Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) earlier this week outlined final preparations for a staged 20,000-metre drilling campaign at the Bondoukou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, with maiden drilling expected to begin at the Wilfred target in early August 2026.
CEO John Morgan said access roads, site preparation and community consultations were nearing completion ahead of the start of Phase 1. The first phase will comprise approximately 10,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling, with Wilfred selected as the initial focus because it is the target in which the company has the greatest geological confidence.
Morgan said Wilfred combined a favourable geological interpretation with supporting magnetic data, consistent soil anomalies and encouraging auger results. He said: “We’ve started with Wilfred, which is the area where we’ve got the most confidence.”
The initial drilling will seek to define the geological structure within the Gold Ridge corridor and provide the information required to refine the following diamond drilling campaign. A further 10,000 metres of diamond drilling is planned across Phases 2 and 3, with the program expected to extend towards the Mag and Ali targets as work progresses.
The broader Gold Ridge corridor represents a key exploration opportunity for Dalaroo Metals. Morgan said the geology, magnetic data and soil results continued to support one another across the approximately 7-kilometre trend. He indicated that establishing the structural controls at Wilfred could allow the company to progressively test a much larger portion of the corridor.
The start of drilling represents the first near-term catalyst for the company. Initial assay results could begin arriving four to six weeks after drilling commences, although Morgan noted that timing would depend on laboratory turnaround.
Planning for the diamond drilling phase is expected to begin around eight weeks into the campaign, providing another potential catalyst as Dalaroo Metals moves from initial structural testing towards deeper and more targeted drilling.
The company is also awaiting results from recent fieldwork at the Blue Lagoon project in Greenland. Morgan said the team had completed geological mapping and collected around 300 samples across Blue Lagoon and four additional target areas.
He said the Greenland project had now entered an analytical and interpretation phase expected to continue over the following six months. However, he emphasised that Bondoukou remained the company’s central operational focus, with drilling, assays and planning for the next phase expected to generate a steady flow of updates.
Interview highlights
- Dalaroo Metals is preparing to begin a staged 20,000-metre drilling campaign at the Bondoukou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
- Maiden drilling is scheduled to start at the Wilfred target in early August 2026, following completion of access roads, site preparation and community consultations.
- Phase 1 will comprise approximately 10,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling focused on Wilfred.
- Wilfred was selected as the first drilling target because geological interpretation, magnetic data, soil anomalies and auger results have given the company the greatest confidence in that area.
- The initial program is intended to define the geological structure within the Gold Ridge corridor and inform the subsequent diamond drilling campaign.
- A further 10,000 metres of diamond drilling is planned across Phases 2 and 3, with work expected to expand towards the Mag and Ali targets.
- The broader Gold Ridge corridor extends for approximately 7 kilometres, with geological, magnetic and soil datasets supporting its exploration potential.
- Initial assay results may begin arriving four to six weeks after drilling starts, subject to laboratory turnaround times.
- Planning for the diamond drilling phase is expected to begin around eight weeks into the campaign.
- At the Blue Lagoon project in Greenland, Dalaroo Metals completed geological mapping and collected around 300 samples.
- Fieldwork also covered four additional target areas within the expanded Greenland project area.
- Greenland is now moving into a six-month analytical and interpretation phase, while Bondoukou remains the company’s principal focus.
Proactive: Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) is advancing final preparations for a 20,000-metre maiden drilling campaign at the Bondoukou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. Here to discuss the new program and what is happening in Greenland is CEO John Morgan. John, good to see you again.
John Morgan: Good morning. Thanks for having me.
Proactive: It is a pleasure to have you. Let us start with Bondoukou and the program that is about to begin. When will it start, and what makes the Wilfred target the best place to begin drilling?
John Morgan: We are really excited about the drilling coming up. It should start within 10 to 14 days. All the access roads, site preparation and community consultations are being completed, so we are looking forward to getting started.
Wilfred is where we first identified a strong geological pattern that aligned with the magnetic data. It is also where we have the most consistent soil anomalies. Based on the auger geology results received so far, it is a strong zone that we are comfortable with.
We will begin with the maiden 10,000-metre reverse circulation program to define the geological structure within the corridor. We will then expand from there, which has been our plan from the initial discovery. We are starting at Wilfred because it is the area where we have the greatest confidence, before moving out towards the Mag and Ali targets.
Proactive: As you mentioned, Phase 1 is a 10,000-metre program. How will the results from this phase guide the planned diamond drilling campaign?
John Morgan: The initial program is partly about moving quickly and covering the target effectively and cost-efficiently.
We will then move into diamond drilling. Once we reach that phase, which we expect to be in approximately two to three months, we will also begin moving towards the Ali and Mag targets.
Proactive: You have just recovered from the jet lag after returning from Greenland. What has been happening there?
John Morgan: Greenland was a very productive trip. We spent two and a half weeks in the field at Blue Lagoon and completed the main fieldwork.
We gathered a substantial amount of geological information, carried out extensive mapping and collected around 300 samples from the Blue Lagoon area.
We also extended the work into four other target areas within the expanded ground acquired over recent months. The principal fieldwork has now been completed, and we do not expect significant additional costs to be associated with Greenland at this stage.
The project is now moving into the analytical and interpretation phase, which will take place over the next six months. That work will continue in the background, while the company’s main focus remains Bondoukou.
Proactive: Can you explain the exploration potential you see across the broader 7-kilometre Gold Ridge corridor?
John Morgan: We are very encouraged by the datasets each time we review them. The geology, magnetic data and soil results all support one another.
Once we have defined the structure, we expect to be able to expand exploration across the full 7-kilometre strike. We are eager to begin drilling, and everything is now progressing towards that.
Proactive: What are the key milestones investors should look for over the next couple of months?
John Morgan: There will be a lot happening. Drilling will begin at Bondoukou, and we expect to start receiving assay results in approximately four to six weeks, subject to laboratory turnaround times.
In around eight weeks, we expect to begin planning the diamond drilling program so that we can maintain the momentum.
In the background, Tristan, our Greenland exploration manager, will begin analysing the results as they come through from Greenland.
We are excited about the amount of news expected over the coming months, and we believe it is a very positive period for the company.
Proactive: There is plenty to look forward to. John, thank you for your time today. We will be in touch as the results come through.
John Morgan: Thanks for having me.