Golden Star aims drills at Suriname

In southeastern Suriname, Golden Star Resources (GSC-T) has begun core drilling at the Antino gold property.

The 370-sq.-km property, part of the South Benzdorp Right of Reconnaissance area near the border with French Guiana, contains two main targets: the Upper and Lower Antino. Golden Star is planning a 26-hole, 2,600-metre program to evaluate the deeper mineral potential of the central and middle zones of the Upper Antino target.

In 1995, closely spaced auger holes defined at least five mineralized, steeply dipping shear zones at the upper target. Mineralization is hosted in the saprolite horizon, which reaches to an average depth of 50 metres.

High-grade values in the auger results included a 24-metre hole starting from surface averaging 15 grams gold per tonne, 27 metres from surface grading 27.4 grams, and 21 metres grading 4.2 grams.

Golden Star’s goal is to develop a resource grading 5-8 grams gold per tonne to a depth of 50 metres. Towards that end, deep-augering will continue over the remainder of the property, particularly the northwestern and northeastern zones of the upper target.

The Antino property is less than 20 km from the Yaou gold project, across the border in French Guiana, where Golden Star’s 70%-owned subsidiary, Guyanor Ressources (GRL.B-T), together with Cambior (CBJ-T), has established a reserve base of 875,000 oz. gold.

In the meantime. Guyanor and LaSource have released results of the initial phase of core drilling at the Montagne d’Or target at the Paul Isnard project, which comprises 250 sq. km in northwestern French Guiana. The project area includes a separate property known as Eau Blanche.

The drilling targeted a 1.1-km zone of strongly sheared volcanic rocks on the northern flank of Decou-Decou Mountain. In all, 18 holes were completed, totalling 3,232 metres.

Gold mineralization is hosted in felsic volcanics, and Guyanor is encouraged by evidence of polymetallic and semi-massive-to-massive sulphide mineralization. Hole 96-14 encountered 17 metres (from 83 to 100 metres in depth) grading 3.7 grams gold, 17 grams silver, 0.3% copper and 0.04% zinc.

LaSource, a joint-venture company involving BRGM of France and Normandy Mining of Australia, holds a 25% participating interest in the Paul Isnard project.

Asarco (AR-N) can earn a 37.5% interest from Guyanor by spending up to US$10 million and completing a feasibility study on the Paul Isnard or the Eau Blanche projects. Alternatively, the company can opt to combine the two projects and spend US$20 million on exploration over the next five years.