Connemara Mining has secured six additional prospecting licences on the Inishowen Peninsula.
The licenses have been granted after initial tests show very positive results for gold in the area.
This additional area covers the 229km² that adjoins the five licence block, which Connemara intercepted 4.82m in grading of 5.48g/t gold last year.
The total of 11 licences cover the complete Green Bed Member of the Dalradian geological sequence on the peninsula, which according is understood to be highly prospective.
Connemara applied for the ground when modelling of the 2016 drilling results showed that the gold bearing veins may stretch into adjacent areas. Additional drilling is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2017.
Connemara has abandoned the ground in Donegal to focus attention and resources on Inishowen.
“The consensus was that the Inishowen block holds greater potential for a commercial gold discovery.”
The Raphoe block of ten licences was explored and gold traces were found in soil and stream samples. The consensus was that the Inishowen block holds greater potential for a commercial gold discovery.
Connemara Mining chairman John Teeling said: “Having analysed and reviewed the results of our 2016 drilling campaign we decided, as a matter of urgency, to apply for the ground adjoining our five licence block on the Inishowen Peninsula in county Donegal.
“We are delighted to have been awarded six additional licences on the peninsula. We believe that the mineralisation we discovered could extend into the new ground where historically gold has been noted in several streams.
“Given the potential of the Inishowen block, we have surrendered ten licences in the south of Donegal. The results we obtained on this block were not of the same order as those found on Inishowen. We will now focus our efforts on the Inishowen block.”