Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2017) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTC Pink: DAUGF) ("Desert Gold" or "the Company") is pleased to provide the following update regarding the results of a recently completed mapping, rock and soil sampling program at its Segala West permit. The Company has also outlined its follow up drill program at its Segala West prospect in Western Mali.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Assay results from grab samples received from pit mapping and rock sampling on various artisanal working areas at Segala West returned significant high-grade gold values including the following:
    • 41 g/t at Baroya;
    • 19 g/t at Baroya north;
    • 11.9 g/t at Segala; and
    • 39.2 g/t at Baroya north west
  • Segala West permit borders several multi million oz Au deposits including Randgold's Loulo/Gounkoto Mine complex and Endeavour Mining's Tabakoto/Segala mines.

ABOUT SEGALA WEST

The Segala West permit is surrounded by several large gold mines which include Randgold's Loulo-Gounkoto mine complex to the West where the company has declared resources of 51 Mt at 4.4 g/t for 5.7 million oz au Measured and Indicated, 20 Mt at

3.9 g/t for 2 million oz Au inferred and ore reserves of 32 Mt average at 4.6 g.t for 3.7 million oz Au in the Proven and Probably category.

Adjacent to the East of Segala West are Endeavour Mining's Tabakoto and Segala mines with Kofi and Kefola prospects to the north and south respectively. The surface expression of the neighboring mine, Tabakoto (Endeavour Mining), which hosts ~3 million oz Au is less than 1 km2 (18.5 Mt at 3.5 g/t for 1.8 million oz au measured and indicated, 9 Mt at 3.6 g/t for 1 million oz Au inferred and 6.4 Mt at 3.5 g/t for 0.7 million oz au proven and probable).

Within Desert Gold's Segala West permit there exists a large soil geochemical anomaly covering an area of 24 km2 within which 4 significant artisanal mines are active. The purpose of the recently completed program was to identify all active artisanal   working areas in order to estimate their extension and to better understand the geological and structural controls of the mineralisation. This dataset has been integrated to assist planning of the diamond drilling program due to start earlier in July of 2017.

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Figure 1. Location Map of Segala West Permit with artisanal pits and neighboring operations.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/27560_desert1enhanced.jpg

RESULTS FROM ROCK SAMPLING AND MAPPING PROGRAM

The program covered mostly the eastern part of the permit where artisanal mining is underway with more than 500 people. The mapping and sampling focused on four main artisanal working areas including Baroya, Baroya north, Baroya north-west and Segala. A total of 117 rock samples were taken from the four artisanal sites and sent to SGS Laboratories in Bamako, Mali to be assayed. Note that grab samples are selective samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralisation hosted on the property.

Assay Results from Grab Sampling Program Yielding Au Values > 1.0 g/t
Sample ID Description Au ppm
Baroya
A1941 Quartz veins(N340°/70°) 10 cm width oxidized 2.93

 

A1944

Grey darkto blue saprolite of Shale, moderate-pervasive graphite alteration + brecciated quartz veins stock work+ box works (rejectsfrom pits)

5.66

A1945 Saprolite of shale sheared + quartz veinsbrecciated + hematite alteration + boxworks (rejectsfrom pits) 2.5
A1947 Saprolite of siltstone + moderate stockwork millimetric feox veinlet (Well reject) 1.01
A1949 Sandstone mas ive + stock workquartz veinsoxidized 1.17

 

A1952

Quartz rich vein from main zone oxidized and sheared strongly, moderate box works at 25 m depth from active pit rejects

11.8

 

A1954

Darkgrey saprolite sandstone, hematite alteration, brecciated and oxidized strongly + moderate box works at 33m depth from active pit rejects

3.53

 

A1956

Grey saprolite siltstone host rock, brecciated, sheared and oxidized strongly + moderate box works from active well reject

2.45

     
A1959 Quartz veinsfragments strong oxidized + moderate boxworks (Active pit rejects) 1.47
A1960 Brecciated quartz veinsvery oxidized + boxworks dis eminated (Active pit rejects) 1.06
A1961 Saprock sandstone mas ive, hematite alteration, stock work quartz veinsoxidized, brecciated + box works 1.43
A1967 Quartz veinsfragmentsfrom active well, strong oxidised, cracked + moderated box works dis eminated 6
A1969 Saprock sandstone brecciated, hematite alteration + stockwork quartz veinlet 1.84
A1970 Saprock sandstone brecciated, hematite alteration + stockwork quartz veinlet 2.8
A1972 10-20cm Quartz veins(N340°/70°) strong oxidised, brecciated + boxworks from an excavation 2.32
A1979 Quartz fragmentsoxidized strongly + moderate boxworks (pit rejects) 1.09
A1981 Quartz veins(N350°/35°) moderate oxidized and cracked 2.21
A1983 Contact quartz veins/ Saprolite (N345°/33°) bleached and sheared + weakboxworks 2.37

 

A2022

Quartz veinsvery oxidized + moderate dis eminated boxworks (sample were given by local artisanal minersfrom their productive well)

1.18

 

A2023

Quartz veinsvery oxidized + moderate dis eminated boxworks (sample were given by local artisanal minersfrom their productive well)

41

Baroya North

 

A1995

Sheared quartz veinsfragmentsbrecciated, oxidized + moderate boxworks given by local artisanal miner from their active well

1

 

A1996

Sheared quartz veinsfragmentsbrecciated, oxidized + moderate boxworks given by local artisanal miner from their active pit about 34m depth

19

A1998 Fragmentsquartz veinscracked and oxidized along crack plane and brecciated (pit rejects) 3.42
A2002 Quartz veinsfragments sheared and oxidized strongly + dis eminated boxworks. 7.17
A2005 Sheared quartz veinsfragmentswith hematite alteration + moderate boxworks (pitl reject) 1.93
A2007 Sheared quartz veinsfragmentsbrecciated, oxidized + moderate boxworks 13.5
A2011 Saprolite of siltstone oxidized, sheared, brecciated + quartz veins+ boxworks (pit reject) 1.29
A2012 Strong oxidized quartz veinsfragments, sheared and brecciated + boxworks 3.73
A2013 Sheared saprolite of siltstone + quartz veins sheared along shearing plane 1.1
A2014

Strong sheared saprolite of siltstone, very limonite alteration

+ quartz veins sheared and brecciated

3.95
A2018 Quartz veins(N210°/60°) 1cm width showing hematite alteration 2.64
Baroya North West

 

A2057

Medium grained saprock sandstone sheared + strong hematite veinsparallelsalong shearing plane + visible gold given by artisanal minersfrom 20m depth

39.2

A2059 Quartz fragments 10-15 cm very oxidized , brecciated + boxworks from 20cm 14.7
A2061 Quartz veins(N160°/75°) 10-15 cm width strong brecciated + hematite and limonite alteration + boxworks. 4.1
A2068 Quartz veins(N210°/80°) 0.5 cm width very oxidized exploited by artisanal minersin the zone generally 1.32
A2069 Networks quartz veins(N214°/88°) 0.5 cm width very oxidized exploited by artisanal minersin the zone generally 10.6
Segala
A2027 Quartz veins(N320°/15°) 1 - 2cm width oxidized, elongated and brecciated 1.03
A2028 Quartz veins(N063°/83°) 1 cm width oxidized + boxworks 2.56
A2033 Quartz veins(N240°/84°) 2 cm width strong oxidized + boxworks 5.55
A2034 Quartz veins(N220°/84°) 2 - 5cm width strong oxidized, brecciated + boxworks 6.79
A2036 Individual quartz veins(N225°/85°) 2-3cm width strong oxidized, brecciated + boxworks 4.9
A2038 Sheared quartz veins(N130°/88°) oxidized parallel shearing plane 1.99

 

A2039

Purple - yellowish saprolite of Siltstone strong foliated, strong hematite + limonite alteration + quartz veinsalong foliation plane

2.29

 

A2040

Purple - yellowish saprolite of Siltstone strong foliated, strong hematite + limonite alteration + quartz veinsalong foliation plane

1.91

A2041 Networkquartz veins(N290°/40°) 1-2cm width strong oxidized and brecciated

 1.01

A2044 Individual quartz veins(N230°/75°) 0.5cm width strong oxidized 11.9

 

RESULTS OF MAPPING PROGRAM

Baroya

The Baroya artisanal site has more 450 meters strike length with 50 meters width. It's active with about more 200 local artisanal miners. The geology at Baroya is dominated by sedimentary units that vary from sandstone to siltstone and graphitic shale. Alteration is constrained to these units and consists of strong limonite, hematite and moderate kaolinite and graphite. Mineralization is associated with quartz veins (10-15%) cracked, brecciated and sheared locally, rich in carbonate, hematite and feldspar alteration developed within a shear zone corridor.

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Figure 2: Baroya Grab Sampling Results over Interpreted Geological Map

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Baroya North

Located 1.7km to the north of Baroya site, Baroya North has more than 700m strike length. The geology is a sedimentary sequence consisting of siltstone and sandstone affected by limonite and hematite alteration along a NW strike trending shear zone dipping toward NE. Mineralisation is associated with sheared quartz veins strongly oxidized and brecciated with localised box works from sulphide dissolution.

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Figure 3. Baroya North Grab Sampling Results over Interpreted Geological Map

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Baroya North West

With more than 400m strike length, this site is located at 1km to the west of Baroya North site. The geology sedimentary and varies from siltstone to sandstone. These are associated with hematite veins. Two types of gold mineralization systems are defined in the site; gold linked hematite veins following foliation plan with visible gold and brecciated quartz veins very oxidized with box works.

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Figure 4. Baroya North West Grab Sampling Results over Interpreted Geological Map

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Segala 

With more than 350 meters strike length, Segala is located 800m to the east of Baroya North and seems to be the extension of the structure of the Segala gold mine corridor currently under production by Endeavour Mining. The mineralization is controlled by a network thin quartz veins with various thicknesses that are very oxidized affected by limonite and hematite alteration with box work from sulphide dissolution.

NR june 21 figure5 S 

Figure 5. Segala Grab Sampling Results over Interpreted Geological Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/27560_desert5enhanced.jpg

Desert Gold's President Jared Scharf commented, "Results from this sampling program are very encouraging and demonstrate significant potential for a new gold discovery at Segala West. Mineralization in the area is associated with quartz veining systems developed within shear zones trending South-East to North-West. Taking into consideration the results from the aforementioned program and the quality of the surrounding deposits and mines currently being operated by our neighbours, we will commence a targeted diamond core drill program aimed to be completed by August of this year before the rainy season begins."

This note was reviewed by Dr. Luc Antoine who is a director of the Company and is registered as a Member of the Geological Society of South Africa (MGSSA 967397). He approves the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release and has the necessary experience relevant to the style of mineralization and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined in the National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jared Scharf"

Jared Scharf
President & Director
+1 (858) 247-8195

For further information please visit www.SEDAR.com under the company's profile.

This news release contains forward-looking statements respecting the Company's ability to successfully complete the Offering. These forward-looking statements entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations, are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such statements, including the inability of the Company to successfully complete the Offering. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the capital markets, the price of gold; operational, funding, and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; and the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with mining operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com and readers are urged to read these materials. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements unless required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the united states securities act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the united states or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such act.