- 01Ouarigue depth >900m from 540m; ~70% rise.
- 02110m true width; top hits: 42m@5.01g/t, 40.3m@3.89g/t.
- 03Depth extension supports underground viability study.
Extensional diamond core drilling by Many Peaks Minerals (ASX: MPK) at the Ferké project in Côte d’Ivoire has identified a 70% increase to the vertical extent of gold mineralisation hosted in the Ouarigue intrusive body.
Drilling of nine holes for 6,036 metres focused on testing down-dip and plunge extensions beneath the Ouarigue mineral resource estimate, which sits at 26.7 million tonnes grading 1.54 grams per tonne for 1.32 million ounces gold.
Deeper drilling intersected an estimated 110m true width of mineralised intrusion and extended the tested vertical extent from 540m to more than 900m below surface, demonstrating that broad mineralisation persists at the deepest level.
Best assays from multiple broad intercepts were 116m at 2.78g/t gold from 524m including 13.8m at 3.44g/t from 542.2m and 42m at 5.01g/t from 598m, and 116.5m at 1.76g/t gold from 969.5m including 40.3m at 3.89g/t from 999.6m.
The mineralisation is reported to be unconstrained at depth and open below the deepest hole which returned 40.3m at 3.89g/t gold.
PFS Technical Studies
Many Peaks is still awaiting assays for 23 diamond holes for 6,657m and 65 reverse circulation holes for 7,979m.
The company’s current drilling program at Ouarigue will be followed by pre-feasibility-level technical studies planned before year end.
A targeting review has also been completed for the yet-to-be-granted Ferké South permit, where Many Peaks will conduct reverse circulation drilling of priority targets including areas of historical high-grade rock chip results as well as open-ended mineralisation identified in past shallow drilling.
These activities form part of a planned 60,000m campaign across the company’s Côte d’Ivoire portfolio during 2026, of which 51,340m of air core, reverse circulation, and diamond core drilling has already been completed.
Geological and Grade Continuity
Manging director Travis Schwertfeger said the results provided further information on the geological and grade continuity of gold mineralisation extending below the Ouarigue resource estimate.
“These results extend the tested depth of the Ouarigue mineralised intrusion by over 450m down-plunge, demonstrating that broad higher-grade zones continue well below the current mineral resource envelope, underpinning our decision to progress a scoping level study to assess the viability of underground mining methods at Ferké,” he said.
“A high-grade interval in the deepest hole was supported by strong intercepts in several down-dip drill tests, expanding the area available for geological modelling and reinforcing the potential scale and continuity of the Ouarigue mineralised system.”
“These results will be incorporated with pending assays into a planned mineral resource update and will inform our assessment of potential open pit and underground development pathways.”
Get the wire before the market opens.
The ASX small-cap stories that matter, filed before 9am AEST. Curated by the Small Caps desk.
