Total Reserves at the Steyn 1 shaft have grown to nearly 3.1 million tonnes grading 5.4 grams gold, equivalent to 539,000 oz. gold, up from 390,000 oz. in mid-August.
The proven portion of the new reserve is 1.7 million tonnes grading 5 grams gold per tonne.
At Steyn 2, reserves now stand at 3.2 million tonnes running 5.1 grams gold, or 534,000 oz., up from 500,000 oz. previously. Proven reserves there amount to 1.2 million tonnes averaging 9.1 grams gold.
Steyn 3 shaft hosts a reserve of 3.5 million tonnes of 6.7 grams gold, equivalent to 751,000 oz., up from 500,000 oz. The proven portion there is 428,000 tonnes grading 7.15 grams gold.
Shaft 7 is home to 2.4 million tonnes grading 4.3 grams, or 338,000 oz. — an increase of 28,000 oz. The proven portion totals 608,000 tonnes of 4.21 grams gold.
Shaft 9 has a reserve of 5.3 million tonnes averaging 5.8 grams, or 996,000 oz. — a 16,000-oz. boost. Proven material runs 453,000 tonnes of 6.6 grams gold.
All told, reserves tip the scales at 17.6 million tonnes grading 5.6 grams gold, for just more than 3.15 million oz. Overall resources come in at 76 million tonnes averaging 8 grams gold, including the reserves.
Most of the new reserves (295,000 oz.) were added at shafts 3, 7 and 9, which Thistle refers to as the “golden triangle.” The triangle measures 4.5 km across at its widest point and 3 km long on each of the sides.
The increased reserves reduced Thistle’s hedge position to 24%, from 63% in mid-February.
Meanwhile, at shaft 3, the company has found a new exploration target within the Elsburg or Eldorado sequence. In all, 10 prospective reefs lie at a depth of 1,500 metres, about 300 metres shallower than the existing operations in the Basal Reef. The reefs are contained within a 50-metre-wide package dipping at 70*.
Thistle plans to drill 54 underground holes for the remainder of the year, with more drilling to follow in 2003.
See THISTLE Page 3
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