Sonfon (150 km²)

DRILL TARGETS DEFINED FROM 3KM GOLD ANOMLAY COINCIDENT WITH GOLD BEARING VEIN STOCKWORK

• 3km long by 0.3km wide gold anomaly, peak value of 1,100ppb (1.1g/t)
• High grade gold-bearing stockwork vein system beneath anomaly
• Significant intersect in trenches, including 7.3m@7.4g/t
• Potential bulk tonnage gold deposit identified for drill testing
• Sampling confirms previous work, including grab sample of 77oz/t

Highly encouraging results from gold exploration programme under Joint Venture with Golden Prospect Plc (AIM:GOL) across combined 256km² Sonfon Exclusive Prospecting Licences. The Sonfon gold district contains Sierra Leone’s richest and most prolific historic gold fields, across the country’s pre-eminent Sula Mountain greenstone gold belt.

Phase-1 Geochemical survey results

A 3 kilometre (km) long northwest trending gold-in-soil anomaly identified by a 25ppb contour, has been defined by a geochemical soil sampling programme and termed the Yanfarina-Dalakuru-Sende (YDS) gold zone. The programme included 879 samples, covering an area of approximately 50km², which were assayed by SGS Laboratories in Ghana. The YDS zone is coincident with an area of extensive alluvial and laterite artisanal gold workings and is within a prominent tectonically defined structure, approximately 9km long by 5km wide. Trenching within the anomalous zone has identified a series of high grade gold-bearing narrow veins (stockwork) that could represent a highly significant bulk tonnage gold target.

Results from a previous regional soil geochemical programme conducted by Mano identified certain gold anomalies assaying up to 3,227ppb (3.2 g/t) coincident with and up to 5km north and 4km south of the YDS zone. While more detailed interpretation is underway, further assay results representing the remaining two thirds of the regional survey are anticipated in March 2003. A grab sample taken from a previous reconnaissance survey from a sulphide rich shear zone in the newly defined YDS zone returned a highly encouraging 2,388 g/t (77 oz/t) gold including, 2.2% Pb, 0.43% Zn, 0.04% Ag, 0.11% Ni, 0.05% As.

The results from the phase-1 survey have confirmed the presence of gold in association with a major linear structural trend of axial planar shearing associated with folding, which has been identified from satellite image interpretation. Significant base metal values associated with metavolcanincs and elevated copper values in the Yanfarina area have been reported and together with sulphide mineralization reported previously, the potential for economic volcanic-associated base metal mineralization in the area is also highlighted.

Positive trench sampling results from YDS zone

A series of recent trenches taken as part of the phase-1 programme, targeting primary vein gold mineralization on the side of the Yanfarina River north of Dalakuru, returned the following highly encouraging results.

Phase-1 YDS Zone Trench Samples
Trench	Length (m)	Grade (g/t)
DT-1	3.5	3.6
DT-2	0.9	1.6
DT-3*	1.9	24.9
DT-4	6	0.5
DT-5	2	0.2
DT-6	7.3	7.4
DT-7	5.9	3.6
*including	0.45	108

Field geologists report that the mineralised quartz tourmaline veins trend north westerly and range between 0.1 metres (m) and 1m wide. The vein stockwork has been traced continuously over a distances of at least 75m with artisans having masked its continuation through their mining activities. It is considered likely that the veins exposed in Trench DT-4 along strike are part of the same system suggesting a minimum length of 150m.

Positive grab sample results from Yisangba prospect

The Yisangba prospect is located in the EPL held by Golden Prospect Plc. Grab samples from a 3m wide highly silicified outcrop 5km northeast of the YDS gold zone, range from 1 to 12.3 g/t for an average of 6.3 g/t. A previous channel sample taken by IMC Mackay & Schnellman (IMC) assayed 3m@10.3 g/t. IMC reported the area to be "highly prospective for primary gold targets".

Phase-1 Yisangba Grab Samples
Sample No.	Gold g/t
50901	5.6
50902	2.9
50903	1
50904	12.6
50905	9.1

The Yisangba target is located within the 'Bongone block', where previous drilling of a geochemical anomaly in the 1960's reportedly intersected an 85m wide zone of sulphide mineralization (2-3% sulphides). Two geophysical anomalies (zone A and B) were also reportedly identified at that time, with zone A coincident with the geochemical anomaly at a depth of between 45m to 60m continuing for over 2,000m to the north. Two further prospects in the EPL have previously been identified by Golden Prospect Plc at Kumantakuyie and Kantenki with trench samples returning grades of up to 17 g/t gold. The targets lie 2km apart, along a shear zone where gold is mined artisanaly from laterites considered to be in-situ above primary mineralization.

Highlights of Sonfon JV

A Heads of agreement to jointly explore the two contiguous EPLs covering 256km² in the Sonfon district, was signed by Mano and Golden Prospect Plc in May 2002 (see www.manoriver.com/properties/sl_lakesonfon.html). Previous work by the partners on their respective licenses includes regional geochemistry, which has identified gold occurrences related to major shear structures in areas with extensive artisanal gold workings. The presence of gold in the Sonfon area has historical reference, with the name of the local river 'Sende', translating to "gold bearing water". Active artisanal alluvial and laterite gold workings are found extensively across the Sonfon district. The JV area has reportedly been described by a major international gold producer as Sierra Leone's 'most outstanding gold prospect' and by independent consultants IMC as hosting the 'potential for the discovery of gold deposits of significant size'

Mano has identified a very significant drill target as well as a regional gold system with excellent further exploration potential.