Two Canadian-listed juniors have been releasing regular reports on their exploration work in DR Congo and Rwanda. Swiss-based Alphamin Resources is drilling in two locations at the Bisie project in North Kivu, DRC, while Solomon Resources has begun preliminary work at the Rurembo near Gitarama in northern Rwanda.
Bisie was the largest centre of artisanal mining in DRC up to 2010, but activity has declined sharply in recent years. Alphamin is focused on two target areas known as Gecomines and Golgotha. The former is identified as a high grade priority zone with tin grades typically over 2% over significant widths and the company plans 4,000 metres of drilling through the third quarter of this year. Initial drilling has identified significant copper values at Gecomines and lead, zinc and silver at Golgotha. Alphamin anticipates that it can define an estimated 80-100,000 tonnes of contained tin down to 200 metres from surface by the end of Q3.
Solomon has a two year prospecting licence over a 100,000 hectare area, within which it as identified five high priority follow-up areas following analysis of airborne geophysical data and geological mapping. Initial prospecting will be at Gipfizi Ridge, with both tin and coltan placer deposits targeted. Solomon has an historic interest in tin exploration in North America, and retains a 20% stake in the Sleitat project in Alaska, but is now concentrating its attention on Africa.
