Awale Resources Ltd (TSX-V:ARIC) said it has drilled one of the highest-grade gold intersections in Africa in decades at its Odienné project in Côte d'Ivoire.
The notable discovery of 45.7 g/t gold over 32 meters is from a newly identified breccia pipe at the Charger target, the company said.
Andrew Chubb, CEO of Awale Resources, called the drill hole “absolutely spectacular.”
“I have been looking at gold projects for the last 20 years and have never seen anything like this. Odienné has produced very high-grade mineralization since we started drilling, though we always felt that some special things would come as we continued our work," he said.
“The harder we press at Odienné, the more it gives back, and we've only just scratched the surface."
The mineralization observed in the reported interval exhibits consistently high-grade characteristics, as confirmed by detailed assay results. Notably, the core samples reveal pervasive fine gold distribution alongside larger plus 1mm gold grains, indicative of substantial mineralization.
An upcoming drill program, slated to start in April, will progress the Charger, BBM, and Sceptre discoveries and scout drill prospective pipeline targets, Chubb told investors.
The Charger Zone, where the latest intercept occurred, presents a promising area for further exploration. Awalé's interpretation suggests a potential connection of breccia zones at depth, which could substantially augment the volume of high-grade gold mineralization.
"We look forward to continued drilling in 2024 with the drill rigs scheduled to re-start in April, representing our first phase of the 25,000m planned for the year,” Chubb said.
“Confidence is growing that Odienné has the potential to be a world-class mine camp in Cote d'Ivoire,” he added.
The Odienné project is part of a joint venture between Awalé and Newmont, covering strategic permits and applications within the Odienné gold-copper project area. Under the agreement with Newmont Ventures Limited, Newmont retains the option to earn-in to a minimum of 65% interest in the Odienné project JV by funding exploration activities.