Drill results from Dugbe F

RNS Number : 1633G

Hummingbird Resources PLC

09 May 2011

 



Hummingbird Resources plc

("Hummingbird" or the "Company" or the "Group")

(AIM: HUM)

Drill results from Dugbe F and development of regional Dugbe Shear Zone model

Highlights

The Dugbe F gold project (within the Dugbe Shear Zone)

-     67 new diamond core holes drilled for + 7,000 m.

-     Assays of first 14 holes received - significantly extend known gold mineralisation.

-     Grades of up to 5.93 g/t gold.

-     Include 6.66 m at 2.35 g/t, 10.30m at 2.19 g/t and 10.5 m at 2.6 g/t.

-     Further 30 holes give elevated arsenic levels previously shown to indicate gold mineralisation - assays awaited.

The Dugbe Shear Zone

-     3,616 soil samples collected within vicinity of Dugbe F.

-     Positive soil geochemistry within 5km radius of Dugbe F indicates extensive continuation of Dugbe F gold mineralisation system.

Click below for a map of Dugbe Shear Zone soil anomalies and a map showing Dugbe F assay results:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1633G_-2011-5-7.pdf 

Commenting today, Daniel Betts, CEO of Hummingbird Resources plc said: "The huge volume of data being produced by our field teams is very satisfying. The developing regional geological model is becoming significantly more exciting in terms of potential, and our soil programme results would seem to robustly substantiate these theories.  This includes some extremely encouraging soil results at Tuzon only 3km to the east Dugbe F deposit, which represents our single biggest undrilled soil anomaly to date.

Furthermore drilling is continuing at speed and with over 7,000 m of drilling completed to date this year, the early results do not only prove that we are continuing to significantly expand the immediate resource at Dugbe F but perhaps even more significant is the considerable increase in grade in some of these intersections.  All these drill results further endorse the developing geological model.  A third rig is due to commence work soon to increase the drilling rates and we are on track to scout drill further satellite deposits this year. "

Dugbe F Gold Project

At Dugbe F, two diamond core rigs are on site to delineate further extensions to the Dugbe F mineralised zone and the anomaly that extends into the Joe Village licence.

So far gold assay results have been received for 14 holes. Within these holes there have been intersections of up to 10.5 metres at 2.6 g/t Au.  For the 30 drill holes we are awaiting Au results for, we have intersected arsenic zones that are shown to have a strong correlation with gold mineralisation based on previous gold assay results. 11 holes are still being logged or are in transit. Last year Hummingbird drilled 93 holes for an NI43-101 compliant resource of 812,000 ounces of gold, so the early results and the 67 exploration holes completed to date is extremely encouraging.   The table below shows a full set of gold assay results from the first fourteen holes, with further detail on the arsenic readings at the end of the announcement.

Table of gold assay results for drill core from Dugbe F in 2011

Calculated at 0.2 g/t Au cut-off							Calculated at 0.5 g/t Au cut-off
Hole ID	From	To	Interval (m)	Grade g/t Au	Cutoff grade used g/t Au		Hole ID	From	To	Interval (m)	Grade g/t Au	Cutoff grade used g/t Au
DFDC094	17.52	26.10	8.58	1.45	0.48		DFDC094	19.00	26.10	7.10	1.66	0.71
	26.62	28.00	1.90	0.83	0.38			26.62	28.00	1.38	0.83	1.00
DFDC095	40.00	46.66	6.66	2.35	0.54		DFDC095	40.00	46.66	6.66	2.35	0.54
	54.00	54.92	0.92	0.32	0.32
DFDC096	105.57	106.60	1.03	0.93	0.93		DFDC096	105.57	106.60	1.03	0.93	0.93
	111.66	112.85	1.19	0.22	0.22			115.00	116.20	1.20	0.82	0.82
	113.86	116.20	2.34	0.60	0.37
	122.20	126.00	3.80	1.41	0.48			123.41	126.00	2.59	1.84	1.31
	127.62	129.45	1.83	0.53	0.51			127.00	129.45	2.45	0.53	0.51
DFDC097	31.49	38.89	7.40	1.36	0.63		DFDC097	31.49	38.89	7.40	1.36	0.63
	40.33	41.72	1.39	0.68	0.68			40.33	41.72	1.39	0.68	0.68
	46.24	47.40	1.16	0.27	0.27
DFDC098	1.64	8.67	7.03	1.43	0.34		DFDC098	1.64	7.38	5.74	1.68	0.68
	17.29	18.47	1.18	1.99	1.99			17.29	18.47	1.18	1.99	1.99
DFDC099	139.15	140.62	1.47	0.44	0.44		DFDC099
	142.20	147.70	6.50	1.56	0.27			142.51	147.70	5.19	1.88	0.62
	149.86	152.42	2.56	1.41	0.43			149.86	151.11	1.25	2.44	2.44
DFDC100	0.00	3.00	results pending				DFDC100	0.00	3.00	results pending
	4.26	7.54	3.28	2.24	0.38			4.76	7.54	2.78	2.58	1.64
	7.54	8.10	results pending					7.54	8.10	results pending
	8.10	9.54	1.44	1.74	0.35			8.10	8.61	0.51	4.27	0.51
	15.74	17.10	1.36	0.80	0.80			15.74	17.10	1.36	0.80	0.80
	18.44	19.76	1.32	1.22	1.22			18.44	19.76	1.32	1.22	1.22
DFDC101	106.25	107.40	1.15	0.29	0.29		DFDC101
	109.34	115.43	6.09	1.17	0.28			112.75	115.43	2.68	2.26	1.58
DFDC102	12.97	14.10	1.13	2.72	2.72		DFDC102	12.97	14.10	1.13	2.72	2.72
	15.47	22.00	6.53	2.06	0.34			15.47	20.00	4.53	2.63	0.90
								21.00	22.00	1.00	1.18	1.18
	23.90	25.05	1.15	0.50	0.50			23.90	25.05	1.15	0.50	0.50
DFDC103	8.00	18.76	10.76	1.40	0.31		DFDC103	8.00	10.00	2.00	2.76	2.64
								11.00	13.25	2.25	1.23	0.83
								14.50	18.00	3.50	1.65	0.94
	80.55	81.31	0.76	0.33	0.33
DFDC104	119.59	120.87	1.28	0.48	0.48		DFDC104
	122.11	132.42	10.30	2.19	0.50			122.11	132.42	10.30	2.19	0.50
	143.53	144.83	1.30	0.29	0.29
DFDC105	1.30	13.05	11.75	2.37	0.45		DFDC105	1.30	11.80	10.50	2.60	0.57
	15.78	16.85	1.07	0.29	0.29
DFDC106	0.00	2.10	2.10	0.26	0.26		DFDC106			no significant values
DFDC107			results pending				DFDC107			results pending
DFDC108	53.82	54.95	1.13	0.45	0.45		DFDC108	58.36	59.97	1.61	1.14	0.66
	56.27	59.97	3.70	0.66	0.24
	60.70	62.58	1.88	2.98	0.32			61.69	62.58	0.89	5.93	5.93
	63.58	68.33	4.75	0.68	0.26			63.58	65.39	1.81	1.31	0.67
*min 0.2 g/t Au cutoff							*min 0.5 g/t Au cutoff

The NI43-101 compliant resource presently stands at an Indicated resource of 552,000 ounces of gold at 1.078 g/t Au and an Inferred resource of 260,000 ounces of gold at 1.624 g/t Au, to give a combined total of 812,000 ounces of gold at the Dugbe F project.  It is anticipated that an NI43-101 compliant resource upgrade will be announced towards the end the third quarter of 2011.

A major development in the geological model for the Dugbe F gold system, which is based in large part on 100 km² of geological field mapping recently conducted, covering an area from Sackor Village (west) in the Joe Village Licence to Tuzon (east) in Dugbe F, has significantly advanced our understanding of lithological mineralisation controls in the Dugbe F area.  This model involves the presence of numerous granodioritic intrusives that are viewed as both the likely gold source as well as the hydrothermal heat engine that transported the gold into different settings.  Recent work is indicating similar geological and geochemical signatures in Dugbe block D, Joe Village and Nemo Creek licences.  Arsenic readings show a strong correlation with the gold zone, consistent with the 2010 drill programme that continues to indicate the location of the mineralised zone.  Gold mineralisation is being intersected in a near surface shallow dipping zone extending for 3.2km along strike in Dugbe F, curving around westwards towards adjacent Joe Village, with recent intersections of up to 5.93 g/t Au.  Resource drilling in Joe Village licence is continuing to trace the same mineralised system from Dugbe F to the west and to the south.

A total of 12 drill holes to the west of Anomaly A at Dugbe F were not sent for assay, since testing with the hand held XRF did not indicate presence of arsenic bearing zones. 

Dugbe Shear Zone

Hummingbird's exploration teams have collected 3,616 soil samples over a five month period since admission.  Of these samples, full sets of gold assay results for 2,884 soils have been received back (with details shown in the table below).  These results will help Hummingbird to effectively advance regional projects and quickly identify scout drill targets.  The results are exciting and further substantiate the continuing strength of the regional position. Resource drilling is currently taking place in Joe Village Grid 1, where the extension of the Dugbe F gold zone continues to trend westwards.  Trenching is in planning for Tuzon (east of Dugbe F) and will commence shortly. The soil results from the Tuzon grid are only 3 km from Dugbe F and with existing infrastructure in place geological work programmes can progress rapidly.

Table of soil samples collected in the last 5 months across the Dugbe Shear Zone

Licence Name	Soil Grid	No. Samples (including QAQC)*	No. Soil Samples	Soils >50ppb Au	Soils >100ppb Au	Soils >1,000ppb Au	Highs         (Au ppb)
Joe Village B	Grid 1	485	419	112	76	11	4,346
Joe Village B	Grid 2 Sackor	1,034	895	82	36	1	1,058
Dugbe F	Grid 3 Tuzon	652	553	86	58	3	1,251
Dugbe D	Grid 4 Saigbanee	318	270	Assays pending
Joe Village C	Stingray	123	113	7	4	1	1,757
Nemo Creek	Tang	146	122	4	2	-	792
Nemo Creek	Hammerhead	444	364	12	6	-	319
Dugbe B	Block B	414	395	Assays pending

*For purpose of Quality Control and Quality Assurance, standards, blanks and field duplicates are inserted into the sample batches.

Dugbe Shear Zone - Joe Village

At the Joe Village licence, directly west of the Dugbe F gold deposit, 1,642 soil samples have been taken, covering three soil grids with highly encouraging mineralisation in the returned assays.  The results from Grid 1 in Joe village (directly adjacent and west of Dugbe F) returned 11 samples assayed at greater than 1,000ppb Au with a high of 4,346 ppb Au. The gold in soil results from Grid 1 show a south-westwards extension of the Dugbe F ore body into Joe Village, where at present the drill programme is focused. In light of extensive geological mapping and recognition of similar geological features that potentially control the gold mineralisation, infill soils are planned to cover the ground between Grids 1 and 2 (Sackor), in order to prove up the continuation of the mineralised system further westwards.

Dugbe Shear Zone -Dugbe Blocks F and D (Tuzon area)

Soil Grids 3 and 4, located 3km and 9km east of Dugbe F, respectively, have been completed for a total of 970 soil samples.  Results from Grid 4 are pending. Recent results returned for Grid 3, Tuzon, show a robust 2km long, 500m wide, northeast trending gold in soil anomaly. Trenching for 1,140 metres has been planned and teams will be deployed shortly to begin the trench programme. Results from trenching will help us to identify drill targets for Tuzon.

Dugbe Shear Zone - Dugbe Block B

A high density soil sampling programme has been completed to cover two prospective ridges (one of 600m length and the second 500m in length), situated within the 8km long, northeast trending gold in soil anomaly at Dugbe Block B. 414 soils were collected at a tight 100m line spacing and 20m sample spacing, following a rock sampling programme that identified these ridges as potentially containing the source of the gold being mined downstream surrounding these topographically high features. Results are pending and will guide the next step of scout drilling in this area.

Dugbe Shear Zone - Tiehnpo

Recently acquired high-resolution satellite data for the newly added Tiehnpo licence has identified an area blanketed in artisanal gold workings draining the Tiehnpo Range, an east-west trending topographically high feature, which is 10km in length and is situated along strike with the main Dugbe Shear Zone. Hummingbird immediately deployed geological staff to investigate the Tiehnpo Range with geological mapping and rock sampling and to collect stream sediment samples from the base to the top of the double set of ridges, with the aim to define targets for soil sampling and trenching. Work is in progress, with 80 stream sediment samples collected to date.

Dugbe Shear Zone - Nemo Creek

The west side of Nemo Creek licence, which borders Dugbe F, has now seen two phases of soil sampling. The first phase consisted of 800m spaced, 10km long soil lines. The second phase targeted the most interesting gold in soil anomalies for three infill soil grids and 713 samples were collected, submitted to the lab and gold assay results returned. The gold in soil anomalies show a northeast striking gold trend, which follows the main Dugbe shear through to Block B. The next phase of trenching is being planned.

Juazohn Shear Zone - Zia licence

A site visit was made to Zia by two Canadian geological consultants from the BC Geological Survey and Hummingbird's Chief Geologist. Road outcrops were mapped and part of the drill core from the recent scout drilling programme was relogged with the aim of identifying alteration halos and potentially vector into fertile ground to define new targets for drilling. Alteration assemblages encountered include intense hornfelsing (fine grained biotite), chlorite, garnets, titanite, actinolite, tourmaline, carbonates, k-spar, albitiziation along fractures, magnetite and sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite and minor arsenopyrite). Based on the mineral assemblage encountered while relogging at Zia, and a review of multi-element data, for which Zia core was analysed in addition to gold, an alteration envelope up to 40 m in thickness was identified in scout holes ZADC013/14 near the top of the holes; including a significant concentration of silver (up to 66 g/t Ag) elevated bismuth and arsenic, and gold (up to 1.74 g/t Au). A model has been developed that potentially delineates a 600m anomalous zone buried directly downdip from these holes, which warrants further work and potentially more scout drilling.

Cestos Shear Zone -Ba licence

A large scale soil sampling programme has commenced at Ba, covering 5 high priority targets with 4 soil grids. Total samples to be collected are approximately 2,000 soils. To date, 469 soils have reached the prep lab in Monrovia. Hummingbird is targeting greenstone hosted mesothermal quartz-carbonate hosted gold mineralisation at Ba.

David Pelham has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM rules.  David Pelham is Technical Director of the Company and is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Enquiries:

Hummingbird Resources plc

Daniel Betts, Chief Executive Officer

Thomas Hill, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

Robert Monro, Corporate Development  [phone]

Liberum Capital Limited

Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker

Tom Fyson / Richard Bootle [phone]

Mirabaud Securities LLP

Joint Broker

Peter Krens [phone]

Threadneedle Communications Limited

Graham Herring /Beth Harris [phone]

Notes to Editors

Hummingbird Resources plc is an AIM quoted mineral exploration company incorporated in England and Wales and headquartered in London. Since its establishment in November 2005, the Group has been active in Liberia, West Africa, and is currently the holder of the largest area of mineral exploration ground in the highly prospective Birimian geological region of eastern Liberia. The Group's licences are prospective for gold, iron ore and other minerals.

The Group currently holds exploration licences covering approximately 7,000 square kilometres in total, which constitutes a significant proportion of eastern Liberia containing the Birimian sequence.

The Group's most advanced gold exploration has taken place in the Dugbe, Zia and Jababli licence areas, with Dugbe Block F with a recently confirmed gold resource of 20.90 million tonnes at 1.208 g/t to give 812,000 oz Au using a cutoff grade of 0.5 g/t. The exploration has been based on sound geological premises and has been executed in an efficient and practical manner according to best industry practices.

For more information, please visit www.hummingbirdresources.co.uk

Hole ID	Licence	Area of Drilling	Arsenic Zone Width (m)*	From - To	Hole ID	Au grade (g/t)**	Interval (m)	From	To
DFDC094	Dugbe F	South A west	9m	19-28m	DFDC094	1.66	7.10	19.00	26.10
						0.83	1.38	26.62	28.00
DFDC095	Dugbe F	South A west	12m	35-47m	DFDC095	2.35	6.66	40.00	46.66
DFDC096	Dugbe F	Southeast A	4m; 3m; 3m	112-116m; 122-125m; 127-130m	DFDC096	0.93	1.03	105.57	106.60
						0.82	1.20	115.00	116.20
						1.84	2.59	123.41	126.00
						0.53	2.45	127.00	129.45
DFDC097	Dugbe F	South A west	13m	31-44m	DFDC097	1.36	7.40	31.49	38.89
						0.68	1.39	40.33	41.72
DFDC098	Dugbe F	South A west	3m	2-5m; 17-19m	DFDC098	1.68	5.74	1.64	7.38
						1.99	1.18	17.29	18.47
DFDC099	Dugbe F	Southeast A	11m	141-152m	DFDC099	1.88	5.19	142.51	147.70
						2.44	1.25	149.86	151.11
DFDC100	Dugbe F	South A west	3m; 8m	2-5m; 11-19m	DFDC100	2.58	2.78	4.76	7.54***
						4.27	0.51	8.10	8.61
						0.8	1.36	15.74	17.10
						1.22	1.32	18.44	19.76
DFDC101	Dugbe F	Southeast A	4m	108-112m	DFDC101	2.26	2.68	112.75	115.43
DFDC102	Dugbe F	South A west	8m	16-24m	DFDC102	2.27	1.13	12.97	14.10
						2.63	4.53	15.47	20.00
						1.18	1.00	21.00	22.00
						0.5	1.15	23.90	25.05
DFDC103	Dugbe F	South A west	8m	11-19m	DFDC103	2.76	2.00	8.00	10.00
						1.23	2.25	11.00	13.25
						1.65	3.50	14.50	18.00

*Arsenic zone determined by handheld XRF unit

**Gold grade calculated with minimum 0.5 g/t Au cut-off

Hole ID	Licence	Area of Drilling	Arsenic Zone Width (m)*	From - To	Hole ID	Au grade (g/t)**	Interval (m)	From	To
DFDC104	Dugbe F	Southeast A	12m	120-132	DFDC104	2.19	10.30	122.11	132.42
DFDC105	Dugbe F	South A west	11m	9-20m	DFDC105	2.6	10.50	1.30	11.80
DFDC106	Dugbe F	South A west	1m; 2m	7-8m; 84-86	DFDC106	no significant values	-	-	-
DFDC107	Dugbe F	Southeast A	6m	127-133	DFDC107	results pending
DFDC108	Dugbe F	South A west	16m	55-71m	DFDC108	1.14	1.61	58.26	59.97
						5.93	0.89	61.69	62.58
						1.31	1.81	63.58	65.39
DFDC109	Dugbe F	South A west	6m	43-49m	DFDC109
DFDC110	Joe Village B	South A west	10m	50-60m	DFDC110
DFDC111	Dugbe F	Southeast A	hole incomplete redrilled as DFDC114		DFDC111
DFDC112	Joe Village B	South A west	15m	37-52m	DFDC112
DFDC113	Dugbe F	Southeast A	hole incomplete redrilled as DFDC114		DFDC113
DFDC114	Dugbe F	South A west	9m	113-122m	DFDC114
DFDC115	Joe Village B	South A west	12m	35-47m	DFDC115
DFDC116	Joe Village B	South A west	1m; 5m; 11m	12-13m; 17-22m; 26-37m	DFDC116
DFDC117	Dugbe F	South A west	no zone intercepted		DFDC117
DFDC118	Joe Village B	South A west	8m; 4m	3-11m; 13-17m	DFDC118
DFDC119	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC119
DFDC120	Joe Village B		1m; 14m; 1m	1-2m; 4-18m; 20-21m	DFDC120
DFDC121	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC121
DFDC122	Joe Village B		4m	1-5m	DFDC122
DFDC123	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC123
DFDC124	Dugbe F		2m	1-3m	DFDC124
DFDC125	Dugbe F		1m	42-43m	DFDC125
DFDC126	Joe Village B		no zone intercepted		DFDC126

*Arsenic zone determined by handheld XRF unit

**Gold grade calculated with minimum 0.5 g/t Au cut-off

Hole ID	Licence	Area of Drilling	Arsenic Zone Width (m)*	From - To	Hole ID	Au grade (g/t)	Interval (m)	From	To
DFDC127	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC127
DFDC128	Dugbe F		1m; 1m;	72-73m; 80-81m	DFDC128
DFDC129	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC129
DFDC130	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC130
DFDC131	Dugbe F		1m	62-63m	DFDC131
DFDC132	Joe Village B		no zone intercepted		DFDC132
DFDC133	Joe Village B		1m; 12m; 1m; 1m; 1m	62-63m; 75-87m; 88-89m; 91-92m	DFDC133
DFDC134	Joe Village B		1m;1m;4m;4m;11m;2m	22-23m; 25-26m; 27-31m; 35-39m; 40-51m; 52-54m	DFDC134
DFDC135	Dugbe F		11m; 1m	69-80m; 83-84m	DFDC135
DFDC136	Joe Village B		3m; 4m; 4m	73-76m; 78-82m; 84-88m	DFDC136
DFDC137	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC137
DFDC138	Joe Village B		5m;2m;1m;4m;2m	42-47m; 50-52m; 53-54m; 57-61m; 66-68m	DFDC138
DFDC139	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC139
DFDC140	Dugbe F		no zone intercepted		DFDC140
DFDC141	Joe Village B		1m; 2m; 2m; 1m	67-68m; 72-74m; 81-83m; 94-95m	DFDC141
DFDC142	Joe Village B		1m; 4m; 13m; 2m; 2m	64-65m; 67-71m; 73-86m; 89-91m; 96-98m	DFDC142
DFDC143	Dugbe F		1m	25-26m	DFDC143
DFDC144	Joe Village B		6m; 1m	0-6m; 98-99m	DFDC144
DFDC145	Joe Village B		5m; 1m; 1m	38-43m; 50-51m; 54-55m	DFDC145
DFDC146	Joe Village B		2m	0-2m	DFDC146
DFDC147	Joe Village B		2m;1m;4m;2m;1m;1m;11m;3m;	70-72; 73-74; 82-86; 89-91; 94-95; 97-98; 101-112m,114-117m	DFDC147
DFDC148	Joe Village B		16m; 2m; 1m; 4m;	0-16m; 44-46m; 49-50m; 46-56m	DFDC148

*Arsenic zone determined by handheld XRF unit

**Gold grade calculated with minimum 0.5 g/t Au cut-off

Hole ID	Licence	Area of Drilling	Arsenic Zone Width (m)*	From - To	Hole ID	Au grade (g/t)	Interval (m)	From	To
DFDC149	Joe Village B		1m; 1; 1; 1;1; 6;1;2m	56-57m; 58-59; 60-61; 62-63; 94-95; 108-114; 116-117; 118-120m	DFDC149
DFDC150	Dugbe F	Downdip A/B	1m; 4m; 1m; 1m	80-86m; 92-96m; 97-98m; 120-121m	DFDC150
DFDC151	Joe Village B		2m; 1m; 3m; 1m; 2m; 4m	92-94m; 96-97m; 98-101m; 104-105m; 113-115m;117-121m;	DFDC151
DFDC152	Dugbe F	Downdip B	1m;1m	89-90m; 92-93m	DFDC152
DFDC153	Joe Village B		1m	27m-28m	DFDC153
DFDC154	Dugbe F		12m;7m	123-135m; 145-152m	DFDC154
DFDC155	Dugbe F		1m; 1m; 2m; 1m	71-72m; 79-80m; 83-85m; 96-97m	DFDC155
DFDC156	Joe Village B		4m; 1m;	0-4m; 16-17m;	DFDC156
DFDC157	Joe Village B		no zone intercepted		DFDC157
DFDC158	Dugbe F		1m; 8m; 2m; 2m	28-29m; 132-140m; 142-144m; 148-150m	DFDC158

*Arsenic zone determined by handheld XRF unit

 

END

 

 

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