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AFRIcA FocUs

IronRidge moons start

to align in West Africa

IronRidge is targeting a maiden resource at Zaranou, along strike from Chirano, Bibiani
and Ahafo in Ghana, sometime in the first half of 2021. There is also longer-term potential
for a simple standalone gravity operation at Zaranou given the near-surface potential
(50-90m) IronRidge sees

ronRidge Resources Ltd has navigated the timing of drilling at Yakassé, as Iron- “[We’ve] got projects at various stages
Ithe coronavirus pandemic well. Ridge continues with a second phase from greenfields to advanced exploration
“We’re accelerating through COVID,” 15,000m aircore/RC programme at the and we can turn the wheel perpetually
IronRidge chief executive Vincent Mas- Ehuasso target within Zaranou. for the next 6-12 months.”
colo told Paydirt Remote last month. By mid-July, about 10,000m of aircore During that period IronRidge can also
“We have teams in both countries had been completed at Ehuasso, with a turn the dial on the 14.5mt @ 1.31%
[Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana] and we are further 6,000m over the Ebilassokro soil Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana.
operational under the given health and anomaly also planned. Now that ownership of the Mankessim
safety restrictions and procedures. We “The significant increase in meterage South exploration licence – adjacent to
have a strategy in place that will keep to the second phase programme from Ewoyaa – has been granted and there
us funded for the next two years. The 9,000m to 21,000m of predominantly appears some positivity emanating in the
moons are aligning for IronRidge; our aircore drilling is justified given the multi- lithium sector, Mascolo plans to reener-
projects are the most advanced they ple, large-scale targets defined along the gise IronRidge’s ambitions in the battery
have ever been.” Zaranou shear zone with coincident arti- minerals space.
Mascolo did lament that the compa- sanal workings, soil anomalies and deep “Earlier this year we were slowing it
ny’s share price was also at its lowest weathering profile, making grid aircore up significantly because lithium was a
ebb, however, there have been several drilling ideal to efficiently test the targets space people didn’t want to know too
items ticked off recently which could spur ahead of potential RC drilling,” IronRidge much about. But now there is renewed
interest in IronRidge. chief operating officer Len Kolff said. interest,” Mascolo said.
A boon for the company at its flagship IronRidge’s $US6 million cash on hand “It is a cracking project given its prox-
Zaranou gold project in Cote d’Ivoire will allow it to build some momentum in imity to infrastructure. The granting of
came via historical data received from the bustling gold scene in Cote d’Ivoire Mankessim South is key to adding tonnes
drilling by previous owners AngloGold where the company has increased its to the existing maiden resource. It is go-
Ashanti Ltd and Etruscan Resources. ground holding via the acquisition of CA- ing to be a mine, there is no doubt that
Analysis of the data identified Yakassé PRI Metals. we have a lithium mine there in Ghana.
as a drill-ready target in the far south- Through the CAPRI transaction, Iron- “The metallurgy and geology implies a
west of the Zaranou license. Ridge has now consolidated the Vavoua low capital expenditure given the excep-
Five mineralised zones over a 6km portfolio, which boasts high-priority geo- tional proximity to operational infrastruc-
strike and up to 400m width, still open to physical targets adjacent to and along ture, which now gives you an implied
the north and south, have been defined strike from the 2.15 moz Abujar gold re- low operating cost. We have teams on
through past drilling and further encour- source. the ground, and we are progressing,” he
agement for IronRidge are untested “Cote d’Ivoire is pretty full, we got in said.
strong soil anomalies at Yakassé. early and secured our limit,” Mascolo
Weather and logistics will determine said. – Mark Andrews

Page 38 aUgUST 2020 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT