Hillgrove identifies large epithermal gold in Sumba

Australian firm Hillgrove Resources Limited reported on Thursday that general survey work being conducted on Sumba Mining License (KP) in Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province have confirmed the presence of significant epithermal gold mineralization within the concession.

According to the company, assays have produced some exciting first pass results including a 2km x 500m corridor of epithermal gold mineralization defined by geochemical and mapping surveys at Pahandanjal Prospect with peak values up to 25.27g/t gold and 71g/t silver in rock chip samples and additional epithermal gold mineralization confirmed at Okajara Prospect with peak values of 8.96g/t gold and 6.2g/t silver in rock chip samples.

Hillgrove has an 80 percent stake in the Sumba KP. The company claimed that the Sumba KP covered an area of 331,300 hectares and is split into three project areas that coincide with the volcanic basement.

These project areas were originally defined through exploration conducted by PT BHP Sumba Minerals.

Hillgrove through its Indonesian partner, PT Fathi Resources, began general survey field work in August 2008 and has since conducted mapping and geochemical sampling programs over all three project areas.

?At this early stage of exploration there is insufficient evidence to make size and grade estimates for the two prospects, but based on mineralized vein occurrences and both current and historical assays Hillgrove is certainly encouraged with the potential of what is essentially a virgin gold field which has not seen any mining activity,? it said. (denny)