Dalaroo Metals (ASX:DAL) has completed drill pads ahead of a fully funded 12,000m maiden drilling program at the Bondoukou Gold Ridge Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
Following its previously reported capital raise, the company has expanded the initial phase one reverse circulation program from 10,000m to 12,000m, which allows it to systematic test of the Mag, Wilfred, and Ali targets.
Drilling will commence by 15 August, marking the first direct test of the three priority gold targets at depth. The program comprises 24 initial orientation holes averaging 175m depth, followed by 78 fence drilling holes averaging 100m depth across 11 drill fences.
CEO John Morgan says the completion of the initial drill pads and access routes is a significant milestone for Dalaroo.
“This will be the first time the extensive surface gold anomalies at Mag, Wilfred, and Ali are directly tested at depth, representing an important step in determining the discovery potential of the broader Gold Ridge corridor,” Morgan notes.
The program integrates soil and auger geochemistry, geological mapping, and magnetic interpretation. This includes distribution of artisanal workings to test geological and structural controls on targeted gold mineralisation beneath surface anomalies.
Dalaroo intends to deliver samples progressively to Intertek, initially in weekly intervals, with first assay results expected four to six weeks after delivery.
The company mentions that drilling will continue in parallel to maintain operational momentum and allow geological data to guide the program’s immediate progression.
Geological logging and field observations will also be reviewed following each completed hole, allowing emerging information to guide ongoing drill targeting while assays are pending.
Deliberately phased and geologically led drilling
The 12,000m phase one forms the opening stage of Dalaroo’s overall 20,000m phased drilling strategy.
“Our broader strategy at Gold Ridge is deliberately phased and geology-led,” Morgan says.
“We will begin with scissor holes at Mag, Wilfred, and Ali … before progressing into systematic fence drilling.”
Exploration Manager for Côte d’Ivoire Frank Twum-Berima Bosompem says the opening scissor holes are designed to ‘answer key geological questions’ early in the program.
“By drilling in opposing directions at each prospect, we can better understand the orientation and geometry of the targeted mineralised structures before advancing into systematic fence drilling across all three targets,” Bosompem adds.
Meanwhile, phase two and phase three will be designed using the geological model developed during the current program.
Dalaroo says the phase one program maintains flexibility to adjust hole locations, orientations, and depths as geological understanding improves.
Dalaroo Metals is an explorer focused on the discovery and development of gold and critical mineral projects across Australia and international jurisdictions.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Dalaroo Metals
