Turaco Gold (ASX: TCG) has announced new results from ongoing resource extension and infill drilling at the Adiopan-Asupiri deposit within its Afema project in south-east Cote d’Ivoire.
The 5,000-metre campaign was designed to test for extensions to the mineralisation at Adiopan and convert a greater proportion of the deposit’s mineral resource estimate of 1.32 million ounces to the Indicated classification.
Turaco has a pre-feasibility study (PFS) due for release from Afema in June, and is looking to move onto a definitive feasibility study (DFS) after that.
Areas with limited down-dip drilling produced best extensions of 28m at 2.17 grams per tonne gold from 91m including 15m at 3.32g/t gold from 104m, 40m at 1.20g/t gold from 136m, and 31m at 1.47g/t gold from 40m.
Other highlights were 22m at 1.67g/t gold from 42m, 10m at 2.39g/t gold from 113m, and 9m at 2.25g/t gold from 29m.
Bergerie and Sikasso Drilling
Reconnaissance exploration drilling along the Afema Shear has identified additional areas of gold mineralisation at the Bergerie and Sikasso prospects.
This provides evidence of continued resource growth potential outside the boundary of Afema’s 4.65Moz resource estimate.
Bergerie is a southern strike extension of the Asupiri West structure, where drilling returned a standout result of 20m at 2.28g/t gold from 91m as a down-plunge extension of shallow oxide gold mineralisation into fresh rock.
Shallow drilling at Sikasso—a southern extension of the Asupiri East-Adiopan-Begnopan controlling structure—returned 21m at 2.29g/t gold from 66m, 6m at 2.65g/t gold from 34m, 12m at 1.13g/t gold from 37m, 23m at 0.91g/t gold from 27m, and 5m at 2.33g/t gold from 97m.
Mineralisation at both prospects occurs from surface and remains open and is currently being followed up with further drilling.
‘Ongoing Resource Growth’
Managing director Justin Tremain said drilling at Afema was advancing to plan.
“Over the past 12 months, our drilling has grown the Afema resource estimate by 1.5Moz to 4.65Moz and we currently have five rigs demonstrating ongoing resource growth,” he said.
“Whilst there is undoubtedly further resource growth to come at Afema, we are in the final stages of completing the PFS, which we expect to report in June 2026 to show Afema as the next West African gold project of material scale with compelling economics.”
“The PFS is being completed to an exceptionally high standard to expedite completion of the DFS and development decision.”
