Based in Perth Western Australia and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Colonial Resources Limited (“Colonial” or “the Company”) ceased to explore potential joint venture arrangements for the Company’s existing Eldorado Gold Project during the September 2009. The Company’s focus was directed to potential acquisitions of drill-ready exploration projects through to advanced projects with existing resources and upside potential.
The Company secured two promising gold assets in Mali, West Africa consisting of 18 prospecting authorizations and research permits spanning circa 1883km² within the Kedougou-Kenieba window, a major Lower Proterozoic Birimian outlier on the NE margin of the West African Shield.
Colonial has entered into a Sale of Shares and Claims Agreement (“Agreement”) with Central African Gold plc (“CAG”) to acquire 80% equity interests in each of Mali Goldfields SARL (“Mali Goldfields”) and Songhoï Resources SARL (“Songhoi Resources”) (collectively referred to as “Malian Assets”).
The acquisition of the Malian Assets is conditional on, inter alia, CAG shareholder approval, Colonial shareholder approval, and completion of a capital raising by Colonial within 75 days of signature of the Agreement.
Songhoï Resources represents the joint venture vehicle between CAG (80% equity interest) and Mani SARL (20% equity interest) established in August 2006 for the exploration and development of four exploration permits covering circa 350km2 in the prospective Kéniéba and Kayes districts in West Mali.
Mali Goldfields represents the joint venture vehicle between CAG (80% equity interest) and Mali Mining House SA (20% equity interest) established in February 2006 for the exploration and development of fourteen exploration permits covering circa 1,533km2 of the prospective Birimian Gold Belt in South and West Mali.
While Mali is Africa’s third largest gold-producer, boasting some of the lowest-cost gold mines in the world, it remains one of the most underexplored gold terrains on the continent. Exploration focus in Mali is currently centred on two main greenstone belt areas in western and southern Mali namely, the Kayes and Kéniéba Inliers in the west (on the Mauritania and Senegal borders) and the Bougouni-Sikasso area to the south and southeast of the capital city Bamako (along the borders with Guinea Conakry and the Ivory Coast).
The Kéniéba Valley in western Mali is host to AngloGold Ashanti Limited / IAMGOLD Corporation’s Sadiola and Yatela Mines, Randgold Resources Limited’s recently commissioned Loulo-Yalea operation and Avion Resources’ recently re-opened Tabakoto-Segala mines.
The Bougouni-Sikasso region of southern Mali is host to the Morila gold mine (owned via a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti and Randgold) and the Syama Mine which is being recommissioned by Resolute Mining Limited to exploit newly defined satellite open-pittable resources.
The acquisition of the Malian Assets represents an opportunity to secure a significant portfolio of tenements in a world class gold region that will add significant growth potential for Colonial, as well as increasing the diversity of its project portfolio.