Geology and exploration of the Bokitiso Concession, Central Region, Ghana

Synopsis

The Bokitiso Concession is located ten miles west of Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Central Region of Ghana. The country rocks are mainly phyllites, greywackes and tuffaceous beds believed to be of the lower Birimian. These rocks strike northeast and dip steeply to the southeast. The phyllites have been intruded by granitoid porphyries which occur as lenticular bodies. The major structures in the concession have a northeasterly trend and are defined by a series of enechelon quartz veins infilling fissures.

The first registered title holder on the property was Bokitiso Goldfields Limited who commenced operations in 1900. However, by 1905 the company had gone bankrupt. The Atta Gold Company Limited then operated the property from the early 1930’s through to 1947. Little production detail is available about these operations.

Cluff Taywood Mining Limited a joint-venture partnership between Cluff Resources PLC and Taylor woodrow International, both of the United Kingdom became involved through an agreement with Canon Farms and Mining Industry, a Ghanaian Company who are the holders of the prospecting licence. Detailed exploration commenced at the beginning of October 1988. At the end of 1988 Cluff Resources PLC purchased Taylor Woodrow International’s interest in Cluff Taywood Mining Limited and the company changed its name to Cluff Mining Ghana.

Exploration focused on two aspects:-

• 1. Geological mapping, surface trenching and sampling of known gold occurrences in the Concession with a view of elevating the viable prospects to drilling stage. In less than six months a decision was reached to drill two targets: the old Bokitiso prospects and the Esuaja old workings.

• 2. Regional studies on the concession were undertaken in order to locate previously unknown gold mineralisation. This was achieved by regional soil sampling, aerial photography, use of local knowledge aand old records and general reconnaissance. To date a total of ten prospects have been identified. Three of these are now at feasibility drilling stage, one is at prefeasibility drilling stage, another three at trenching and sampling stage and the remainder proved not viable.

Details of the exploration techniques are described.

The company has established a Field Camp near Ayanfuri where Expatriate and Ghanaian staff are accommodated. Despite the previous ‘Galamsey’ history in Ayanfuri village, a sound working relationship has been established between the company and the inhabitants of Ayanfuri as a result of the company’s willingness to assist in community development projects.