MetalsGrove Mining (ASX:MGA) has commenced systematic soil sampling at its Vavoua PR-454 permit in Côte d’Ivoire, following successful community consultations.
Sampling is being conducted on an 800m x 800m grid, with an initial 600 samples planned over 15 days. All samples will be analysed by fire assay in Côte d’Ivoire, with selected samples tested using Portable PPB in Zuénoula.
The Vavoua permit lies along a key northeast-trending ‘Gold Trend,’ defined by historical auger and lag geochemistry results. This corridor also hosts the 3.8 million ounce Abujar Gold Mine, located 65km to the southwest. The intact residual soil profile, capped by ferricrete, provides favourable conditions for effective geochemical sampling.
In addition to the grid sampling, a 7km east-west traverse of 200m-spaced soil samples will be taken along a newly constructed highway crossing the permit. Road cuttings along this highway expose multiple quartz veins, offering a cost-effective opportunity to assess gold potential.
Managing Director Lijun Yang says that the commencement of soil sampling represents a key step in advancing the Central West Gold Project.
“The permit is strategically located along a highly prospective regional gold corridor that hosts multiple historical gold anomalies and includes the 3.8 million ounce Abujar Gold Mine, which lies along strike to the south,” Yang says.
“The presence of an intact residual soil profile provides excellent conditions for effective soil geochemistry and enhances our ability to identify coherent gold anomalies.
“In addition, the planned sampling along the new highway, where multiple quartz veins are exposed in road cuttings, provides an efficient opportunity to rapidly assess the gold potential of this emerging target area.”
The Vavoua PR-454 is part of MetalsGrove’s Central West Gold Project, which includes the Gemica and Stellar joint venture permits. Together, these cover 1,315km² within the Oumé-Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt, a prolific gold-producing region hosting several multi-million-ounce deposits.
MetalsGrove Mining is focused on a portfolio of projects through gold exploration JV permits in Côte d’Ivoire
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: MetalsGrove Mining
