Underground exploration by Ivanhoe Mines (IVN-T) at the Modi Taung gold project in Myanmar, has extended the bonanza-grade discovery along strike and down-dip.
Ivanhoe’s recent efforts focused on the development of adits to gain access to the mineralized veins. The Shwesin adit 1 and Htongyi Taung adit 2 were both enlarged to accommodate ventilation systems and mine cars, allowing Ivanhoe to follow the veins for at least 500 metres along strike and up to 200 metres below surface.
So far, about 2,200 metres of underground drifting in 16 adits over a vertical range of 250 metres has been completed at about US$40 per metre. Additional adits are planned for some newly discovered veins.
Recent channel sampling on the vein in Shwesin adit 1 returned between 186 and 486 grams gold per tonne over 0.55 to 0.91 metres. About 400 metres along strike to the southeast, cross cuts yielded between 64 and 283 grams gold over 0.3 to 1.4 metres.
Independent metallurgical testwork on samples of slightly weathered mineralization from the adits indicates that the gold is free milling, with recoveries exceeding 97%.
On the Htongyi Taung vein system, multiple narrow veins were cut in three crosscuts driven from adit 2. Results include 0.3 metre grading 90 grams gold and 0.55 metre of 62 grams on adjacent veins. The same vein system is being followed in Htongyi Taung adit 4, about 100 metres to the northwest.
To the south and east, Ivanhoe has turned up four new targets with veins containing visible gold> The mineralized structures lie in a 1.1-by-3-km area. Vein outcrops along strike indicate that the zone may remain open in both directions.
With mineralized veins present in adits across a 360-metre vertical interval without systematic change in style or grade, and a interpreted mesothermal-style of mineralization at Modi Taung, Ivanhoe believes that the veins should reach to depths of several hundred metres. Drilling to test the down-dip continuity of the veins is slated for early 2002.
At last report, five parallel vein structures had been identified in the Modi Taung area. All are hosted by a mesothermal slate said to be similar to the gold fields at Bendigo, Australia. The veins are traceable on surface for about 1.5 km and range in thickness from 0.3 to 2.7 metres. Many of the development crosscuts contain visible gold and nearly 80% of the channel samples taken so far returned uncut gold grades between 20 and 50 grams gold. One surface trench sample returned an impressive 3,475 grams over 1.3 metres.
Ivanhoe’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ivanhoe Myanmar Holdings, has an 83% interest in a joint venture to explore and develop the Modi Taung project. The Myanmar Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration holds the remaining 17% stake.
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