AMN - MALI: Compass expands Sikasso gold exploration

Compass Gold Corp has expanded its exploration program at the Sikasso property in Southern Mali to take in new target areas. A drilling program at the Tarabala, Samagouela and Sodala prospects has been expanded to a planned 3,500 metres from the originally planned 3,000 metres.

Drilling has been completed on three fences at the Tarabala artisanal workings with 26 aircore holes for 1,465 metres on the Sankarani permit and is ongoing on three fences at the Samagouela artisanal workings on the Kourou permit with 26 aircore holes planned.

Infill shallow soil sampling has also extended the Samagouela target to more than 1.7km.

Compass CEO Larry Phillips said, "Our latest exploration program, which we initiated following the end of the rainy season in December, is focusing on gathering geological and structural data to help us to understand the multiple large targets on several parts of our permits. This includes our ongoing assessment of the Farabakoura Trend, which was our first zone of targets identified last year.

"The large size and relative complexity of our property require that we take a multi-faceted approach involving a range of geological and geochemical techniques in order to generate and to refine each of the many targets our team uncovers.

"The exploration work we have conducted thus far in several areas confirms our belief that our Sikasso property consists of several large targets that warrant ongoing drilling.

"Most recently, fieldwork has encouraged us to significantly increase the original 2,000-metre drill program at Tarabala, Samagouela and Sodala to a planned 3,500 metres. Drilling is being completed at Samagouela, and the rig will then be mobilised to the Sodala prospect on the Sankarani East permit."

Due to concerns about coronavirus, the company continues to implement its detailed program of health and safety field and office protocols to protect personnel during exploration activity in Mali. Members of the office team are working from home and the field team continues to work in isolation.

Malian authorities moved quickly to shut down the country's borders and implement regulations and procedures that have helped to mitigate the spread of the virus. Based on current testing, 148 cases have been reported to date in Mali. Compass is monitoring the situation in Mali daily and will adhere to all directives issued by the Ministry of Health.

www.compassgoldcorp.com