Trans-Siberian Gold PLC's mineral resource at its Asacha gold mine in Russia shrunk due to mining depletion and a reanalysis of the estimate model inputs as preliminary internal estimates indicated the existing in situ resource may have been overestimated.

The total mineral resource for Asacha decreased to 313,000 ounces of gold and 675,000 ounces of silver as of Dec. 1, 2019, from 553,000 ounces of gold and 1.3 million ounces of silver as of Dec, 31, 2018.

The resources are contained in a measured and indicated resource of 239,000 tonnes at 14 g/t gold and 43 g/t silver and an inferred resource of 313,000 tonnes at 20 g/t gold and 34 g/t silver.

The updated mineral resource model incorporates new diamond drilling on the QV1 and QV2 veins in the Main zone and QV25 in the East zone, the company said Jan. 8.

Trans-Siberian is planning about 22,000 meters of surface drilling for 2020 targeting the lateral extents of the Main zone and QV25. A further 2,000 meters of underground drilling will target the Main zone at depth.

The Asacha mine recently secured an agreement for continued supply of discounted electricity in 2020 from the Kamchatka Peninsula's main power provider.