Evolution elevates Edna May Resource

THE DRILL SERGEANT: Evolution Mining has updated the underground Mineral Resource at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Edna May gold operations in Western Australia.

The revised underground Mineral Resource now comprises a total Indicated and Inferred Resource of 1.2 million tonnes at 7.0 grams per tonne gold for a total of 270,000 contained gold ounces.

 

Edna May Underground Mineral Resource Statement February 2012 (> 3.0g/t lower gold cut off). Source: Company announcement

The upgrade resulted from the company’s 2011 drilling campaigns, which were focused on upgrading a high proportion of Inferred Resources to Indicated and extending mineralisation at depth.

The updated Mineral Resource represents a 70 per cent increase in ounces to the previous estimate.

Evolution said it has only defined the underground Mineral Resource to a depth of 550 metres below surface where it remains open both at depth and along strike.

Infill drilling carried out by the company to date has prioritised the upgrade of Inferred Resources close to the existing decline, beneath the current open pit operation.

“This is an encouraging addition to our efforts to maximise the value of Edna May,” Evolution Mining executive chairman Jake Klein said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Our focus at the operation over the next 12 months remains on improving the reliability and performance of the plant, but underground development represents an option for adding value to the long term future at Edna May.”

Evolutions recent drilling program targeted the infill of high value areas of the Resource and extensional targeting aimed at testing depth and strike extensions to mineralisation.

So far this drilling has enabled the company to define additional reefs in the hanging wall of the Edna May Gneiss as well as strong grade continuity both laterally and at depth.