Golden Peaks reports drilling start at Tanoyan Gold Project

Vancouver-based mineral exploration firm Golden Peaks Resources Limited is in the final stages of completing its 100% acquisition of Reliance Resources Limited (Reliance), and upon completion of the transaction, will own a 75% interest in the Tanoyan Gold Project on Sulawesi Island, the company said on Thursday.

The company also reported that Reliance has commenced drilling at the Tanoyan Project after extensive site work and preparatory activity which has been ongoing since December 2010 in readiness for this initial 5,000-metre drill program.

This drill program will be the first phase of drilling by Reliance and is designed to expand the initial 43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource of 91,000 ounces announced on January 13, 2011, and is expected to outline further mineralisation with drilling between sections and down-dip from previous exploration by Avocet Mining PLC, the company said.

Their previous exploration on the property included a drill program that totalled 44 diamond drill holes (6007 meters) as well geological mapping, IP geophysical surveys and trenching.

The initial focus of this drill program will be to follow-up high-grade intersections from the previous work to provide a framework for recognizing controls of high-grade mineralisation within the lode systems. Avocet's drilling was too widely spaced to allow modelling of interpreted high-grade shoots.

Reliance has purchased two new diamond drill rigs and will initially use one at Tanoyan and the other at the Palopo Gold Project in South Sulawesi, currently two more drill rigs are on order. The drill rigs will be operated by an Indonesian drilling contractor (MRA) under a management and maintenance agreement with Reliance.(alex)