VANCOUVER, BC, September 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/
- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX:
B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") announces additional positive
exploration drilling results from the Cardinal and FMZ zones near
Fekola, and the Mamba zone in the Anaconda area:
Highlights
- New high-grade drill results from the Cardinal and FMZ zones
extend the mineralization to over 3.5 kilometres along strike,
continuing to indicate potential for additional gold deposits near
the Fekola mine, with additional potential at depth and along
strike
- Resource infill drilling completed at the Cardinal zone, with
an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate expected in the first
quarter of 2021
- Additional high-grade drill intercepts at the Mamba zone extend
the mineralized zone by over one kilometre, to a total known strike
length of approximately 2.2 kilometres (20 kilometres north of
Fekola)
- Resource infill drilling at the Mamba zone in the Anaconda area
approximately 90% complete, with an updated mineral resource
estimate for the Anaconda area expected by the end of the fourth
quarter of 2020
- The Fekola deposit remains open to the north
Recent Exploration Drilling
In 2020, B2Gold continued exploration drilling near Fekola and
the Anaconda area with an $18 million
program in Mali that focussed on
exploration at the Cardinal and FMZ zones near the Fekola deposit
which demonstrate potential for additional gold deposits within 3
kilometres of the Fekola mill, expanding the mineral resources
within the Anaconda area, including the Mamba zone, and further
testing the sulphide zones.
Fekola Regional Exploration
B2Gold completed approximately 33,000 metres of combined
reverse circulation and diamond drilling on the Cardinal
and FMZ zones in 2020. The new high-grade drill results now extend
the gold mineralization at the Cardinal and
FMZ zones to over 3.5 kilometres along strike and intersected
up to 350 metres vertically below surface, with the northern
portion of the Cardinal zone passing within 500 metres of
the current Fekola resource pit. The high gold grade
intersections at the Cardinal zone locally define a moderately
northeast plunging shoot, which demonstrates good exploration
potential down plunge. Mineralization at the Cardinal and FMZ zones
remains open at depth and along strike.
The Cardinal and FMZ zones comprise multiple, sub-parallel,
west-dipping shear zones with an average width of
approximately 10 metres for the main Cardinal zone. Within the
shears, gold is spatially associated with quartz-carbonate veins
and is strongly associated with the coarse grained pyrite.
Rare visible gold has been noted within the quartz-carbonate
veins.
In addition, most of the Cardinal and FMZ zones
have now been drilled to approximately 50 x 50 metre
centres, sufficient to commence the preparation of initial Inferred
Mineral Resource estimate, which the Company expects to release in
the first quarter of 2021.
Select results from the recent Cardinal and FMZ
drilling include:
Target
|
Hole
ID
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Meters
|
Gold
g/t
|
FMZ
|
FKD_461
|
236.50
|
245.50
|
9.00
|
3.75
|
FMZ
|
FKD_462
|
135.20
|
146.00
|
10.80
|
13.34
|
FMZ
|
FKD_462
|
162.00
|
176.90
|
14.90
|
3.18
|
FMZ
|
FER_135
|
72
|
78
|
6
|
7.32
|
FMZ
|
FER_135
|
131
|
142
|
11
|
2.18
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_511
|
212.40
|
239.87
|
27.47
|
3.34
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_469
|
174.20
|
180.45
|
6.25
|
7.92
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_476
|
129.70
|
135.10
|
5.40
|
7.45
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_477
|
260.80
|
286.10
|
25.30
|
2.36
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_479
|
144.90
|
165.00
|
20.10
|
15.47
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_481
|
272.00
|
294.00
|
22.00
|
2.73
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_486
|
81.00
|
92.15
|
11.15
|
3.35
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_499
|
147.00
|
160.85
|
13.85
|
1.55
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_504
|
23.57
|
32.25
|
8.68
|
3.69
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_508
|
229.50
|
236.30
|
6.80
|
7.08
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_512
|
153.50
|
159.90
|
6.40
|
4.29
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_512
|
187.45
|
198.60
|
11.15
|
6.18
|
Cardinal
|
FKD_514
|
180.20
|
197.90
|
17.70
|
1.29
|
Cardinal
|
FER_098
|
58
|
72
|
14
|
3.80
|
Cardinal
|
FER_111
|
114
|
119
|
5
|
6.43
|
Cardinal
|
FER_115
|
93
|
108
|
15
|
8.85
|
Cardinal
|
FER_141
|
72
|
85
|
13
|
1.99
|
Cardinal
|
FER_143
|
62
|
91
|
29
|
1.41
|
Cardinal
|
FER_145
|
97
|
106
|
9
|
3.73
|
Cardinal
|
FER_147
|
138
|
146
|
8
|
3.19
|
Cardinal
|
FER_148
|
29
|
39
|
10
|
4.49
|
Cardinal
|
FER_149
|
132
|
138
|
6
|
3.57
|
Cardinal
|
FER_166
|
45
|
51
|
6
|
5.47
|
Cardinal
|
FER_181
|
111
|
124
|
13
|
2.57
|
|
Composites are
reported above 0.6 g/t gold cutoff.
|
Cardinal: Schematic Long Section (NW Facing)
Click here to view the Cardinal: Schematic Long Section (NW
Facing)
Anaconda Area Exploration
B2Gold completed approximately 18,000 metres of combined
reverse circulation and diamond drilling on the Anaconda
area, focused mainly on the Mamba zone, in 2020. The Company has
previously announced an Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the
Anaconda area of 767,000 ounces of gold at 1.1 grams per tonne
("g/t") in near surface saprolite mineralization over 4.5
kilometres and up to 500 metres wide.
The exploration drilling on the Mamba zone focused on
increasing the size of the known saprolite resource and further
testing the underlying sulphide mineralization. The high-grade
intercepts at the Mamba zone demonstrate well mineralized
intersections of sulphide-hosted gold over a total strike length of
approximately 2.2 kilometres, approximately 1.2 kilometres
longer than previously reported. The good grade and width
combinations continue to provide strong
support for this interpretation, including intersections
in MSD_200 (3.40 g/t gold over 15.80 metres) and MSD_201 (3.86
g/t gold over 13.80 metres), and provide a strong indication of the
potential for a second Fekola-style south plunging body of sulphide
mineralization, which remains open down plunge. One of the key
geological aspects of the Mamba zone is the continuity in the high
grade mineralization in the transition from saprolite- to
sulphide-hosted zones of mineralization.
The Company also completed additional infill drilling
in order to provide sufficient definition for an updated mineral
resource estimate on the Anaconda area, which the Company
expects to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of
2020. Geological modeling and the preliminary stages of
resource estimation are currently in progress.
Select results from Mamba saprolite drilling include:
Target
|
Hole
ID
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Meters
|
Gold
g/t
|
Domain
|
Mamba
|
BND_010
|
0.0
|
15.2
|
15.2
|
2.71
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BND_010
|
43.1
|
66.0
|
22.9
|
1.22
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BND_014
|
35.0
|
49.5
|
14.5
|
2.55
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_139
|
40.0
|
55.0
|
15.0
|
1.68
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_149
|
2.0
|
14.0
|
12.0
|
2.62
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_159
|
35.0
|
49.0
|
14.0
|
3.12
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_165
|
22.0
|
37.0
|
15.0
|
2.38
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_191
|
0.0
|
29.0
|
29.0
|
1.84
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_194
|
24.0
|
55.0
|
31.0
|
3.89
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_206
|
88.0
|
114.0
|
26.0
|
1.80
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_216
|
0.0
|
48.0
|
48.0
|
1.69
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_217
|
22.0
|
56.0
|
34.0
|
1.56
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_217
|
73.0
|
115.0
|
42.0
|
2.18
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
BNR_220
|
43.0
|
86.0
|
43.0
|
1.23
|
saprolite
|
Mamba
|
MSD_204
|
72.5
|
97.0
|
24.5
|
1.15
|
saprolite
|
|
Saprolite
composites are reported above a 0.2 g/t gold cutoff.
|
Select results from the Mamba zone sulphide
drilling include :
Target
|
Hole
ID
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Meters
|
Gold
g/t
|
Domain
|
Mamba
|
BND_006
|
100.5
|
116.1
|
15.6
|
2.49
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BND_006
|
237
|
246
|
9
|
1.49
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BND_007
|
172
|
185.5
|
13.5
|
1.66
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BND_008
|
116
|
124.7
|
8.7
|
11.84
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BND_008
|
146
|
158
|
12
|
2.77
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BND_015
|
202.15
|
207.3
|
5.15
|
4.13
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_106
|
31
|
42
|
11
|
2.03
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_109
|
72
|
98
|
26
|
1.57
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_122
|
90
|
113
|
23
|
1.14
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_144
|
110
|
124
|
14
|
1.58
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_151
|
138
|
160
|
22
|
1.45
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_191
|
116
|
150
|
34
|
4.11
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_194
|
179
|
205
|
26
|
2.22
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_206
|
114
|
135
|
21
|
2.83
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
BNR_227
|
52
|
77
|
25
|
2.43
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_193
|
283.1
|
303.5
|
20.4
|
1.02
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_194
|
131.3
|
149
|
17.7
|
1.55
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_194
|
239.1
|
254.8
|
15.7
|
6.96
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_196
|
314.9
|
325.12
|
10.22
|
2.01
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_197
|
267.7
|
281.1
|
13.4
|
2.38
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_198
|
154.1
|
170.6
|
16.5
|
1.57
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_198
|
244.6
|
257.8
|
13.2
|
1.56
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_200
|
309.7
|
325.5
|
15.8
|
3.43
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_201
|
82.2
|
96
|
13.8
|
3.86
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_203
|
145.8
|
158.25
|
12.45
|
4.77
|
sulphide
|
Mamba
|
MSD_205
|
239.1
|
255
|
15.9
|
5.09
|
sulphide
|
|
Composites are
reported above 0.6 g/t gold cutoff.
|
Mamba: Schematic Long Section (West
Facing)
Click here to view the Mamba: Schematic Long Section (West
Facing)
Ongoing Exploration
During the remainder of 2020, the Company plans to drill
approximately 5,300 metres at the Anaconda area, where the
focus will remain on expanding the saprolite and
sulphide mineralization in the Anaconda area, including at the
Mamba and Adder zones.
For the Fekola region, drilling at the Cardinal and FMZ
zones is ongoing, with an initial Inferred Mineral Resource
estimate scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2021. In
addition, ongoing drilling will continue to expand the limits
of known mineralization and will include step outs to the
northeast, to target the projected intersection of the Cardinal and
Fekola deposits at depth.
B2Gold intends on releasing additional Fekola area exploration
drill results later in 2020.
QA/QC on Sample Collection and Assaying
The primary laboratories for Fekola are SGS
Laboratories in Bamako, Mali and
Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Abidjan,
Cote d'Ivoire. Periodically, exploration samples will be
analyzed at the Fekola Mine laboratory. At each laboratory,
samples are prepared and analyzed using 50-gram fire assay with
atomic absorption finish and/or gravimetric finish. Umpire assays
are used to monitor lab performance monthly.
Quality assurance and quality control procedures include the
systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the
core, reverse circulation and aircore drilling sample strings. The
results of the control samples are evaluated on a regular basis
with batches re-analyzed and/or resubmitted as needed. All results
stated in this announcement have passed B2Gold's quality assurance
and quality control protocols.
About B2Gold Corp.
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer
headquartered in Vancouver,
Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold
mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines and numerous exploration and development
projects in various countries including Mali and Colombia. B2Gold continues to forecast total
consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000 and 1,055,000
ounces in 2020.
Qualified Persons
Tom Garagan, Senior Vice
President of Exploration at B2Gold, a qualified person under NI
43-101, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this
news release.
On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.
"Clive T. Johnson"
President and Chief Executive
Officer
For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website
at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Ian
MacLean
|
Katie Bromley
|
Vice President,
Investor Relations
|
Manager,
Investor Relations & Public Relations
|
604-681-8371
|
604-681-8371
|
imaclean@b2gold.com
|
kbromley@b2gold.com
|
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither
approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news
release.
Production results and production guidance presented in this
news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates
on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form
dated March 20, 2020 for a discussion
of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
This news release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance;
forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or
estimated financial and operational performance, gold production
and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining
and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash
operating costs and AISC, and budgets on a consolidated and
mine by mine basis; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's
operations, including any restrictions or suspensions with respect
to our operations and the effect of any such restrictions or
suspensions on our financial and operational results; the ability
of the Company to successfully maintain our operations if they are
temporarily suspended, and to restart or ramp-up these
operations efficiently and economically, the impact of COVID-19 on
the Company's workforce, suppliers and other essential resources
and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our
business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures;
future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades
or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore
processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling,
development, construction, permitting and other activities or
achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation:
projected total consolidated gold production of between 1,000,000
and 1,055,000 ounces in 2020; the completion of an initial inferred
mineral resource estimate for the Cardinal zone in the first
quarter of 2021; the completion of an updated mineral resource
estimate for the Anaconda area by the end of the fourth quarter of
2020. All statements in this news release that address events or
developments that we expect to occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule",
"forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might"
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions,
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's
control, including risks associated with or related to: the
duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of
preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the
Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not
limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business
continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions;
escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and
reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine
doré; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares;
changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration,
development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and
resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other
estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing
materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other
studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits,
consents or authorizations required for mining activities;
environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex
regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and
climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves
and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the
Philippines, Colombia and
Burkina Faso and including risks
related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to
mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization
generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote
operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure;
fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs
necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in
necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and
country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and
the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties
and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making
authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns
the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the
dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain
skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss;
adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk;
competition with other mining companies; community support for
B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the
halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small
scale miners; failures of information systems or information
security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal
controls over financial reporting as required by law, including
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with
anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures;
social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre
having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in
Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre;
as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail
under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual
Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and
B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be
viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the
"Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may
affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the
applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable
as of the date hereof, based on the information available to
management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but
are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's
ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the
duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and
workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary
approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future
obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and
political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally
associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions
and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations
regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as
of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as
required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/b2gold-announces-positive-exploration-drill-results-from-near-fekola-and-anaconda-area-exploration-drilling-301132971.html
SOURCE B2Gold Corp.