Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) has kicked off its 2022 resource expansion drill program at its pioneer Dandoko Gold Project in west Mali, Africa.
The gold explorer is working to increase its first mineral resource estimate (MRE) with an initial 9,000-metre drilling campaign, with the first assays expected in November.
This program will look to grow both the shallow oxide and deeper primary gold mineralisation at Dandoko’s Seko, Disse and Koko prospects.
The initial drilling program should be finalised in the March quarter of 2022, while the next work phases will follow up recent discoveries at the Sari and Kandiole targets.
Oklo’s Dandoko Project sits within a world-class gold region, where the company holds roughly 500 square kilometres of highly prospective tenure.
"Aggressively exploring" gold system
Speaking to the program, Oklo managing director Simon Taylor said: “We are delighted to report that drilling is underway at Dandoko following the highly successful 2021 drilling campaign prior to the wet season.
“Since announcing our initial MRE in March 2021, we remain focused on growing the Seko gold system, which remains open below the extensive zones of oxide mineralisation, and building on the emerging targets at Koko South and Disse.
“We will continue to aggressively explore this extensive system and unlock its true potential through drilling during the current field season.
“Deeper conceptual drilling will be guided by the results from the 3D induced polarisation (IP) and passive seismic surveys completed over the wet season with the results currently being modelled.”
Forward work program
Ultimately, Oklo’s 9,000-metre drilling campaign seeks to grow the mineral resource at the Dandoko Project.
Earlier this year, the ASX-lister reported an initial MRE of 11.3 million tonnes at 1.83 g/t gold for 668,500 ounces, encompassing the Seko, Koko, Disse and Diabarou deposits — collectively known as the Seko gold system.
Promisingly, the deposits remain open along strike or at depth and are expected to grow with ongoing drilling.
As a result, these deposits represent key resource growth targets.
At Disse, Oklo intends to complete infill and deeper reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling, testing for high-grade gold mineralisation over a 550-metre strike length.
This program is now underway with a multipurpose rig.
Originally, Disse was a small component of the company’s initial MRE, where previous drilling was wide-spaced and resulted in an inferred classification.
However, new infill drilling, announced on September 1, has confirmed there's potential for high-grade shoot development at depth, with maximum individual grades of up to 39.9 g/t gold over 1 metre.
Meanwhile, at Koko South follow-up infill aircore and RC drilling will take place along this emerging mineralised trend.
At SK2 target, deep diamond drilling will help Oklo explore for extensions to the primary gold mineralisation below the current resource pit shell.
Over at SK1, the ASX lister is testing for extensions to the high-grade shoots at northern end and in the footwall.
Finally, at the Seko deposit, initial deep diamond drilling will take place over conceptual targets based on results from the 3D IP and passive seismic surveys.
Other programs in the works include technical (scoping) and environmental studies.