Hamak Strategy (LSE:HAMA) has begun a 4,125 metre reverse-circulation (RC) resource drilling programme at its Akoko oxide gold project in southwest Ghana aimed at producing a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) and supporting a low-cost open-pit Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
Deeprock (GH) Limited has mobilised to site to drill 72 holes across the two primary targets. Hamak will collect 1m RC samples with industry-standard QA/QC — standards, blanks and duplicates — and submit assays to the ISO-accredited SGS laboratory in Tarkwa, with results expected on a regular cadence.
The MRE will be prepared by independent consulting geologist Dr. Colin Andrew, using the new drilling plus some 16,000m of historical assay data the company holds. A 2016 non‑JORC estimate from previous owners put contained gold at 270,000 ounces. Hamak is also soliciting proposals from engineering and consulting groups to scope the PEA — covering mining and processing options, capital and operating costs and cash-flow modelling.
"We are delighted to commence drilling at the Akoko gold project in southwest Ghana. The 4,125m RC drill programme is designed to generate a maiden JORC compliant MRE and support the preparation of a PEA. Drilling is focused on the upper 80m where modelling suggests the primary oxide gold target is, and which could be amenable to low-cost open pit mining and processing. We look forward to providing regular updates on the exploration results from this programme," said CEO Karl Smithson.
