OREANDA-NEWS. SEMAFO (TSX:SMF)(OMX:SMF) today announced delineation drilling results from Yama, the recently discovered mineralized zone located 22 kilometers southwest of the Mana mill. Over 2,500 meters of in-fill drilling were completed in May at 25-meter by 50-meter grid spacing. Results of up to 2.23 g/t across 28 meters were obtained that will be incorporated in the Yama maiden reserves estimate now scheduled for completion by the end of the third quarter of 2016.

The May campaign comprised 16 reverse-circulation (RC) holes and 4 multipurpose (RC-core combination) holes that furthered our understanding of the mineralized zones and grades defined in the first quarter of 2016. The mineralization is hosted by quartz veining and silicified sediments flanked by mafic volcanic flows. The sedimentary unit is highly altered and sheared, dipping approximately 70 degrees to the west and trending generally north-south. The following results represent the highlights of the May 2016 delineation program, which is now complete:


Hole No.		 From
meters		 To
meters		 Length 1
meters
Au g/t 2
MMP16-002 108.0 119.0 11.0 2.20
MMP16-004 162.2 171.0 8.8 2.97
MMP16-004 175.0 187.5 12.5 2.30
MRC16-4676 23.0 29.0 6.0 2.54
MRC16-4677 59.0 64.0 5.0 3.92
MRC16-4680 19.0 28.0 9.0 2.37
MRC16-4681 48.0 54.0 6.0 2.41
MRC16-4682 58.0 68.0 10.0 2.79
MRC16-4684 48.0 53.0 5.0 3.12
MRC16-4684 61.0 77.0 16.0 3.24
MRC16-4686 104.0 132.0 28.0 2.23
1 All lengths are measured along the hole axis, and true thickness should be approximately 80% of the given lengths.
2 Using uncut assays

As shown in Figure 1, the deformation zone is associated with three strong silica-sericite alteration and quartz veining zones presenting an en-echelon relationship with each other, moving west while progressing towards the north. The best mineralization appears where the three vein systems are present. Figure 2 presents a composite of all veining in a longitudinal section. The core of the mineralization presents significant quartz veining and only minor amounts (less than 2%) of pyrite. No other sulfides have been noted to date. Higher gold values are typically associated with the quartz veining, proximal silicified and sericitized volcanics and minor sediments. The mineralized zones vary in width, but can reach up to 25 meters. The mineralization can be traced over 200 meters along strike and up to 150 meters vertically, and remains open down dip.

For RC drilling and trench samples, all individual samples represent approximately one meter in length of rock chips homogenized and riffle-split to an approximately 2-kilogram subsample that was sent for preparation and gold assaying to the Mana Mine Assay laboratory. Each sample is fire-assayed for gold content on a 50-gram sub-sample. In addition to the lab's own QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) program, an internal QA/QC program is in place throughout the sampling program, using blind duplicates, blanks and recognized industry standards.

Michel Crevier, P.Geo MScA, Vice-President Exploration and Mine Geology, is SEMAFO's Qualified Person and has reviewed this press release for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of SEMAFO under the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. This information was publicly communicated on June 20, 2016 at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time.