Loncor Gold Inc. projects substantial underground growth at its Adumbi deposit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with exploration targets suggesting 8.9 to 9.6 million tonnes of gold ore at high grades. This comes after the company’s strategic sale of another asset, focusing on Adumbi’s development.
Toronto-based mining company Loncor Gold Inc. has unveiled promising underground exploration targets at its Adumbi deposit, located in the DRC. The company’s recent estimates indicate a significant quantity of gold ore, ranging from 8.9 million tonnes to 9.6 million tonnes, with a gold concentration between 4.7 grams per tonne (g/t) and 4.9 g/t.
John Barker, CEO of Loncor, highlighted the remarkable growth at Adumbi, stating: “Since 2020, Adumbi’s high-grade gold resources have grown impressively, now totaling 3.66 million ounces. With over 1.88 million ounces recently reclassified from inferred to indicated, we’re optimistic about the deposit’s underground potential.”
This announcement follows the sale of Loncor’s Makapela asset for C$13.5 million, a move that bolsters the company’s focus on expanding the Adumbi deposit. Adumbi’s current resources include 1.88 million ounces of gold (28.185 million tonnes at 2.08 g/t) categorised as indicated, and an inferred resource of 1.78 million ounces (20.83 million tonnes at 2.65 g/t).
The exploration targets suggest that the Adumbi deposit extends deep underground, potentially up to 800 metres below the surface. While these figures are preliminary and require further exploration to confirm, initial drilling results have been promising, indicating a possible extension of the gold-rich zone.
Key to these estimates are results from eleven drilling cores taken near and below the pit’s base. These cores have shown a consistent increase in the thickness and grade of gold in the ore, suggesting that underground mining could be viable.
The underground exploration forecasts were developed by Loncor’s geological consultants, Minecon Resources and Services Limited, using advanced 3D modelling of the deposit’s geology and mineralisation patterns.
Although these projections are still in the early stages and more exploration is needed to confirm them, they represent a significant opportunity for Loncor. The company’s focus on the Adumbi deposit in the DRC is part of a broader trend in the mining industry to explore and develop new resources, particularly in challenging underground environments. As Loncor continues its exploration, the potential for expanding gold resources in the region remains a point of keen interest in the mining community.
