THE first-ever large scale search for gold in the Rupununi has begun.
Guyana Frontier, a Canadian-owned mining company, announced last week that it has started a 3,000-metre diamond drilling programme at the Marudi Mountain Gold Project in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
The programme consists of 10 to 15 holes drilled to depths of between 150 and 300 metres to test the saprolite and bedrock zones present in two areas of the Marudi Mountain property. Two holes are planned for the Mazoa Hill target area, where drilling by previous explorers identified a substantial zone of gold mineralization. The remaining holes are planned for the Marudi North target area, where Guyana Frontier identified prospective drill targets from its extensive 2011 trenching programme.
Guyana Frontier’s Marudi Mountain consists of one Mining Licence totalling 13,502 acres, located approximately 500 kilometres (330 miles) from the capital city of Georgetown. Drilling is taking place about 50 kilometres south of Aishalton, and is expected to continue into April 2012.
Guyana Frontier also holds a 100% interest in the adjacent Paint Mountain property. Paint Mountain consists of one Prospecting Licence totalling 8,848 acres, and remains largely underexplored. Guyana Frontier recently commenced surface exploration at Paint Mountain. Rock and stream sediment samples have been collected and sent for geochemical analysis and petrography. A portion of the property has been selected for detailed mapping and sampling on the basis of favourable geology and the presence of artisanal alluvial gold miners.
Guyana Frontier plans airborne geophysical surveys for both Marudi Mountain and the Paint Mountain projects in the first few months of this year.