Drilling Update

RNS Number : 4077F

Hambledon Mining PLC

14 June 2012

 



Hambledon Mining plc

("Hambledon" or "Company")

14 June 2012

Update on underground mining and latest drilling results from Sekisovskoye underground project, Kazakhstan

Hambledon Mining Plc (AIM: HMB), the Kazakhstan gold mining and development company, continues to advance its underground mine and associated diamond drill programme to validate and expand the geological resources at Sekisovskoye and today reports the results of further drilling and underground works in Quarter 2.

The results from the programme up to 12^th June 2012 are set out below:

·     126 holes drilled to date, totalling 14,906 metres,

·     The main intersections since the last update include:

·     Hole D116 - 3m at 5.08g/t Au and 2m at 6.55g/t Au,

·     Hole D117 - 2m at 9.88g/t Au and 4m at 6.46g/t Au,

·     Hole D118 - 12m at 16.68g/t Au,

·     Hole D119 - 2m at 4.55g/t Au,

·     Hole D120 - 10m at 3.68g/t Au.

The 126 drill holes have been completed in the upper levels of the underground ore zones and the results are consistent and in many areas exceed the previous geological and mineral resource modelling. 

The assays were carried out in the Altai Ken-Bayitu laboratory with independent verification to be undertaken by the Alex Stewart Group in Karabalta, Kyrgyzstan.

The ore body to be mined in 2012 is ore body number 11 where mining started in Q4, 2011.  The drill results and mined grade (including dilution) compare favourably and provide robust confirmation of the geological model.  

Underground mining

The underground mining continues to advance according to plan with the 326 mrl and 316 mrl stopes being mined at present; development work for the 306mrl stope is ongoing.  All works are being undertaken by the mining contractor who has recently expanded the underground fleet to include additional load haul dump machines and trucks. 

Construction works for the main high voltage substation for the next mining block and associated dewatering station are essentially complete. The main ventilation and air heating house is well advanced.  Progress is according to schedule and is expected to be commissioned in advance of the Kazakhstan winter so that operations are in full compliance with local laws and are able to continue without any effect of the harsh winter climate.

Appendix 1 - Sekisovskoye 2012 - Drill result summary as of 12 June 2012; holes 115 to 123.

No.	HOLE	COORDINATES					DEPTH			GOLD MINERALIZATION_ore intervals
		X	Y	Z	AZI	DIP	drilled	core	total	FROM	TO	LENGTH	AA-AKB LAB, AU, g/t
115	D-142	7308.586	6900.131	325.1329	226.37	-67	233.5	233.5	233.5	2	4	2	2.72
										11	12	1	2.95
										20	21	1	2.49
										27	28	1	1.96
										65	66	1	1.48
										68	69	1	1.78
										118	121	3	1.68
										187	188	1	1.47
116	D-141A	7307.984	6899.739	325.663	226.37	-26	141.6	141.6	141.6	0	3	3	5.08
										13.7	15	1.3	2.25
										31	33	2	6.555
										47	48	1	11.34
117	D-146	7298.624	6786.602	326.3	226.37	-46	116.2	116.2	116.2	33	34	1	1.12
										50	52	2	9.885
										86	87	1	21.76
										88	89.2	1.2	1.1
										94	98	4	6.46
										102	102.5	0.5	15.54
										112	113	1	1.64
118	D-73A				226.37	-11	117	117	117	55	56	1	1.48
										72	73	1	2.81
										84	85	12	1
										88	100	1	16.68
										101	102	1	2.3
119	D-143	7308.108	6899.789	325.294	226.37	-47	160	160	160	2	3	1	2.18
										12	14	2	1.98
										15	17	2	4.55
										36	37	1	1.86
120	D-62	7287.953	6825.35	326.182	227.37	-30	151.2	151.2	151.2	87	88	1	1.35
										102	112	10	3.68
121	D-61	7288.126	6825.515	325.943	226.37	42	140.8	140.8	140.8	96	101	5	2.25
										106	107	1	5.88
										111	113	2	3.4
										116	117.3	1.3	1.06
										121	122	1	1.08
122	D-145	7409.121	6945.942	324.861	46.4	-21	157	157	157	tbc	tbc	tbc	tbc
123	D-145A	7409.139	6945.927	325.414	46.4	0	131.5	131.5	131.5	tbc	tbc	tbc	tbc

Qualified Person

Information in this report relating to the diamond drilling results is based on data reviewed by Timothy Daffern, BEng, MBA, FIMMM, FAusIMM, MCIM, CEng, Chartered Mining Engineer, Chief Executive Officer of Hambledon Mining plc.  Timothy Daffern has in excess of 24 years' experience in mineral project development and evaluation including exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM Rules. 

ENQUIRIES:

HAMBLEDON MINING:

Telephone [phone]

Charles Zorab

FAIRFAX I.S. PLC (NOMAD AND BROKER):

Telephone [phone]

Ewan Leggat/Katy Birkin

TAVISTOCK COMMUNICATIONS:

Telephone [phone]

Ed Portman/Jos Simson

 

END

 

 

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