Dalaroo Metals (ASX:DAL) has returned ‘high-grade’ gold from maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Wilfred target within its Bondoukou Gold Ridge Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
Hole BDRC002 intersected 18m @ 7.31 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 63m, including 12m @ 8.66g/t Au from 69m. The hole also delivered a second zone of 16m @ 1.46g/t Au from 113m.
Meanwhile, BDRC001 returned 23m @ 2.14g/t Au from surface, including 12m @ 3.35g/t Au from 7m. Reported intervals are downhole lengths; true widths have not yet been established.
The 18m interval corresponds to strongly silicified volcaniclastic rock with quartz-sulphide veining and pyrite, representing about 132 gram-metres.
Every 1m sample returned at least 1.72g/t Au, with 14 of 18 above 5g/t and four above 10g/t, peaking at 15.90g/t Au from 78m.
Samples immediately above and below the interval returned less than 0.2g/t Au, marking sharp margins. A similarly silicified interval from 98–113m returned less than 0.25g/t Au, pointing to an additional structural control on grade.
The two holes were drilled from opposing directions to establish the orientation of the mineralised system. BDRC001 intersected oxide gold within laterite and saprolite from surface, while BDRC002 hit fresh bedrock.
Together, the holes returned eight separate mineralised intervals.
CEO John Morgan says the results validate the company’s targeting approach.
“Hitting gold in both holes, from both directions, on the first drill holes ever drilled along the 7km Gold Ridge corridor is an encouraging result,” Morgan says.
The target was defined by a magnetic signature coincident with artisanal workings. Geological mapping then outlined a 7km soil anomaly peaking at 23.26g/t Au, which auger drilling confirmed below surface.
As at 3 October, nine RC holes for 1,750m were complete with the 10th in progress. The drilling forms part of a 24-hole, 4,200m orientation program within a larger 102-hole, 12,000m campaign.
Assays from BDRC003 and BDRC004 are expected in early November.
Dalaroo can earn up to 80% of the project through a joint venture with permit holder Goldridge SARL. The project lies within the Birimian Greenstone Belt, about 35km northeast of Endeavour Mining’s (TSX:EDV) Tanda-Iguela Gold Project.
Dalaroo Metals is an Australian explorer advancing a dual-track portfolio of gold and critical minerals projects across Côte d’Ivoire, Greenland, and Western Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Dalaroo Metals
