Many Peaks Minerals (ASX:MPK) reports extensional diamond core drilling has extended ‘high-grade’ gold intercepts at the Ouarigue prospect from approximately 540m depth to more than 900m vertical depth, marking a 70% increase.
Assay results from nine diamond core holes totalling 6,036m at the Ferké Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire confirmed the deeper continuation of gold mineralisation hosted in the Ouarigue mineralised intrusion.
Significant intercepts include 116m @ 2.78 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 524m downhole depth, including 42m @ 5.01g/t Au from 598m; 37.2m @ 3.29g/t Au from 589.85m, including 9.35m @ 10.9g/t Au; and 89m @ 1.58g/t Au from 828m, including 58.95m @ 2.23g/t Au.
The deepest hole, FNDC161, returned 116.5m @ 1.76g/t Au from 969.5m depth, including 40.3m @ 3.89g/t Au from 999.6m depth. Many Peaks says this hole represents the deepest intercept into the Ouarigue mineralised intrusion to date, located approximately 450m down-plunge and more than 300m vertically below the recently reported FNDC135.
The company notes gold mineralisation remains unconstrained at depth, with additional strike extent to be drilled and mineralisation open below the deepest hole.
Managing Director Travis Schwertfeger says these results demonstrate that “broad, higher-grade zones continue well below the current mineral resource envelope”.
He adds that the results also support a decision to progress a scoping-level study to assess the viability of underground mining methods at Ferké.
The drilling forms part of an ongoing program focused on testing down-dip and plunge extensions beneath the existing Ouarigue mineral resource estimate (MRE), currently reported at 26.7 million tonnes @ 1.54g/t Au for 1.32 million ounces.
At approximately 600m vertical depth, results define the mineralised intrusion over more than 200m of strike, with interpreted true widths at the reported pierce points averaging approximately 40m.
Following completion of the updated Ouarigue MRE planned for next quarter, Many Peaks intends to undertake an integrated technical and economic assessment of potential open-pit development and underground development pathways. The open-pit scenario will incorporate Prefeasibility-level technical work, while potential underground development options will initially be evaluated at a Scoping Study level.
Meanwhile, assays remain pending for 23 diamond core holes totalling 6,657m and 65 reverse circulation (RC) holes totalling 7,979m.
The company has completed 51,340m of air core, RC, and diamond core drilling of its planned 60,000m program for 2026 across its Côte d’Ivoire portfolio.
Many Peaks Minerals is an explorer focused on gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Many Peaks Minerals
