Drilling Report
November 13 2003 - 9:30AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:0407S
Thistle Mining Inc.
13 November 2003
Thistle Mining Inc.
Success at the Eldorado Massive Project
6.3 Tonnes of Gold Added to the Resource Category
Toronto, 13 November 2003. (TSX:THT, AIM:TMG) The directors of Thistle Mining
are pleased to announce the discovery of two significant resource blocks in the
Eldorado Reef Package at the President Steyn complex in South Africa. The
blocks have been identified as a part of the on-going compilation and
interpretation of historical data received during 2003. The results to date
have arisen from examination of a strike length of 150 metres out of a total
area of 2.5 kilometres.
The resource consists of two blocks, totalling 740,000 tonnes with an in-situ
grade of 8.5 grammes per tonne. The blocks are situated at the top end of the
Northern section of the mine approximately two and a half kilometres from the
Steyn Three shaft.
The first block, "Line 65; Block #1" comprises vertically stacked thick
auriferous reef packages 12.5 metres wide between the EA1 - EA5 units. The
North - South strike length of this block is 150 metres. The resource sits
between the 52 and 54 levels of the mine site giving a vertical depth of 100
metres.
The second block, "Line 65; Block #2" is twenty metres above Block #1 and
comprises a 15 metre wide reef package developed between the EA7 - EA 7A units.
The down dip extension in the East - West direction is 125 metres.
A programme of sixteen drill holes will be undertaken to lift the indicated
resource to the measured category, prior to the commencement of mining. It is
anticipated that mining of the newly identified blocks, utilising existing
infrastructure, will commence in approximately three months time (following
completion of an operating mine plan). Once this mining commences, it is
estimated that approximately 20,000 tonnes per month will be produced from the
blocks. The company has yet to decide whether to expand its own workforce to
mine these blocks or to use contract miners at a cost of approximately ZAR 250
per tonne. The ore will be treated at the Southern Section process plant in the
short term.
Commenting on the results Mr William McLucas said "This initial discovery covers
only a small part of what we currently believe to be a much larger ore body. It
is very good news indeed to be able to commence mining from the area in the
short term. This high grade ore will be very profitable to treat, even at this
prevailing high Rand exchange rate."
Peter Camden-Smith, (M.Sc. (UCT); G.D.Eng. (Wits); M.B.L. (Unisa); Pr.Sci.Nat.)
the Company's independent consulting geologist, commenting on the results to
date said "This is a very encouraging start to the programme we planned in late
2002 of targeting the multi million ounce potential of the Eldorado Reef
system."
The full report from the Company's independent geologist will be available
shortly on the Company's web site www.thistlemining.com and on SEDAR.
For further information contact:
Willie McLucas
President and CEO
William.mclucas@thistlemining.com
+ 44 131 557 6222
+ 44 7836 638 912
or
Harvey McKenzie
Chief Financial Officer
Harvey.mckenzie@thistlemining.com
+ 1 416 594 3293
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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