DeSoto Resources (ASX:DES) has resumed a 10,000m power auger drilling program at the Timbakouna Gold Project as it expands exploration across its wider portfolio in Guinea’s Siguiri Goldfields.
The 485-hole program is targeting 6km of artisanal workings and areas surrounding historical drilling that returned up to 18m @ 11.8 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 48m.
The historical result included 1m @ 78.84g/t Au and 3m @ 40.4g/t Au. Previous drilling was largely confined to northern Timbakouna and did not test below 80m or into fresh rock.
Two power auger rigs are expected to return to site in the coming weeks following approval from local authorities.
DeSoto has also completed 6,262 line kilometres of airborne magnetic and radiometric surveying across Timbakouna, Dadjan, Tolè, Nèrèkoro Sud, Koba, Kassa Est, and Mini. Processing is underway to identify new exploration targets.
In southwest Siguiri, soil sampling has begun at the wholly owned Yarakoura, Woussoubadou, and Branama projects.
The work follows a 143-sample bulk leach extractable gold stream-sediment program covering more than 687km² of drainage catchments.
Yarakoura lies immediately south of Asara Resources’ (ASX:AS1) Kada Gold Project, which hosts a mineral resource of 30.3 million tonnes @ 0.95g/t Au for about 923,000 ounces.
Meanwhile, DeSoto says it has started exploration across seven southeast Siguiri projects held through its joint venture (JV) with Fortuna Mining (TSX:FVI).
Fortuna holds an initial 70% interest and DeSoto 30%. Fortuna will sole-fund exploration until the later of three years from the JV’s commencement or expenditure reaching US$12.5 million ($17.43 million) across approved projects.
Current work across the 591km² JV package includes stream-sediment sampling, historical data compilation, geological and regolith mapping, and structural interpretation.
DeSoto is an Australian gold explorer with interests in about 1,300km² of tenure across 22 reconnaissance authorisations and exploration permits in Guinea’s Siguiri Basin.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: DeSoto Resources
