🕐12.10.11 - 08:27 Uhr

VATUKOULA GOLD (AIM: VGM) - NEW ORE ZONE DISCOVERED



See below todays exploration update from Vatukoula Gold Mines.
Best, Philippe
Vatukoula Gold Mines plc (VGM or the Company)
New Ore Zone Discovery at Vatukoula Gold Mine
Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc, the AIM listed (AIM:VGM) gold producer, is pleased to report the discovery of Baron dEste, a new high grade ore zone at the Companys 100% owned Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji. Highlights: * Drilling has intersected three new high-grade mineralised structures at Vatukoula which form part of the new Baron dEste ore zone. * This is the first new discovery of a new high-grade ore zone at Vatukoula since the discovery of the Prince William ore zone in the 1980s. * Significant composite intersections include: 124.7 grams of gold per tonne over 0.46 metres; 33.6 grams of gold per tonne over 2.86 metres; 25.46 grams of gold per tonne over 1.07 metres; and 39 grams of gold per tonne over 0.48 metres. * The ore zone has been intersected between 300m to 700m below surface (11 to 23 levels). * The new ore zone is open along strike and down dip. * Drilling continues to further define the extent of this new discovery. * The Baron dEste ore zone sits approximately 300m north of the current mine workings.
David Paxton, CEO of Vatukoula Gold Mines, commented:
"The discovery of the Baron dEste ore zone is highly encouraging as it represents the first new high grade ore zone discovery at our Vatukoula site for over 20 years.

The discovery also substantiates our belief that our Fiji operation has excellent potential to expand its current resource and reserve base with high grade ore zones.

Because of the ease of access of this new ore zone, we believe this discovery will assist in increasing our long-term production profile."
Exploration Update On 10th May 2011 VGM announced the first results from its 2011 exploration programme targeting three main areas; extensions to existing as well as new surface oxide mineralisation, underground high grade ore bodies within the mine envelope and new exploration targets contained within current exploration licenses.

A full update on the progress made during the year on these programmes will be provided by the end of 2011.
New Ore Zone Discovery The Baron dEste discovery is contained within the current Mining Leases and is approximately 300 metres north of current mine workings.
The ore zone has been drilled by three holes which have intersected up to four mineralised structures.

Three of these structures are sub-vertical which have been intersected between 300m and 700m below surface (11 and 23 level), and the fourth is a horizontal structure approximately 700 m below surface.
The vertical structures are roughly orientated in a north-east south-west direction consistent with some of the local and regional controls.

The horizontal structure is thought to be a faulted block of a flatmake structure which is typically mined at Vatukoula.
The three holes drilled targeting this ore zone were completed between the beginning of August 2011 and the end of September 2011 and consisted of a total of 3,116 metres.

All three holes intersected mineralised structures, with the most significant composite intersections being 124.7 grams of gold per tonne over 0.46 metres; 33.6 grams of gold per tonne over 2.86 metres; 25.46 grams of gold per tonne over 1.07 metres and 39 grams of gold per tonne over 0.48 metres.
Summary of composite mineralised intersections: Hole Number (GSE) Co-ordinates Azimuth Angle Advance Composite Mineralised Intersections Au (g/t) Width (m) Ore Body
East North RL
From To
173A 7957 11461 10084 244.3 -60.4 916 620.62 625.80 4.45 5.49 DBX-5
844.87 845.33 124.73 0.46 P-1
899.50 900.09 57.20 0.59 DBX-7 173B 1906228 3944238 10080 235.5 -66.7 1100 648.00 648.25 25.45 0.25 DBX-5
863.55 864.77 26.99 0.42 P-1
869.50 870.00 4.146 0.50 DBX-6
886.45 886.80 14.56 0.35 DBX-7 173C 1906228 3944238 10080 235.5 -66.7 1100 625.42 631.00 0.53 5.58 DBX-5
855.00 859.45 33.57 2.86 P-1
867.00 868.07 25.46 1.07 DBX-6
874.52 875.00 39.64 0.48 DBX-7
The new ore zone is contained within the Caldera which has not been the primary source of flatmake mineralisation at Vatukoula.

Nonetheless our mine geologists consider the mineralised intersections found during our drilling programme to be consistent with those found within a typical ore body at Vatukoula.
Exploration to further define and extend the mineralisation is on-going with holes planned to explore the continuity of the structures towards the caldera contact which forms the geological break between the Basalt (mine area) and Caldera hosted Andesites.


For the year ending August 2012 we intend to focus our drilling programme on Resource and Reserve definition, with some drilling being assigned to an exploration programme within the mining lease.
Qualified Person Kiran Morzaria B.Eng.

(ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement.

Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Kiran is the Finance Director of VGM.


Philippe Polman Account Manager Direct line: +44(0)20 7861 3921 Mobile: +44 (0)7841 672 830 Pelham Bell Pottinger 5th Floor, Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QD Tel: +44 (0)20 7861 3232 Fax: +44 (0)20 7861 3233 www.pelhambellpottinger.co.uk
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