Semafo fills in Wona (March 25, 2003)

Ongoing reverse-circulation drilling by Semafo (SMF-T) has confirmed the continuity of mineralization over the 800-metre northern portion of the Wona oxide gold deposit in Burkina Faso.

The drilling also confirmed an average true width of 20 metres, with one hole returning a maximum width of 38 metres.

Selected results include the following:

• Hole 105 — 31 metres (from 61 metres below surface) grading 3.1 grams gold per tonne, including 7 metres (from 72 metres) of 4.1 grams.
• Hole 107 — 29 metres (from 12 metres) averaging 3.6 grams.
• Hole 109 — 25 metres (from 4 metres) running 4.1 grams gold, including 5 metres (from 7 metres) of 8.5 grams.
• Hole 113 — 22 metres (from 61 metres) grading 3.1 grams gold, including 6 meters (from 77 metres) of 5.4 grams.
• Hole 115 — 40 metres (from 44 metres) of 4.1 grams, including a 7-metre section (from 57 metres) running 11.7 grams.
• Hole 120 — 34 metres (from 29 metres) of 3.2 grams gold.
• Hole 121 — 26 metres (from 22 metres) of 2.8 grams gold.
• Hole 129 — 33 metres (from 42 metres) averaging 3.1 grams gold, including 4 metres (from 42 metres) of 11.1 grams gold.

So far, drilling has traced the gold mineralized structure at Wona over 2.5 km of strike length. Drilling continues, with 6,000 metres planned in all. The US$600,000 program is aimed at tightening up drill-hole spacing to determine grade distribution.

As part of the recent drilling, Semafo sank 547 metres in six diamond drill holes along the central 2 km of strike. The company hopes the results will give some indication of the geotechnical characteristics of Wona and its host rocks.

Wona is one of three deposits that make up the Mana project; the others are Nyafe and Maoula.