Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) has outlined a large-scale gold anomaly at its Gold Ridge prospect in Côte d'Ivoire, with soil sampling returning a peak result of 2,188 parts per billion (ppb) gold and defining a coherent mineralised corridor extending about 4.3 kilometres along strike.
The results come from a Priority 1 soil geochemistry program at the company's Bondoukou Gold Project and strengthen its case for a potentially significant structurally controlled gold system within the country's prolific Birimian Greenstone Belt.
Gold Ridge Priority 1 Soil Geochemistry Results Showing 4.3km Gold Anomaly.
Dalaroo has already designed a 5,000-metre auger drilling program to test the anomaly beneath the weathered profile and determine whether the elevated gold values are linked to bedrock mineralisation ahead of maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
Dalaroo CEO John Morgan said the results provided strong validation of the company's exploration model.
"Defining a coherent 4.3km gold anomaly associated with a 9km structural corridor, extensive artisanal workings and favourable geology substantially enhances our confidence in the scale potential of the system," he said.
Multiple datasets converge on Gold Ridge
The soil program comprised 2,241 primary samples collected across the highest-priority portion of the Gold Ridge prospect, where previous mapping, rock-chip sampling and artisanal workings had already highlighted exploration potential.
Results outlined a continuous 4.3-kilometre gold anomaly that remains open along strike, with 454 samples returning more than 20ppb gold and 27 samples exceeding 200ppb. The strongest result was 2,188ppb gold, equivalent to 2.19 grams per tonne.
The anomaly coincides with an interpreted 9-kilometre geophysical corridor, mapped fold structures, quartz veining and numerous artisanal gold workings. Dalaroo said the overlap between these independent datasets pointed to a structurally controlled mineralised system rather than isolated surface dispersion.
Coherent 4.3km Gold-in-Soil Anomaly Defined Along 9km Structural-Geophysical Corridor at Gold Ridge.
Recent geological mapping identified a prominent fold-limb structure aligned with the strongest soil responses, while historical rock-chip sampling has returned grades of up to 17.95 g/t gold.
The company believes these characteristics are consistent with major Birimian-hosted gold systems found elsewhere across West Africa.
Drilling program targets bedrock source
With the soil program complete, Dalaroo is preparing to advance the project through auger drilling designed to test whether the gold anomaly is sourced from mineralisation in the underlying bedrock.
The planned 5,000-metre campaign will penetrate transported cover, define the geometry of bedrock geochemical anomalies and help prioritise targets for maiden RC drilling. Initial work will focus on portions of the anomaly where elevated gold values coincide with structural intersections and artisanal workings.
Planned Auger Drill Traverses Across Priority Gold-in-Soil Anomaly.
The Gold Ridge prospect sits about 35 kilometres northwest of Endeavour Mining's Tanda-Iguela gold system and forms part of Dalaroo's growing Côte d'Ivoire exploration portfolio.
Further catalysts expected over coming months include the receipt of Priority 2 soil assay results, finalisation of drill targets, commencement of auger drilling and mobilisation for the project's maiden RC drilling campaign.
Location of Dalaroo Côte d’Ivoire Projects Relative to Major Regional Gold Deposits.