Rift reports African intersections

Encouraging results are reported from the first phase of exploration at the Silobela gold property in central Zimbabwe.

Toronto-based Rift Resources (RIF-V), which is earning a half-interest in the project from London-based Reunion Mining, has completed a 4,000-metre, 89-hole program of percussion drilling. A number of zones of shearing were identified in two areas that are mineralized over several thousands of metres of strike length.

The program tested parts of the Leith Hills and Northallerton anomalies to an average vertical depth of 30 metres. The holes were drilled to a maximum depth of 60 metres.

At Leith Hills, drilling returned gold values of 5.2 grams per tonne over 2 metres; 3.08 grams over 4 metres; 3.07 grams over 2 metres; 2.98 grams over 4 metres; 2.8 grams over 4 metres; 2.64 grams over 1 metre; 2.1 grams over 4 metres; 1.1 grams over 2 metres; and 0.95 gram over 4 metres.

Additional anomalous gold values in the range of 0.5 to 1 gram per tonne have been obtained over widths of up to 20 metres, and there appear to be at least two other gold-bearing, sub-parallel shears within the main shear zone. A small gold mining operation (not owned by the joint venture) exists on the main shear structure in the southern part of the claim block. The mineralized zone remains untested to the south of the mine for a further 1,500 metres.

Rift says the first-phase drill results indicate that gold mineralization is widespread, continuous and associated with sulphide mineralization (mostly pyrite) in sheared rhyolites, diorites and layered intermediate metavolcanics. Mineralization appears to be open at depth and along strike.

At the Northallerton anomaly, drilling returned gold values of: 7.9 grams over 1 metre; 5.2 grams over 2 metres; 4.03 grams over 10 metres; 3.85 grams over 1 metre; 3.24 grams over 2 metres; 2.33 grams over 2 metres; 1.54 grams over 1 metre; and 1 gram over 2 metres.

Additional anomalous gold values in the range of 0.25 to 1 gram have been obtained over widths of up to 14 metres.

The results suggest that gold mineralization at Northallerton is widespread and associated with sulphide mineralization (pyrite) in sheared diorites and altered intermediate metalvolcanics. The mineralized intercepts at Northallerton represent at least three separate zones of shearing, up to 10 metres in true thickness. Mineralization appears to be open at depth and along strike. As at Leith Hills, continuity of mineralization may be controlled by crosscutting structures.

Rift holds interests in 17 gold projects covering a total of 3 million ha in six African countries.