Drilling into the central mineralised zone returned an interval of 301.4m grading 6.11g/t of gold starting from 14.1m down hole and penetrating the upper porphyry zone, the lower porphyry zone and a mixed zone.

"Our geologic interpretation of mineralisation at Aurora suggests potential for steeply plunging, high-grade ore shoots in beneath satellite Mad Kiss, East Walcott and Aleck Hill ore zones," SVP technical services and corporate development Ron Stewart said.

"This hole clearly supports our thesis and provides further evidence of the potential for high-grade zones that we plan on mining from the underground." 

Guyana Goldfields has a 30,000m drill programme approved for 2019. Underground drilling will start as soon as a decline has been sufficiently advanced.

Shares in Guyana Goldfields (TSX:GUY) were trading at C$1.05 (US78c) Thursday, valuing the company at $184 million. Its share price has fallen 38% so far this year.