Endeavour Mining Corp (TSE:EDV) unveiled positive drill results from its Fetekro property in Ivory coast - bringing the company closer to its aim of discovering a standalone greenfield project in West Africa, it told investors.
Nearly 32,000 metres have been sunk on the priority property during 2017-2018, focused mainly on the highly prospective Lafigué target. Here three mineralised zones have been identified - Lafigué South, Center, and North - with Lafigué Center and North remaining open at depth and towards the southeast. At the latter two zones, a large mineralized vein system has been defined over an area 2.5km long by 0.6km wide.
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Highlight intercepts included 7.97g/t (grams per ton) gold over 26.9m (meters), 25.90g/t gold over 10.9m, and 13.21g/t of the yellow metal over 7.6m.
In addition, a preliminary assessment of the recently completed gold-in-soil geochemical campaign indicates the possibility of additional targets near to Lafigué. Here, a drill program has been scheduled for 2019.
"The Lafigué target, located within the Fetekro property, has been the primary focus of our recent greenfield exploration program," said Patrick Bouisset, the executive vice-president exploration and growth at the firm.
"The discovery of extensive mineralisation over such a large area, coupled with the identification of nearby prospects, is very encouraging.
"We are eager to publish a maiden resource later this year, which may bring us one step closer to achieving our second key objective within our 5-year exploration program - that of discovering of a standalone greenfield project in West Africa."
Bouisset added: "We are pleased to continue to deliver against our two key objectives from our 5-year exploration strategy outlined in 2016."
A maiden resource for Fetekro is expected to be published in the fourth quarter of 2018, and a follow-up drill programme is scheduled to start in the same period.
The Fetekro property is in the PR 329 exploration licence which covers approximately 247 sq km located in north-central Côte d'Ivoire, nearly 500km from Abidjan.
Shares nudged up 1.14% to C$20.35 on the day.