Randgold Resources is the most active explorer in the country, with extensive landholdings around the Loulo and Morila deposits. In addition to near-mine exploration programmes at both operations, the company is actively involved in grassroots projects across the Birimian in Mali. On the Loulo permit, Randgold controls over 45 km of strike length of the Senegal-Malian shear zone, arguably one of Africa's premier emerging goldfi elds. A portfolio of 45 gold showings along this structure includes advanced targets close to existing infrastructure. Fieldwork, including diamond drilling, is ongoing at the Baboto, P64 and Faraba targets, which are all expected to contribute to the Loulo project resource. In southern Mali, extensive work, both on and around the Morila permit, is targeting prospective structural domains having the potential to host additional Morilatype orebodies.

Axmin Inc is continuing work on the Kofi project to the north of Loulo, where it has established an indicated resource of 45,000 oz.

Resolute has the option to earn up to 60% in Etruscan Resources Inc's Finkolo JV to the south of Syama. This permit lies on the Syama shear, and recent drilling results from a reverse circulation (RC) infi ll-drilling programme include 18 m averaging 23.2 g/t Au and 9 m at 12.6 g/t Au. In addition to this property, Etruscan holds several other permits in southern Mali and the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier, and has recently announced positive auger intersections on its Diba JV to the south of Sadiola.

Avnel has recently released results from drilling on its Djirila project to the south of Kalana. These include 24 m at 11.4 g/t Au and 19 m at 12.55 g/t Au from an anomalous zone with a strike length of just over 200 m.

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North Atlantic Resources Ltd has a number of permits in Mali and recent work has focused on the drilling of the FT target in southern Mali. Intersections of 46 m at 1.6 g/t Au and 35 m at 3.1 g/t Au were returned from two separate, roughly NW-SE trending structures, with a combined strike length of 1,800 m. North Atlantic is also in a JV with Diadem Resources Ltd on three permits where Diadem can earn up to a 60% interest.

African Gold Group Inc, which recently acquired the Malian interests of Cominor (Cogema), is due to start a diamond-drilling programme on the Kobada project in the Kangaba area of southern Mali. The drilling programme is designed to test and extend a 1,000 m long mineralised zone, situated within a soil anomaly some 12 km in length. To date, a 300 m long zone, 20-30 m wide and averaging 1-3 g/t Au, has been identifi ed.

At Komana West, close to the Guinea border, Glencar Mining plc has traced mineralisation in quartz veins in a north-trending shear over a strike length of 1 km, with high grade RC drill results of 20 m at 55.2 g/t Au and 11 m at 13.2 g/t Au. Glencar can earn up to an 85% interest in the project. Goldfi elds Ltd may earn up to 65% in three other permits that Glencar holds in the area, and has the right of fi rst refusal for involvement on the Komana project.

Great Quest Metals Ltd holds several permits in the west of Mali and has intersected numerous mineralised quartz veins in the course of its work. Work in 2006 includes follow-up drilling on previous results from its Djambaye 2 target to the south of Nevsun's Tabakoto mine. Previous programmes tested a 400 m strike length, with intersections of 12.4 m at 2.8 g/t Au and 14.5 m at 2.5 g/t Au.

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A number of other companies are involved in exploration in Mali. These include Cluff Gold plc, which has entered into a JV on a permit to the north of Syama, Robex Resources Inc, which recently announced a 2,000 m RC drilling programme planned on targets across three of it permits in western Mali, and Delta Gold Ltd, which is planning to drill-test soil anomalies at its Koninko project to the south of Bamako.

In addition to the gold exploration mentioned above, companies are also actively involved in exploration for diamonds, iron ore, base metals, bauxite and phosphates.

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