Awalé Resources (TSX-V:ARIC) has commenced a 15-month exploration program at its Odienné Gold-Copper Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The fully funded US$8 million ($11.24 million) program comprises 71,500m of drilling and 15,635 surface geochemical samples across the company’s 100%-owned ground. The drilling includes 23,940m of auger, 15,000m of reverse circulation (RC), 22,560m of diamond drilling, and 10,000m of aircore drilling.
Previously announced financing from PDI Gold (TSX:PDI), supported by Fortuna Mining (TSX:FVI) and Newmont (NYSE:NEM), provides funding for the campaign.
The company plans to recommence drilling at its Fremen discovery following the wet season, with approximately 5,960m of diamond drilling planned for Q4 2026. Fourteen holes will test the scale of the discovery, with assays from seven previously drilled holes pending.
Work is underway at Seydou and Sama, where 8,509 termitaria and soil samples have been collected alongside a 1,440m scout aircore drill program.
President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chubb describes Awalé’s geologists as “proven, discovery-driven explorers and mine finders”.
“We excel at this part of the business. BBM, Charger, Empire, and now Fremen were all found the same way, by disciplined geology, geophysics and regional geochemistry, infill, and then drilling where the data supports it,” Chubb says.
“We are now able [to] commit significant resources into our 100%-owned permits at the scale the package deserves.”
The program reserves 15,000m for discovery follow-up, comprising 10,000m diamond and 5,000m RC drilling.
Awalé’s Odienné Project hosts an inferred mineral resource estimate of 1.71 million ounces gold equivalent across the BBM, Charger, and Empire deposits.
“Our Odienne discoveries are not by accident; they are there for a reason,” Chubb remarks.
“We are on a regional-scale trend that hosts multimillion-ounce gold camps in both Mali and Guinea, and which extends into our ground in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Importantly, we have the right mix of experienced people to find the next big gold camp.”
Awalé Resources is a mineral explorer focused on discovering gold and gold-copper deposits in Côte d’Ivoire.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Awalé Resources
