Mako Gold Ltd (ASX:MKG) has delivered more high-grade gold hits from its Gogbala prospect — part of the company’s flagship Napié project in Côte d'Ivoire — ahead of a maiden gold resource for the property.
The West Africa-focused gold explorer recently embarked on extensional diamond drilling at the gold target and the latest assays returned strong gold hits in 40 of 49 holes and as much as 11.2 metres at 7.4 g/t.
Mako said the latest results consistently demonstrated excellent down-dip and along-strike continuity of mineralisation at Gogbala, which bodes well for the upcoming mineral resource estimate (MRE).
The company expects to unveil the maiden Napié resource early to mid-next month and in the meantime is gearing up for a reverse circulation drill program at the nearby Komboro prospect.
On track for MRE
Mako managing director Peter Ledwidge said the company was pleased to have received all the final assay results from the Gogbala extensional drilling.
“We have transferred the final data to our resource consultants for the maiden mineral resource estimate, which we anticipate being released by early to mid-June.
“We are particularly pleased with the excellent results in the last batch of assays, as we believe this will have a positive impact on the MRE.
“Mineralised zones continue to exhibit excellent continuity with wide and high-grade results down-dip and along strike.
“We are enthused by the continuity of mineralisation, as this demonstrates how robust mineralisation at the Gogbala deposit is turning out to be.
“We are once again highly encouraged with the high success rate in our drilling with 40 of the 49 holes drilled returning significant gold results. We look forward to announcing our maiden MRE in June.”
What’s under the surface?
Mako’s diamond drill campaign intersected wide and high-grade gold in more than 80% of the holes at Gogbala.
The best gold hits encompassed 4.3 metres at 5.67 g/t and 11.2 metres at 7.4 g/t, including 1-metre at 54.05 g/t and 13 metres at 3.34 g/t.
All holes were drilled in a 2-kilometre, high-priority area, which formed the focus of extensional drilling ahead of the maiden MRE.
Positively, Mako said Gogbala’s mineralised zones showed continuity along strike and down dip, while gold mineralisation remained open in all directions with “significant growth potential”.
Some of the best findings from the extensional drilling campaign included:
- 17 metres at 4.13 g/t gold from 57 metres;
- 20 metres at 3.41 g/t from 19 metres;
- 12 metres at 5.39 g/t from 11 metres;
- 4 metres at 14.78 g/t from 93 metres;
- 35 metres at 1.72 g/t from 43 metres;
- 7 metres at 6.7 g/t from 6 metres;
- 23 metres at 1.81 g/t from 19 metres;
- 20 metres at 1.92 g/t from 33 metres;
- 9 metres at 3.77 g/t from 48 metres;
- 6 metres at 5.37 g/t from 105 metres;
- 8 metres at 4.29 g/t from 82 metres;
- 2 metres at 16.81 g/t from 2 metres and 5 metres at 2.12 g/t from 19 metres;
- 6 metres at 4.97 g/t from 68 metres;
- 17 metres at 1.67 g/t from 45 metres;
- 1 metre at 30.89 g/t from 46 metres;
- 8 metres at 2.87 g/t from 49 metres;
- 9 metres at 2.52 g/t from 55 metres; and
- 3 metres at 6.4 g/t from 58 metres.
Why do these results matter?
Mako is impressed with its latest gold finds for a number of reasons.
First, the explorer says the mineralisation’s width and grade also increases in depth in certain areas, meaning it could drill deeper after the MRE in an effort to grow the resource.
Second, the strongest gold hits — such as the 11- and 13-metre intersections — all take place along the 2-kilometre priority zone, which could add more ounces to the MRE.
Third, several drill holes boasted more than one wide, high-grade interval, such as 11.2 metres at 3.19 g/t gold and 5.1 metres at 3.75 g/t, which confirms multiple mineralised zones at Gogbala.
And finally, there are multiple undrilled areas that remain to be tested along the main fault at Gogbala. While the high priority zone will form the basis of the upcoming MRE, targets to the north and east could show growth potential down the line.
What now?
Mako is readying for a 2,700-metre reverse circulation drill program at Napié’s Komboro prospect.
The campaign will focus on high-priority targets identified from recent ongoing geological mapping and rock chip sampling, as well as a recent aircore drilling program.
Mako says exploring such prospects near the maiden MRE area is pivotal to its growth strategy.