Mako Gold Limited (ASX: MKG) has announced high-grade gold intersections from the first assay results of the ongoing 10,000 metre RC and DD program on the Tchaga Prospect within its Napié Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The company reported that wide high-grade gold was intersected in first assays received on 10,000m drill program. MKG said that hole NARC124 intersected two wide zones of gold mineralisation.
Significant drill results include 14m at 5.46g/t Au from surface; including 5m at 11.28g/t Au from surface; 3m at 2.35g/t Au from 17m; 7m at 1.45g/t Au from 56m; 5m at 1.06 g/t Au from 7m; and 4m at 1.33g/t Au from 69m.
The company said that the drill results further confirm wide and high-grade intervals within a greater than 1km strike length of gold mineralisation outlined to date. MKG reported that drilling is ongoing with further results to be announced.
Napié project
Mako Gold’s Napié Project is located in the north central part of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. It is 30km southeast of the city of Korhogo and covers a strike length of 30km over a highly prospective land package of 225km2.
The Napié project is located in West Africa’s prolific Birimian Greenstone Belt, which hosts more than 70 gold deposits of more than 1Moz each.
Mako currently holds a 51% interest in the Napié Project and is the operator, and is earning up to a 75% interest in the Napié Project under a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Occidental Gold SARL, a subsidiary of West African gold miner Perseus Mining Limited.
Significant prospects within the Napié project include the Tchaga Prospect and the Gogbala Prospect.
The Tchaga Prospect is associated with a +40ppb gold soil anomaly coincident with a +30km-long shear zone, thought to be a major control for gold mineralisation.
Drilling at Tchaga prospect
The company had commenced a 10,000 metre reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling (DD) program on the Tchaga Prospect. Mako said that the planned 90-hole RC drill program is scheduled to run through to December 2020.
MKG said that the drill program follows up on positive results received on the Tchaga Prospect in order to advance towards a JORC maiden resource.
Previous select drill results received include 36m at 3.09g/t Au from 43m – hole NARC107; 28m at 4.86g/t Au from 83m – hole NARC057; 25m at 3.43g/t Au from 53m – hole NARC017; 18m at 3.25g/t Au from 39m – hole NARC080; 23m at 2.46g/t Au from 15m – hole NARC084; 17m at 2.43g/t Au from 86m – hole NARC055; 30m at 1.16g/t Au from 117m – hole NARC101; and 7.7m at 11.65g/t Au from 169.9m – hole NARC058DD.
High-grade assays from RC holes
MKG reported that assay results have been received for the first five RC holes of the planned 90-hole drill program, NARC120, NARC121, NARC122, NARC123, and NARC124.
Significant drill results with intervals above 0.5g/t Au cut-off are as below
NARC124
The company said that hole NARC124 returned two main zones of high-grade gold mineralisation, including 14m at 5.46g/t and 9m at 4.08g/t Au.
Other results from NARC124 include 5m at 11.28g/t Au from surface; 3m at 2.35g/t Au from 17m; 7m at 1.45g/t Au from 56m; 2m at 9.47g/t Au from 83m; and 8m at 1.59g/t Au from 93m.
MAK said that these intervals are contained within broader mineralised envelopes. The company noted that the two mineralised zones encountered on this section are geologically similar to mineralisation encountered on sections 330 metres to the north.
MAK said that this increases their confidence in the continuity of mineralisation along strike.
Mako Gold said that the IP (Induced Polarisation) geophysics indicate the presence of a cross fault in this area, that is believed to offset the mineralised zones.
Three DD holes planned
The company said that to confirm the interpretation, three DD holes are planned. MKD said that the core from DD holes should identify faults and intersect mineralisation and will enable better targeting of subsequent drill holes in the ongoing program.
NARC121
Significant results from RC hole NARC121 includes 5m at 1.06 g/t Au from 7m; and 4m at 1.33g/t Au from 69m.
Next steps
Mako Gold announced that RC and diamond drilling is planned along strike and at depth to follow up the results. MAK said that drilling is ongoing with further results to be announced shortly.
Management statements
Mako’s Managing Director, Peter Ledwidge said: “The Tchaga Prospect continues to deliver exciting drill results, which further increases our confidence in the project.
The reported assays are from a limited area in the south end of Tchaga and are the first of many assays to come between now and the end of 2020 on our 10,000m drill program.
We look forward to reporting further results as we progress our drilling northwards on Tchaga.”