Australia?s Oropa recommences drilling program at Pungkut gold project

Australian gold explorer Oropa Limited said Tuesday it had started a 3100-meter diamond drill program at Sihayo of the Pungkut gold project located in Central Sumatra.

?This program follows on from the successful 1200m drill program that was completed by Oropa during the last quarter,? Oropa said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

According to the statement, the proposed drill pattern is designed to substantially increase the known resource outlined as well as add further understanding to the Sihayo 1 North mineralization model.

The majority of the planned holes are situated at Sihayo 1 North where an inferred resource of some 304,000 oz Au is already established (3.5Mt @ 2.7 g/t Au). However, some drill holes are also planned at Sihayo 1 and Sihayo 2 to test the continuity of the Sihayo 1 North mineralization.

?It is expected that 28 holes will be completed for 3100m, although this estimate and drill hole location may change during the program as results come to hand,? Oropa said, adding that the drilling program is expected to be competed within a four-month period.

Oropa acquired 75 percent interest in Pungkut gold project late last year. State miner PT Aneka Tambang Tbk. holds the balance. Some 70 km north of Pungkut is Newmont's large Martabe gold project, located on the west coast of North Sumatra and which currently hosts an inferred gold resource of approximately 2.2 million ounces. (robert)