Sarama Resources' Oxide-Focused Drilling Confirms 5.6km-long Parallel Mineralised Horizon at the South Houndé Project in Burkina Faso

VANCOUVER, Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") is pleased to report that follow-up drilling at the MC and Kenobi Prospects has returned additional, predominantly oxide gold intersections and confirmed the presence of a semi-continuous eastern mineralised horizon measuring 5.6km in length.  The drill program built upon previous exploration programs at the South Houndé Project (the "Project") and further illustrates the exploration potential of the Tankoro Structural Corridor.  A USD$3.5M, multi-faceted exploration program is ongoing (90% complete) at the Project which is subject to an earn-in agreement between Sarama and Acacia Mining plc.

Highlights

• Drilling confirms the presence of a 5.6km-long semi-continuous mineralised horizon, located approximately 800m east of the well-defined 9.8km-long parallel trend hosting the bulk of the Project's mineral resource.
• Mineralisation occurs as stacked lode sequences at both the MC and Kenobi Prospects, with individual sequences measuring between 900m and 2.2km in strike length.
• Drilling was focussed on open-pittable, oxide mineralisation that is anticipated to be amenable to heap leaching and comprised 5,300m air-core ("AC") and 2,100m reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling.
• Results demonstrate the potential to add to the oxide mineral resource of the Project.
• Highlighted downhole intersections include:

• Further exploration will be conducted along the trend, targeting 'drilling gaps' and working towards understanding the geological controls on higher-grade and broad zones of mineralisation.
• USD$3.5M (CAD$4.7M) exploration program is budgeted for 2015 including geochemical and geophysical surveys and drill programs.            

MC and Kenobi Prospects Drill Programs

The Project's mineral resource currently stands at 1.5 Moz^1,2 of contained gold, a majority of which is delineated at the MM and MC Prospects and hosted within a regional-scale structural-magmatic zone informally known as the Tankoro Structural Corridor.  The area to the south of the defined mineral resources at the MC Prospect has only been lightly explored, with activities limited to regional scout drilling and ground-based geophysical and geochemical programs.

A drill program comprising 5,300m AC and 2,100m RC, and focussed on shallow oxide targets, was conducted during Q2 2015.  The drill program was designed to build upon encouraging reconnaissance drill results in areas interpreted to be structural extensions to mineralised zones previously identified by drilling at the MC Prospect, which hosts 20% of the Project's mineral resources.  The main focus areas were two discrete zones within the Kenobi and MC Prospects, measuring 2km and 900m strike length, respectively.  Other confirmatory-type targets were also tested at the MC Prospect (refer Figure 1).

Highlighted downhole intersections from the northern part of the drill program at the MC Prospect include 7m @ 2.23g/t Au from 45m in AC2099; 8m @ 2.82g/t Au from 18m in AC2103 and 5m @ 3.28g/t Au from 28m in AC2113.  The southern part of the program at the Kenobi Prospect returned several broad downhole intersections including 23m @ 1.23g/t Au from 9m in FRC899A; 11m @ 2.13g/t Au from 38m in FRC900; 9m @ 2.03g/t Au from 34m in FRC904; 16m @ 1.28g/t Au from 28m in FRC905; 26m @ 1.08g/t Au from 24.0m in FRC899; 230m @ 1.05g/t Au from 40m in AC2082; and 32m @ 0.92g/t Au from 17m in FRC908.  A deeper intersection of 31m @ 1.97g/t Au from 125m was returned in fresh material in FRC907.

The drilling program has been successful in confirming the continuity of mineralisation and extending the strike length of a series of semi-continuous stacked lode sequences over a 5.6km-long trend.  This is significant and illustrates the size of the mineralised system when considered in conjunction with the Project's main 9.8km-long mineralised horizon approximately 800m to the west.

The results have identified several oxide-hosted zones of economic interest along the horizon, with these typically being closely-spaced stacked lode packages of moderate to higher-grade or broad, lower-grade zones.  RC drilling on selected sections returned higher-grade intersections in fresh material, illustrating the potential for the system to continue at depth.  Higher-grade shoots are present in the lodes defined by this drilling, similar to the mineralisation in the better-defined western horizon.

The Company now looks forward to conducting further exploration in 'drilling gaps' along the newly defined horizon and working to identify zones of higher-grade and broader mineralisation along the greater MC-Kenobi trend.

Significant results from the drill program are listed in Appendix A and selected cross-sections are presented as Figures 2 to 3.

Sarama's President and CEO, Andrew Dinning, commented:

"These results confirm the presence of a second extensive mineralised horizon within the Tankoro Structural Corridor at the South Houndé Project.  They also illustrate the size of the mineralised system and highlight the potential for further exploration success.  The mineralisation delineated by this program will add to the oxide component of the Project's mineral resource and increase the likelihood of growing the oxide resource to a size that provides opportunities for development."

For further information on the Company's activities, please contact:

Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede
e: [email protected]
t: +61 (0) 8 9363 7600

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Figure 1 –Plan of MC and Kenobi Prospect Drilling and 5.6km-Long Mineralised Horizon

Figure 2 – Kenobi Prospect Section 1173070mN

Figure 3 – MC Prospect Section 1174400mN

About Sarama Resources Ltd

Sarama Resources Ltd (TSX-V: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer with substantial landholdings in Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mali.

Sarama's flagship property is the South Houndé Project in south-west Burkina Faso. Located within the prolific Houndé greenstone belt, Sarama's exploration programs have built on significant early success to deliver a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1.5 Moz gold.^1,2  In November 2014, Sarama entered in to an earn-in agreement with Acacia Mining plc where Acacia has the right to earn up to a 70% interest in the Company's South Houndé Project by meeting certain conditions, including spending US$14m on exploration and can earn a further 5% interest upon the estimation of a mineral reserve of 1.6Moz Au.

The Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits.  Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a strong financial position and a sound exploration strategy across its property portfolio.

1. 29.13 Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au (at a 0.8 g/t Au cut-off) inferred mineral resource
2. The effective date of the Company's Mineral Resource estimate is September 16, 2013. For further information regarding the Mineral Resource estimate please refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report, South Houndé Project, Bougouriba and Ioba Provinces, Burkina Faso", dated October 28, 2013. The technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes statements regarding the Company's plans for drilling and geochemical and geophysical surveys at the South Houndé Project, the Earn-In Agreement with Acacia, including the amounts that may be spent on exploration and interests in the South Houndé Project that may be earned by Acacia upon making certain expenditures and estimating a minimum reserve, the potential to expand the present oxide component of the Company's existing estimated mineral resources, and future exploration plans. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to Mineral Reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, Acacia's continued funding of exploration activities, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.

Notes –Drilling

Drilling results are quoted as downhole intersections.  True mineralisation width is expected to be approximately 70% to 80% of intersection length for holes drilled on east-west sections, dipping at -50° to -55° and intersecting the north-north-east striking lenses, however the nature of some mineralised units  is not well understood.

The reported composites for the drilling were determined using a cut-off grade of 0.30g/t Au to select significant and anomalous intersections, with a maximum of 2m internal dilution being incorporated into the composite where appropriate.  No top-cuts were applied to assay grades.  Isolated mineralised intersections less than 2m in length have not been reported.

Gold assays for the drilling were undertaken by the SGS S.A and ALS Minerals laboratories in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  Assays are determined by fire assay methods using a 50 gram charge, lead collection and an AAS finish with a 0.01g/t Au lower detection limit.

The drilling was generally designed using west-east oriented holes, dipping at -50-55° to the east, of variable length.  Holes were spaced at 25-50m intervals along drill lines.  AC drill cuttings were sampled over regular 1m or 2m downhole intervals, depending on the purpose of the hole.  All RC holes were sampled at regular 1m downhole intervals.

Sarama undertakes geological sampling and assays in accordance with its quality assurance/quality control program which includes the use of certified reference materials and duplicates for RC and AC drilling.

For further information regarding the Company's QAQC protocols please refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report, South Houndé Project, Bougouriba and Ioba Provinces, Burkina Faso", dated October 28, 2013. The technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Qualified Person's Statement

Scientific or technical information in this news release that relates to the preparation of the Company's mineral resource estimate is based on information compiled or approved by Adrian Shepherd.  Adrian Shepherd is an employee of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and is considered to be independent of Sarama Resources Ltd.  Adrian Shepherd is a chartered professional member in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.  Adrian Shepherd consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.

Scientific or technical information in this news release that relates to the Company's exploration activities in Burkina Faso is based on information compiled or approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.  Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this report of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.

Appendix A – Significant Drill Results

SOURCE Sarama Resources Limited