2023-05-22 03:19:33
Calgary, Alberta–(Newsfile Corp. – May 22, 2023) – Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: ALEX) (“Alpha” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce results from recent drilling in 2023 at its Aburna Gold Prospect, which consisted of 19 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes and 4 RC drill hole extensions totalling 2,408m, from the Hill 52 and Central Target Areas. Aburna is located in the southwest part of Alpha’s large (771 km²), 100% owned, Kerkasha Project. Drilling is ongoing and further information will be released when available and interpreted.
TABLE 1: HILL 52 AND CENTRAL TARGET AREA DRILL HOLE HIGHLIGHTS – MAY 2023
| TARGET AREA | HOLE | FROM (M) | TO (M) | INTERVAL (M) | AVERAGE G/T GOLD |
| Central Area | ABR064 | 38 | 72 | 34 | 1.50 |
| Central Area | ABR031 | 130 | 148 | 18 | 2.27 |
| Central Area | ABR034 | 101 | 131 | 30 | 1.23 |
| Central Area | ABR034 | 148 | 156 | 8 | 3.67 |
| Central Area | ABR032 | 118 | 147 | 29 | 0.98 |
| Central Area | ABR060 | 42 | 87 | 45 | 0.60 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR039 | 87 | 92 | 5 | 6.31 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR056 | 55 | 67 | 12 | 2.12 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR059 | 34 | 55 | 21 | 1.04 |
Note: At this early stage of exploration, the true width of the mineralization is uncertain, but it is estimated to be 80% of reported intervals. Intervals were calculated with a start and finish value of no less than 0.2 g/t gold, a minimum width of 2m and maximum internal dilution of 2m at >0.2g/t gold.
Michael Hopley, Alpha President & CEO said “The significant results returned to date from the latest drilling at the Hill 52 and Central Target Areas (see Table 1) within the Aburna Prospect have extended the mineralisation in drilling along strike from 200m to 460m at Hill 52 Area and from 120m to 220m at the Central Area. The mineralisation remains open along strike in both directions and it appears these two Areas may merge into one Area eventually. Alpha will undertake further drilling to test this idea”.
FIGURE 1: HILL 52 TARGET AREA DRILL HOLE PLAN WITH ASSAYS PROJECTED TO SURFACE & SECTION 2000
TABLE 2: HILL 52 DRILL HOLE INFORMATION – MAY 2023
| Target Area | Hole | Depth (m) | Comment |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR018 | 74 | Pre collar RC hole ABR018 drilled on 18-03-22 to 70m |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR039 | 204 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR050 | 76 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR051 | 52 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR052 | 48 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR053 | 82 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR054 | 138 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR055 | 54 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR056 | 114 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR057 | 144 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR058 | 167 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR059 | 138 | |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR067 | 100 | |
| Total | 1,391 |
FIGURE 2: SECTION 2000 – HILL 52 TARGET AREA
FIGURE 3: CENTRAL TARGET AREA DRILL HOLE PLAN WITH ASSAYS PROJECTED TO SURFACE & SECTION 2600
TABLE 3: CENTRAL TARGET AREA DRILL HOLE INFORMATION – MAY 2023
| Target Area | Hole | Depth (m) | Comment |
| Central Area | ABR031 | 54 | Pre collar RC hole ABR031 drilled on 08-09-2022 to 108m |
| Central Area | ABR032 | 110 | Pre collar RC hole ABR032 drilled on 09-09-2022 to 106m |
| Central Area | ABR034 | 45 | Pre collar RC hole ABR034 drilled from 12-09-2022 to 13-09-2022 to 126m |
| Central Area | ABR060 | 96 | |
| Central Area | ABR061 | 114 | |
| Central Area | ABR062 | 114 | |
| Central Area | ABR063 | 126 | |
| Central Area | ABR064 | 96 | |
| Central Area | ABR065 | 112 | |
| Central Area | ABR066 | 150 | |
| Total | 1,017 |
FIGURE 4: SECTION 2600 – CENTRAL TARGET AREA
The gold anomalies from soil, channel and trench sampling that define the Hill 52 and Central Area cover a strike length of approximately 1.5kms. This 1.5km anomalous Area is part of a much larger 7.2km long gold anomalous zone from soil, channel and trench sampling that has six Target Areas in total (Aburna Colonial Gold Mine, Saddle Workings, Celebration Hill, Hill 52, Central and Northeast) that define the Aburna Prospect as a whole (see Fig 5) . The drilling to date at the Hill 52 and Central Areas has only tested a strike of approximately 800m and this remains open to the northeast and southwest.
FIGURE 5: SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY FOR GOLD WITH THE FOUR CURRENT TARGET AREAS AT ABURNA
Michael Hopley, Alpha President & CEO said “The Aburna Prospect is continuing to demonstrate it has the potential to return a multi-million ounce gold deposit. The Hill 52, Central, Northeast and Celebration Hill Target Areas drill tested to date (see Fig 6) , have all returned widths and grades (see Table 4) that could conform to an economic deposit”.
To date, Alpha has completed a total of 5 Diamond drill holes for 881.1m and 73 Reverse Circulation drill holes for a total of 8,837m at Aburna.
TABLE 4: DRILL HOLE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 4 TARGET AREAS DRILLED TO DATE
| Target Area | Year Drilled | Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Average g/t Gold |
| Celebration-Hill Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR008 | 49 | 63 | 14 | 3.79 |
| Celebration-Hill Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR027 | 126 | 152 | 26 | 1.36 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR064 | 38 | 72 | 34 | 1.50 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR031 | 130 | 148 | 18 | 2.27 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR034 | 101 | 131 | 30 | 1.23 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR034 | 148 | 156 | 8 | 3.67 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR032 | 118 | 147 | 29 | 0.98 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR060 | 42 | 87 | 45 | 0.60 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR031 | 69 | 104 | 35 | 0.69 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR015 | 17 | 24 | 7 | 3.40 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR032 | 33 | 38 | 5 | 3.80 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR061 | 69 | 92 | 23 | 0.70 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR032 | 53 | 59 | 6 | 2.21 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR015 | 95 | 114 | 19 | 0.64 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR063 | 39 | 58 | 19 | 0.60 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR065 | 87 | 104 | 17 | 0.60 |
| Central Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR065 | 71 | 84 | 13 | 0.78 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD001 | 89 | 112 | 23 | 6.74 |
| Hill-52 Area | drilled in 2022 | ABR018 | 50 | 69 | 19 | 5.19 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR005 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 5.85 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD001 | 64 | 72 | 8 | 4.65 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR039 | 87 | 92 | 5 | 6.31 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD002 | 105 | 109 | 4 | 7.86 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR056 | 55 | 67 | 12 | 2.12 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD002 | 56 | 77 | 21 | 1.08 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR059 | 34 | 55 | 21 | 1.04 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR021 | 33 | 50 | 17 | 1.21 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR002 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2.69 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD001 | 44 | 60 | 16 | 0.99 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR001 | 32 | 46 | 14 | 1.01 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR059 | 0 | 23 | 23 | 0.58 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD002 | 80 | 81 | 1 | 12.85 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR023 | 71 | 80 | 9 | 1.38 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR024 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1.72 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR058 | 84 | 96 | 12 | 0.92 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2023 | ABR056 | 49 | 52 | 3 | 3.55 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABD004 | 140 | 147 | 7 | 1.45 |
| Hill-52 Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR023 | 53 | 66 | 13 | 0.77 |
| Northeast Area | Drilled in 2022 | ABR037 | 14 | 30 | 16 | 14.07 |
Note: At this early stage of exploration, the true width of the mineralization is uncertain, but it is estimated to be 80% of reported intervals. Intervals were calculated with a start and finish value of no less than 0.2 g/t gold, a minimum width of 2m and maximum internal dilution of 2m at >0.2g/t gold.
FIGURE 6: ALL DRILL HOLE LOCATIONS TO DATE AT ABURNA WITH TARGET AREAS ON GEOLOGY
Aburna Gold Prospect
The Aburna gold prospect is located on the western side of the Company’s Kerkasha Exploration License. Gold was mined at Aburna in the 1920s by Italian Colonial Miners and more recently by local Artisanal Miners. Soil and rock-chip sampling by Alpha has identified gold mineralization over a large area (¬7.2 km x 2.2 km) northeast of the Colonial Mine. Gold mineralization at Aburna is orogenic type associated with a major (¬2km wide) NE-SW oriented shear zone. Work by Alpha has included regional rock chip sampling, 100m x 100m soil sampling, lithological and structural mapping, with 1m traverse-channel-trench sampling. Results from all the above work identified six prospective sub-areas that warranted drill testing namely: Hill 52, Northeast, Celebration Hill, Central and Saddle Workings and the Aburna Colonial Gold Mine. Drilling commenced in 2022 with significant intercepts for gold returned from the Hill 52, Northeast, Celebration Hill and Central Areas. No significant results were returned from 2 drill holes at Saddle Workings and, the Aburna Colonial Mine has yet to be drill tested. Petrographic studies are underway along with a ground magnetic survey. An induced polarisation survey is due to commence in late May 2023 and preliminary metallurgical test work is expected to commence on drill samples in Q3 2023.
Sampling, Sub-sampling and Analysis
Geological consultants from RSC were responsible for the design of a strict QA/QC program consistent with industry best practice. Drilling of the reported intervals was by both reverse-circulation (RC) and diamond drilling. RC samples were split at the rig using a Metzke splitter, before being transported to a secure location for logging. Diamond drill core was cut in half longitudinally at site using a diamond saw and half of the core (in 1-meter intervals) was transported to a secure location for logging.
All samples were submitted to Nabro Laboratories Limited (Nabro), Asmara, Eritrea, for sample preparation. Samples were crushed (to 90% passing 2.8 mm) and pulverised (to 85% passing 75 µm). Two scoop samples were taken from the pulveriser bowl: approximately 120 g for laboratory analysis and approximately 100 g for portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis. The coarse and pulp rejects were stored at a warehouse in Asmara. The Company inserted certified reference material from OREAS (www.ore.com.au) into the sample stream, while Nabro inserted barren granodiorite material into the sample stream as a blank. Drill samples were shipped to ALS Geochemistry (ALS), Loughrea, Ireland, for analysis. ALS analysed all drill samples for gold by method Au-AA26 (50 g charge fire assay, AAS finish). ALS is independent of the Company and its quality management systems framework is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005or certified to ISO 9001:2015standards.
About Alpha Exploration Ltd.
Alpha is an exploration company listed on the TSX-V exchange under the symbol ALEX that has made three important discoveries in two years at it’s Kerkasha Project in Eritrea:
- Aburna orogenic gold
- Anagulu porphyry gold-copper
- Tolegimja volcanogenic-massive-sulphide (VMS)
The company is managed by a group of highly experienced and successful professionals with many years of experience carrying out exploration and resource development programs in Eritrea and Sudan and is focused on the discovery of world class economic gold and base metals deposits in the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian shield, on either side of the Red Sea. Alpha currently holds a 100% interest in the large (771 km2) Kerkasha Exploration License in southwest Eritrea, located 135 km west-southwest of the capital city of Asmara. Since acquiring the property in January 2018, the company has spent ~CAD$16 million on exploration and identified 20 prospects of which six have been drilled to date.
For further information go to the Alpha webpage at www.alpha-exploration.com or contact:
Michael Hopley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Exploration Ltd.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +44 207129 1148
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this press release, including the results of the Aburna drill program and how these results relate to the ongoing exploration at the Kerkasha Project has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Michael Hopley, President, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha and a “qualified person” for the purposes of national Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Cautionary Notes
This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.
Forward‐Looking Statements
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to future dataset interpretations, sampling, plans for its projects (including the Anagulu prospect), surveys related to Alpha’s assets, and the Company’s drilling program. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as “estimate”, “project”, “belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, Alpha has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions and the price of gold and other minerals. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Although management of Alpha believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to Alpha’s financing efforts; risks associated with the business of Alpha given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to exploration activities; those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Final Prospectus; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. Alpha does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.