MetalsGrove Mining Ltd (ASX:MGA) has identified a second gold exploration target at its Zuénoula permit in Côte d’Ivoire after district-scale soil sampling outlined a new anomalous zone known as the Fifty-Five Area.
The target sits about 1 kilometre north of the previously reported Central Area and is defined by four anomalous soil samples over a strike length of 2.4 kilometres.
Infill soil sampling across a 10 square kilometre area on a 400 metre by 400 metre grid has now been completed along the interpreted northeast structural trend, with assay results pending.
MetalsGrove also reported further progress at the Central Area, where infill sampling and PortablePPB results have extended the strike length of the gold anomalous zone to 3.4 kilometres.
The Central Area infill program has been expanded from 13 square kilometres to 20 square kilometres to test the potential northeastern extension of the trend, with that work also completed and assay results pending.
Zuénoula soil sampling progress and exploration targets (3) on aeromagnetic image (RTP).
Managing director and CEO Lijun Yang said the identification of a second target highlighted the scale and growing prospectivity of the Zuénoula PR750 permit.
“The identification of a second gold target at the Fifty-Five Area highlights the scale and growing prospectivity of our Zuénoula PR750 permit. With soil sampling already infilled on a 400 metre × 400 metre grid and with all assay results pending, we are rapidly advancing this emerging target while continuing to expand the footprint of gold anomalism at the Central Area.
“The recent PortablePPB results from the Central Area have extended the gold anomalous strike length to 3.4 kilometres and the area of infill sampling increased to 20km2 to capture the potential northeastern extension of this northeast-trending zone of gold anomalism. All infill sampling has been completed. Fire assay results will provide a more definitive assessment of gold tenor and support detailed 100 metres × 50 metres follow-up sampling aimed at planning drill targets.
Assays due later this month
A third area, known as the South East Corner, has also been infill sampled on a 400 metre by 400 metre grid to test a favourable structural setting along the margin of an interpreted elliptical granite intrusion.
All infill soil samples from the Fifty-Five Area, Central Area and South East Corner are being delivered to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan for fire assay, with results expected in mid to late March.
MetalsGrove said any coherent gold anomalous zones outlined by those results would then be followed up with tighter-spaced sampling on a 100 metre by 50 metre grid to support target definition and drill hole planning.
The Zuénoula permit forms part of the company’s broader Central West Gold Project in central Côte d’Ivoire, which covers 1,315.84 square kilometres across the Gemica and Stellar joint venture permits.
The project sits along the Abujar–Napié gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt, around 100 kilometres north of the Abujar gold mine and 160 kilometres south of the Napié gold project.
Map illustrating location of Central West Gold Project permits in Côte d’Ivoire.
MetalsGrove is earning up to 80% in the granted Zuénoula and Vavoua permits, which cover 395.78 square kilometres and 378.25 square kilometres respectively, and holds 90% on granting in the Kounahiri West and Vavoua West permit applications.