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Merrex’s 2006 program, which was designed to confirm and detail gold zones previously outlined, consisted of prospecting, mapping, detailed geochemistry, pitting and trenching. Grids were established by Merrex over 10 selected anomalous areas covering approximately 25% of the total gold anomalous zones previously outlined. Approximately 10,000 soil samples were collected and analysed.

Several strong gold geochemical anomalies have been identified from the 2006 Merrex program. These anomalies confirm the gold zones identified by previous workers. Values as high as 3.9 g/t Au have been received in isolated samples. The most significant anomaly identified to date appears to be Zone 1A on the Taya-Malea grid and measures approximately 400 by 700 metres.

This Merrex geochemical survey was very successful in defining and confirming several significant geochemical anomalies located in the broad gold zones previously identified. These gold geochemical anomalies are associated with both mapped structures and quartz tourmaline in “sandstone”. The presence of tourmaline indicates strong hydrothermal activity and is a significant mineral often associated with producing gold mines in West Mali.

Trench TY-T-06-02 (trench 2) completed in the centre of geochemical anomaly Zone 1A intersected 3.1 g/t Au over 35 metres, including a 17-metre core section grading 5 g/t Au. This was in a 100-metre mineralized trench with all values well above background. Individual samples were one metre in length and taken horizontally along the trench floor in saprolitic rock at two meters in depth.

The trenching results have confirmed a major gold occurrence in saprolitic rocks associated with a wide lineament outlined by an airborne magnetic survey (SYSMIN 2004). The mapping of the trench walls indicates that the gold mineralization is related to a strong hydrothermal system represented by stockwork zones associated with felsic dykes and tourmaline. These broad mineralized zones are extensive, appear to extend over a total of 100 kilometres in length, and have produced significant gold assays in initial exploration. This geological setting is similar to other well-documented producing mines and advanced exploration projects in the area and offer extensive opportunity for further discoveries through continuing aggressive exploration.