Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) has unsurfaced high-grade gold during a sampling program over regional prospects at its flagship Dandoko Gold Project in west Mali.
The precious metals explorer was able to intersect as much as 5.87 g/t gold during the surface sampling program, extending the prospective SK1 gold trend to more than 4.5 kilometres.
Bembala North target showed particular promise, with striking similarities to the mineralised host rocks found at the lucrative SK1 and Koko prospects.
This is now considered a priority resource growth target, with drill testing to take place as part of the current field season.
Sampling underway
Recently, Oklo embarked on a 7.6-metre channel sampling program over the Dandoko tenure, aiming to complete reconnaissance work at the gold property’s northern and southern ends.
The entire sample averaged 7.6 metres at 1.26 g/t gold, boasting a higher grade zone of 3.6 metres at 2.5 g/t gold.
More broadly, the sampling program extended the prospective SK1 gold trend to more than 4.5 kilometres in length, highlighting potential for future exploration.
That came about due to sampling over the Bembala North target, where up to 5.87 g/t gold was intersected.
Specifically, Oklo found the gold within sedimentary breccia geology, which is similar to that found at the SK1 and Koko targets.
These prospects are also interpreted to lie along the same host trend as Bembala North.
Just 1.1 kilometres to the north of Bembala lies the Koko South target, an along-strike prospect that has recently returned highly encouraging first pass aircore drill results.
These include 18 metres at 2.05 g/t gold from 9 metres, including 3 metres at 11 g/t and 12 metres at 2.33 g/t from 48 metres, with this hole ending in mineralisation.
Dandoko Project
Oklo’s Dandoko gold asset sits within Kenieba Inlier of west Mali, roughly 30 kilometres east of B2Gold’s 7.1-million-ounce Fekola Mine and 50 kilometres south-southeast of Barrick’s 17.9-million-ounce Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex.
The company currently holds around 500 square kilometres of highly prospective ground in this emerging world-class gold region, where it’s actively exploring for precious metal mineralisation.
Okolo established its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for Dandoko in March 2021, comprising 11.3 million tonnes at 1.83 g/t gold for 668,500 ounces.
That estimate encompasses the Seko, Koko, Disse and Diabarou deposits — collectively known as the Seko gold system.
Since setting the MRE, the ASX-lister has completed the first phase of resource growth drilling over the Dandoko gold property.
That led to further success at the Koko South and Disse targets, as well as new discoveries at the Sari and Kandiole prospects, with all areas targeted for follow-up drilling during the 2022 drilling season.
This campaign got underway last week, comprising an initial 9,000-metre program focused on resource drilling at the Seko, Disse and Koko properties.
Oklo expects the first assays from this campaign in November.