Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc: Encouraging results from drilling at Blanket Gold Mine’s Eroica zone, including 8.6m at 15.56g/t, 13.44m at 6.62g/t and 22.32m at 4.03g/t

In This Article:

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc

Diagram

Vertical Long Section of Blaen Planket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Takce
Vertical Long Section of Blaen Planket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Takce

Figure 1

Vertical Long Section of the Eroica Zone Showing Recent Drill Results
Vertical Long Section of the Eroica Zone Showing Recent Drill Results

ST HELIER, Jersey, July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (“Caledonia” or the “Company”) (NYSE AMERICAN, AIM and VFEX: CMCL) is pleased to report encouraging results from the ongoing underground drilling program at Blanket Mine which currently targets depth extensions to the Eroica ore body. Approximately 5,600 meters (“m”) of drilling have been completed between January 2023 and the end of May 2023. Initial results indicate that the existing Eroica ore body continues at depth with grades and widths being generally better than expected.

Highlights of the results include:

Hole Identifier

Orebody
Name *

Orebody Intersection

Core
Length (m)

True
width (m)

Gold Grade
(g/t)

Orebody Intersection depth from surface (m)

End of Hole Depth (m)

From (m)

To (m)

ERC750EX2303

ERCN_HW

262.7

278.3

15.6

8.6

15.56

891.4

356.3

ERC750EX2301

ERCN_HW

263.8

281.2

17.4

13.44

6.62

914.9

352.2

ERC750EX2206

ERCN_HW

203.9

246.5

42.6

22.32

4.03

870.3

281.3

* ERCN_HW – Eroica North Hanging Wall
The complete drilling results and locations are provided in Appendix 1 below

Deep level drilling at Blanket Mine was suspended several years ago due to underground logistical constraints and the impact of Covid-19 on contractor operations. Following completion of the Central Shaft and related infrastructure, deep level drilling resumed in January 2023 and is currently focussed on the Eroica ore body where a crosscut has been mined to allow optimal access to drill the deeper zones of the steeply-dipping ore body. Approximately 5,600m of drilling were completed between January 1, 2023 and May 30, 2023; approximately a further 12,900m are planned for the remainder of 2023.

At the Eroica zone, drilling from an exploration drive on the 750m level of the mine has focussed mainly on converting inferred resources to indicated resources, in addition to drilling areas outside of inferred resources as the mineralization extends to depth, between 850m and 1150m below surface (see diagram below and Figure 1 in Appendix 1). This is above the bottom of the new Central Shaft and therefore any resources that are identified in this area will be served by the planned Central Shaft infrastructure.

Diagram: Vertical Long Section of Blanket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Taken Place

Vertical Long Section of Blaen Planket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Takce
Vertical Long Section of Blaen Planket Mine, Showing the Main Orebodies, Mine Infrastructure, Highlighting (Inset Box) the Eroica zone Where Recent Drilling Has Takce

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd1e0f23-0270-40f2-a811-c31af8d7ff0b

Overall, the results confirm the Eroica zone persists to depth as earlier modelled, and, encouragingly, the results indicate that grades and widths are significantly higher than previously thought.