Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) has started its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Bondoukou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, beginning the first systematic subsurface test of a roughly 7-kilometre gold-anomalous corridor.
The planned 102-hole, 12,000-metre Phase 1 program will test the Wilfred, Mag and Ali priority targets, where previous soil sampling returned multiple high-grade gold results including 23.26 g/t, 3.25 g/t, 2.54 g/t and 2.09 g/t gold.
Drilling follows completion of a A$2.5 million placement announced in August and marks a shift at Bondoukou from surface exploration and target generation to direct testing of the geological structures beneath the extensive geochemical anomalies.
Initial 4,200 metres to define drill orientation
The campaign has begun with 24 RC holes totalling around 4,200 metres, with holes planned to depths of approximately 150 to 250 metres across 11 drill-fence areas.
This initial orientation phase will test priority areas from opposing drill directions to establish the orientation and geometry of any mineralised structures before Dalaroo advances the broader campaign.
Targets have been developed using soil and auger geochemistry, geological mapping, structural interpretation, magnetic data and the location of active and historical artisanal gold workings.
Subject to results from the first 24 holes, Dalaroo plans a further 78 RC holes for approximately 7,800 metres, generally to depths of around 100 metres.
RC drill rig setting up and starting the first hole at the Bondoukou Project.
Testing three priority gold targets
Wilfred, Mag and Ali form the centre of Dalaroo’s first-pass campaign, which is designed to determine whether the extensive surface anomalies are associated with mineralised bedrock structures.
The drilling will assess the orientation and geometry of any mineralisation, potential continuity along strike and across the anomalies, and the relationship between gold geochemistry, interpreted structures, magnetic features and artisanal workings.
Results will also help identify higher-grade zones and establish a geological framework for follow-up RC drilling and potentially diamond drilling.
“Significant milestone” for Dalaroo
“We are incredibly excited to have commenced Dalaroo's maiden RC drilling campaign at Bondoukou. This 12,000-metre program represents the first systematic drill test beneath the extensive surface gold anomalism identified across the Mag, Wilfred and Ali targets,” Dalaroo CEO John Morgan said.
Morgan said the scale and continuity of the surface geochemistry had defined “a compelling series of targets for first-pass drilling”, with the program designed to progressively refine and prioritise follow-up drilling as new information becomes available.
“The initial orientation drilling is designed to establish the geometry and geological controls of any mineralisation intersected, with observations from each hole used to refine subsequent drilling,” exploration manager Côte d’Ivoire Frank Twum-Berima Bosompem added.
What’s next
The initial 24-hole program is expected to take around two to four weeks, with first assay results anticipated in early fourth-quarter 2026.
Dalaroo will use geological observations from the opening holes to refine drill orientations before progressing the planned 78-hole follow-up campaign. Assay results will be validated and incorporated into an updated geological model covering Wilfred, Mag and Ali.
Deeper RC drilling or potential diamond drilling may also be considered where results warrant further investigation.