.
Auger drilling is ongoing between the Lavrinha and Vital zones. Additional exploration is planned for the five other anomalies, and Santa Elina intends to carry out prospecting on 57,000 hectares in the surrounding area.
A small-scale, heap-leaching operation was carried out by the previous owner of the Fazenda Nova property.
Meanwhile, Santa Elina continues to work the Sao Vicente mine and Sao Francisco project within its namesake Santa Elina gold belt. In all, the company holds about 4 million hectares throughout the country, including some 2.6 million hectares near the Bolivian border.
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