Loncor Gold Inc. ("
Loncor" or the
"
Company") (TSX: "LN"; OTCQX: "LONCF”; FSE:
"LO51") is pleased to announce an increase and upgrade in mineral
resources at its Adumbi deposit in the Imbo Project (Loncor 84.68%)
in the D.R. Congo.
Compared to the inferred mineral resource of
3.15 million ounces of gold (41.316 million tonnes grading 2.37 g/t
Au) outlined in April 2021 (see Company press release dated April
27, 2021), the additional drilling information and the increased
gold price used, have contributed significantly to the increased
mineral resources of the Adumbi deposit with improved confidence to
1.88 million ounces of gold in the indicated category and 1.78
million ounces of gold in the inferred category. 84.68% of these
mineral resources are attributable to Loncor via its 84.68%
interest in the Imbo Project.
Table I below summarises the Adumbi indicated
and inferred mineral resources based on in-situ block cut-off grade
at a 0.52 g/t Au for Oxide, 0.57 g/t Au for Transition and 0.63 g/t
Au for Fresh material, and constrained within a US$1,600 per ounce
optimized pit shell.
Table I: Adumbi Deposit Indicated and
Inferred Mineral Resources(effective date:
November 17, 2021)
Mineral Resource Category |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Indicated |
28,185,000 |
2.08 |
1,883,000 |
Inferred |
20,828,000 |
2.65 |
1,777,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Tables II below summarise the indicated and
inferred category mineral resources in terms of material type.
Table II: Adumbi Mineral Resources by
Material Type(effective date: November 17,
2021)
|
INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCE |
INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE |
|
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Gold |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Gold |
Material Type |
(Tonnes) |
(g/t Au) |
(Ounces) |
(Tonnes) |
(g/t Au) |
(Ounces) |
Oxide |
3,169,000 |
2.05 |
208,000 |
458,000 |
3.39 |
49,000 |
Transitional |
3,401,000 |
2.51 |
274,000 |
280,000 |
2.74 |
24,000 |
Fresh (Sulphide) |
21,614,000 |
2.02 |
1,400,000 |
20,089,000 |
2.64 |
1,703,000 |
TOTAL |
28,185,000 |
2.08 |
1,883,000 |
20,828,000 |
2.65 |
1,777,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Commenting on today’s mineral resource increase
and upgrade at Adumbi, Loncor’s President Peter Cowley said: “This
increase in mineral resources within a US$1,600 pit shell to 3.66
million ounces of gold includes an indicated mineral resource of
1.88 million ounces of gold and was achieved by infill drilling the
shallower part of the Adumbi deposit. Compared to the previous
resource estimate in April 2021, the indicated and inferred
tonnages, grades and ounces for this resource update, are expected
and relate to drilling density and increasing gold grades with
depth at Adumbi (see Company press release dated April 27,
2021-Table III). Gold mineralization is still open at depth below
the pit shell where the favourable banded ironstone formation host
(“BIF”) is thickening and demonstrates potential
for additional underground mineral resources. The mineral resources
within the pit shell will be incorporated into the Preliminary
Economic Assessment (“PEA”) which the Company is
undertaking to determine the economic viability of Adumbi and which
is due for completion in December this year.”
This mineral resource assessment was undertaken
by the Company’s independent geological consultants Minecon
Resources and Services Limited (“Minecon”). The
updated estimate for Adumbi was based on the additional drilling
and a review of the Adumbi deposit including remodelling and grade
estimation and considering the CIM requirement for mineral
resources to have “reasonable prospects for economic
extraction”.
Drilling Results included in Mineral
Resource UpdateAn additional fourteen core holes totaling
6,362.59 metres were drilled with the focus in areas within the pit
shell where insufficient drilling had been undertaken to outline
mineral resources. The upper part of the open pit shell was drilled
at closer spacing in order to upgrade mineral resources from the
inferred to indicated category.
Table III below summarises the significant
intercepts of the additional drillholes that were included in this
November 2021 mineral resource:
Table III: Core Hole Results from 2021
Drilling Program
Borehole |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Intercept Width (m) |
Grade (g/t) Au |
LADD009 |
559.76 |
564.76 |
5.00 |
3.17 |
LADD009 |
581.90 |
614.05 |
32.15 |
6.17 |
LADD009 including |
599.05 |
600.51 |
1.46 |
94.77 |
LADD009 |
629.56 |
644.92 |
15.36 |
3.73 |
LADD009 including |
632.00 |
637.89 |
5.89 |
6.56 |
LADD009 |
650.50 |
657.95 |
7.45 |
1.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD012 |
784.35 |
797.80 |
13.45 |
3.63 |
LADD012 including |
784.35 |
786.35 |
2.00 |
9.56 |
LADD012 |
806.30 |
810.35 |
4.05 |
4.73 |
LADD012 |
784.35 |
797.80 |
13.45 |
3.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD013 |
394.06 |
401.10 |
7.04 |
2.68 |
LADD013 |
418.65 |
438.65 |
20.00 |
4.21 |
LADD013including |
419.75 |
430.75 |
11.0 |
6.91 |
LADD013 |
452.30 |
469.60 |
17.30 |
2.48 |
LADD013 including |
457.35 |
465.55 |
8.20 |
4.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD014 |
670.00 |
681.80 |
11.80 |
2.97 |
LADD014 including |
670.00 |
673.53 |
3.53 |
6.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD015 |
24.43 |
31.50 |
6.07 |
1.77 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD016 |
672.85 |
680.94 |
8.09 |
1.90 |
LADD016 |
731.51 |
757.10 |
25.59 |
2.39 |
including |
737.18 |
743.27 |
6.09 |
4.78 |
including |
749.67 |
752.56 |
2.89 |
4.98 |
LADD016 |
672.85 |
680.94 |
8.09 |
1.90 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD017 |
45.55 |
62.70 |
17.15 |
1.90 |
LADD017 |
92.68 |
118.45 |
25.77 |
6.24 |
LADD017 including |
100.76 |
110.05 |
9.29 |
9.68 |
LADD017 including |
112.95 |
118.45 |
5.50 |
9.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD018 |
93.34 |
113.70 |
20.36 |
0.93 |
LADD018 |
152.48 |
178.20 |
25.72 |
2.26 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD019 |
4.57 |
11.60 |
7.03 |
2.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD021 |
75.21 |
88.17 |
12.96 |
2.09 |
LADD021 |
99.74 |
106.00 |
6.26 |
1.09 |
LADD021 |
144.78 |
160.51 |
15.73 |
5.28 |
LADD021 including |
144.78 |
149.78 |
5.00 |
13.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD022 |
20.50 |
42.00 |
21.50 |
2.23 |
LADD022 including |
25.50 |
34.00 |
8.50 |
4.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD023 |
227.10 |
261.73 |
34.63 |
3.12 |
LADD023 including |
231.65 |
237.40 |
5.75 |
7.23 |
LADD023 including |
248.10 |
255.25 |
7.15 |
5.55 |
LADD023 |
270.43 |
300.25 |
29.82 |
1.77 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD024 |
216.15 |
227.65 |
11.50 |
3.47 |
LADD024 including |
224.10 |
227.65 |
3.55 |
7.79 |
LADD024 |
235.97 |
253.75 |
17.78 |
3.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD025 |
258.38 |
266.00 |
7.62 |
1.16 |
LADD025 |
279.50 |
286.35 |
6.85 |
3.44 |
LADD025 |
301.10 |
311.57 |
10.47 |
1.74 |
LADD025 |
321.60 |
336.20 |
14.60 |
2.11 |
LADD025 |
342.65 |
361.75 |
19.10 |
4.11 |
LADD025 including |
349.00 |
357.75 |
8.75 |
5.40 |
Note: 1. It is estimated that the true widths of
the mineralised sections for core holes LADD009, LADD012, LADD013,
LADD014, LADD015, LDD016, LADD017, LADD018, LADD019, LADD021,
LADD022, LADD023, LADD024 and LADD025 are, respectively, 82%, 86%,
85%, 78%, 65%, 69%, 71%, 75%, 65%, 73% 58%, 76%, 77% and 78% of the
intercepted widths in the above table.
Core Logging & Geological
ControlsGold mineralization at Adumbi is found within a
BIF (Banded Iron Formation) unit with a strike length of 850 metres
and up to 130 metres in thickness (see Figures 1, 3, 5 below:
Geologic Plan and Geologic Cross Sections of the Adumbi Deposit).
Four main zones of gold mineralization are present within the BIF
and are located in:
- the upper part of the Upper BIF
Sequence,
- the lower part of the Upper BIF
Sequence separated by the Carbonaceous Marker, which is essentially
unmineralized, and
- within the Lower BIF Sequence.
There is a higher-grade zone of gold
mineralization termed the Replaced Rock Zone (“RP
Zone”) associated with alteration and structural
deformation that has destroyed the primary host BIF fabric. The RP
Zone occurs in the lower part of the Upper BIF and in the Lower
BIF, and transgresses the Carbonaceous Marker, located between the
Upper and Lower BIF zones, both along strike and down dip.
Geological Modelling and Grade
EstimationThe Adumbi 3-dimensional model was constructed
by Minecon in collaboration with on site geologists using cross
sectional and horizontal flysch plans of the geology and
mineralization and was used to assist in the constraining of the
3-D geological model. The mineralization model was constrained
within a wireframe at 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade. Grade interpolation
was undertaken using:
- 2 metre sample composites capped at
18 g/t Au to improve the reliability of the block grade
estimates.
- Ordinary Kriging to interpolate
grades into the block model.
- Relative densities of 2.45 for
oxide, 2.82 for transitional and 3.05 for fresh rock were applied
to the block model for tonnage estimation.
Pit Optimisation ParametersTo
constrain the depth extent of the geological model and any mineral
resources, an open pit for the Adumbi deposit was constructed based
on the following pit optimisation parameters:
- A gold price of US$1,600 per
ounce.
- Block size: 16 metres x 16 metres x
8 metres.
- A thirty-two metres minimum mining
width and a maximum of four metres of internal waste was
applied.
- Mining dilution of 100% of the
tonnes at 95% of the grade.
- Ultimate slope angle of minus 45
degrees.
- Metallurgical recoveries of 91% for
oxide, 88% for transitional and 90% for sulphide (based on
diagnostic metallurgical testwork as part of PEA).
- Average mining cost of
US$3.29/tonne mined.
- Average processing cost of
US$17.81/tonne for oxides, US$18.92/tonne for transitional and
US$22.13/tonne for sulphide.
- Average general and administration
cost of US$4.20/tonne.
- Mineral
resources were estimated at a block cut-off grade of 0.52 g/t Au
for oxide, 0.57 g/t Au for transition materials and 0.63 g/t Au for
fresh material constrained by a US$1,600 per ounce optimized pit
shell (see Figures 4, 6 and 7 below).
- Transport of gold and refining
costs equivalent to 4.5% of the gold price.
- No additional studies on depletion
by artisanal activity was undertaken since the RPA study of 2014
and the same total amount of material was used by Minecon.
Tonnage/Grade
CurveGrade/tonnage curves for the Adumbi mineral resources
at various gold cut-offs are summarised in Table IV and the graph
below:
Table IV: Adumbi Mineral
Resources at various gold cut-offs
Block Cut-off |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Au |
g/t Au |
million tonnes |
g/t Au |
million ounces |
0.0 |
51.60 |
2.23 |
3.70 |
0.5 |
50.10 |
2.29 |
3.68 |
1.0 |
41.15 |
2.61 |
3.45 |
1.5 |
29.07 |
3.17 |
2.97 |
2.0 |
21.76 |
3.66 |
2.56 |
2.5 |
16.06 |
4.17 |
2.15 |
3.0 |
12.12 |
4.63 |
1.80 |
The Grade - Tonnage Curve accompanying this table is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2221a72e-698f-4295-8242-9c3fdb344163
The Adumbi deposit is found within Loncor’s Imbo
Project, which contains two other deposits, Kitenge and Manzako. As
a result of the increased mineral resources at Adumbi, the total
inferred mineral resource of the Imbo Project is now 2.09 million
ounces of gold (22.508 million tonnes grading 2.89 g/t Au) and is
summarised in Table V below. 84.68% of this inferred mineral
resource is attributable to Loncor via its 84.68% interest in the
Imbo Project.
Table V: Inferred Mineral Resource for
the Imbo Project (effective date: November 17, 2021)
Deposit |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Adumbi |
20,828,000 |
2.65 |
1,777,000 |
Kitenge |
910,000 |
6.60 |
191,000 |
Manzako |
770,000 |
5.00 |
122,000 |
TOTAL |
22,508,000 |
2.89 |
2,090,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Combined with the Company’s Makapela Project,
which is situated approximately 50 kilometres northwest of the Imbo
Project, total mineral resources at Loncor’s properties in the
Ngayu belt now stand at 2.497 million ounces of indicated mineral
resources (30.390 million tonnes grading 2.56 g/t Au) and 2.639
million ounces of inferred mineral resources (25.731 million tonnes
grading 3.19 g/t Au) as summarised in Table VI below:
Table VI: Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources on
Loncor Properties in the Ngayu Belt (effective date: November 17,
2021).
Mineral Resource Category |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Indicated |
30,390,000 |
2.56 |
2,497.000 |
Inferred |
25,731,000 |
3.19 |
2,639,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Quality Control and Quality
AssuranceDrill cores for assaying were taken at a maximum
of one-metre intervals and were cut with a diamond saw, with
one-half of the core placed in sealed bags by Company geologists
and sent to the Company’s on-site sample preparation facility. The
core samples were then crushed down to 80% passing minus 2 mm and
split with one half of the sample up to 1.5 kg pulverized down to
90% passing 75 microns. Approximately 150 grams of the pulverized
sample was then sent to the SGS Laboratory in Mwanza, Tanzania
(independent of the Company). Gold analyses were carried out on 50g
aliquots by fire assay. In addition, check assays were also carried
out by the screen fire assay method to verify high-grade sample
assays obtained initially by fire assay. As part of the Company’s
QA/QC procedures, internationally recognized standards, blanks and
duplicates were inserted into the sample batches prior to
submitting to SGS Laboratory.
Qualified PersonMr. Daniel
Bansah, Chairman and Managing Director of Minecon, is the
"qualified person" (as such term is defined in National Instrument
43-101) who is responsible for the mineral resource estimates and
other technical information disclosed in this press release. Mr.
Bansah has reviewed and approved the contents of this press
release.
Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:
Figure 1: Geologic Plan of the Adumbi
Deposithttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71805815-e77c-48ef-9387-3bca872a416a
Figure 2: Adumbi Longitudinal Section Looking Northeast
with Drill Hole (Grade x
Metre)https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/381367ec-0cd0-42f8-a3db-3a9f3f786ac9
Figure 3: Geological Cross Section
A-Bhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/02c27033-ce38-49ba-af3b-828c12b9425b
Figure 4: Grade Block Model Cross Section
A-Bhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bf8f0c0-a9cf-4d12-b29a-753f57627338
Figure 5: Geological Cross Section
C-Dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ad20050-05dd-4050-92e2-c22b4467a6d4
Figure 6: Grade Block Model Cross Section
C-Dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c15be48-63c5-4295-9964-3dfa4b0d5b08
Figure 7: 3-D mineralised model showing the April 2021
and the November 2021 pit
shellshttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a2f99c3-c600-4721-ac36-84e3b8d7e5cd
Technical ReportsAdditional
information with respect to the Company’s Imbo Project (which
includes the Adumbi deposit) is contained in the technical report
of Minecon Resources and Services Limited dated April 27, 2021 and
entitled "Updated Resource Statement and Independent National
Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Imbo Project, Ituri Province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo". A copy of the said report can be
obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Information with respect to the Company’s
Makapela Project, and certain other properties of the Company in
the Ngayu gold belt, is contained in the technical report of Venmyn
Rand (Pty) Ltd dated May 29, 2012 and entitled "Updated National
Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on the Ngayu Gold
Project, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo". A
copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
About Loncor Gold Inc. Loncor
is a Canadian gold exploration company focussed on the Ngayu
Greenstone Gold Belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (the "DRC"). The Loncor team has over
two decades of experience of operating in the DRC. Loncor’s growing
resource base in the Ngayu Belt currently comprises the Imbo and
Makapela Projects. At the Imbo Project, the Adumbi deposit holds an
indicated mineral resource of 1.88 million ounces of gold (28.185
million tonnes grading 2.08 g/t gold), and the Adumbi deposit and
two neighbouring deposits hold an inferred mineral resource of
2.090 million ounces of gold (22.508 million tonnes grading 2.89
g/t Au), with 84.68% of these resources being attributable to
Loncor. Loncor has been carrying out a drilling program at the
Adumbi deposit with the objective of outlining additional mineral
resources. The Makapela Project (which is 100%-owned by Loncor and
is located approximately 50 kilometres from the Imbo Project) has
an indicated mineral resource of 614,200 ounces of gold (2.20
million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t Au) and an inferred mineral
resource of 549,600 ounces of gold (3.22 million tonnes grading
5.30 g/t Au).
Additional information with respect to Loncor
and its projects can be found on Loncor's website at
www.loncor.com
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a
rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes
standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific
and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless
otherwise indicated, all resource estimates contained in this press
release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and resource
information contained in this press release may not be comparable
to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.
Cautionary Note Concerning
Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains
forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments
that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur
in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding
mineral resource estimates, drill results at the Adumbi deposit,
potential underground mineral resources, undertaking the Adumbi
Preliminary Economic Assessment to determine the economic viability
of Adumbi, potential mineralization, potential gold discoveries,
drill targets, exploration results, and future exploration and
development) are forward-looking information. This forward-looking
information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the
Company based on information currently available to the Company.
Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
information, and even if such actual results are realized or
substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will
have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.
Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from current expectations include, among other things,
the possibility that future exploration (including drilling) or
development (including the Adumbi Preliminary Economic Assessment)
results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, the
possibility that drilling programs will be delayed, activities of
the Company may be adversely impacted by the continued spread of
the widespread outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel
strain of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”), including the ability of
the Company to secure additional financing, risks related to the
exploration stage of the Company's properties, uncertainties
relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the
future, failure to establish estimated mineral resources (the
Company’s mineral resource figures are estimates and no assurances
can be given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced),
changes in world gold markets or equity markets, political
developments in the DRC, gold recoveries being less than those
indicated by the metallurgical testwork carried out to date (there
can be no assurance that gold recoveries in small scale laboratory
tests will be duplicated in large tests under on-site conditions or
during production), fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
inflation, changes to regulations affecting the Company's
activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required
project approvals, the uncertainties involved in interpreting
drilling results and other geological data and the other risks
disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the
Company's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 31, 2021 filed on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking
information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and,
except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the
Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the
Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the
forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking
information is not a guarantee of future performance and
accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information
due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Cautionary Note Concerning Mineral
Resource Estimates The mineral resource figures referred
to in this press release are estimates and no assurances can be
given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced. Such
estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining
experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when
new information becomes available. While the Company believes that
the mineral resource estimates included in this press release are
well established, by their nature mineral resource estimates are
imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical
inferences which may ultimately prove unreliable. If such estimates
are inaccurate or are reduced in the future, this could have a
material adverse impact on the Company.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and
do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral reserves through
continued exploration.
Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to
inferred mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any
part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an
indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued
exploration. Confidence in the estimate is insufficient to allow
meaningful application of the technical and economic parameters to
enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public
disclosure (except in certain limited circumstances). Inferred
mineral resources are excluded from estimates forming the basis of
a feasibility study.
For further information, please visit our
website at www.loncor.com or contact:
John Barker, CEO, +44 7547 159 521Peter Cowley,
President, +44 7904 540 856
Loncor Gold (TSX:LN)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2024 bis Jan 2025
Loncor Gold (TSX:LN)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jan 2024 bis Jan 2025