Mining

Mako Gold back drilling at Cote d’Ivoire project as wet season ends, 35,000m planned

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By Robin Bromby - 
Mako Gold ASX MKG Napie drilling Côte d’Ivoire Tchaga

Mako Gold will resume extensional drilling at the Tchaga prospect within Napie before moving to other prospects, with assay turnaround times estimated at three-to-four weeks.

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West Africa-focused explorer Mako Gold (ASX: MKG) has resumed drilling at its flagship Napie project as it works toward declaring a maiden resource.

The ongoing 35,000m reverse circulation and diamond drilling at the Tchaga and Gogbala prospects will also test other targets.

Two months ago, Mako said the Gogbala prospect at its 296sq km Napie project is shaping up as a lookalike for the already successful Tchaga prospect, with the then latest results indicating similar mineralisation styles.

Previous drilling at Tchaga produced multiple intersections, including 10m at 18.98 grams per tonne gold from 7m, 41m at 4.51g/t from 17m, and 32m at 7.1g/t from 13m.

First objective to extend mineralisation at Tchaga

Mako has previously stated it is focused on the discovery of large high-grade gold deposits in highly prospective and underexplored terrains in Côte d’Ivoire, and other favourable countries in West Africa.Côte d’Ivoire contains more Birimian greenstone belts than other West African countries yet only 30 million ounces of gold resources have been found to date, making it an ideal location for future gold discoveries.

It has a stable mining-friendly government, outstanding infrastructure and a modern and transparent mining code.The resumed drilling program at Tchaga aims to extend previously drilled mineralised zones and test new undrilled ones.

Other high-priority targets to also be drilled

Extensional drilling at Gogbala will test ground south of recent intercepts.

Mako is aiming to progress both prospects to a JORC maiden resource estimate.

The company is also planning to test other high priority targets within Napie, including Tchaga North and Komboro.

Managing director Peter Ledwidge says first assay results are expected in late November.

“We will be starting with Tchaga extensional drilling and then moving to Gogbala and other high priority exploration drill targets,” he added.

Mako has about $12 million in cash at present.

In addition, Mako Gold has 100% ownership of the Korhogo gold project comprising two permits 296sq km in area, and covering 17km of faulted greenstone/ granite contact (high‐grade gold targets) located within 30km of Barrick Gold’s operating Tongon gold mine in Cote d’Ivoire.  

This belt also hosts the 3.2Moz Kone deposit and, across the border in Burkina Faso, the 2.7Moz Wahgnion gold mine.

At Napie, Mako has a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Perseus Mining (ASX: PRU).

It currently has a 51% interest and can move to 75% with the delivery of a feasibility report.

More recently, Mako has signed a binding agreement with Perseus to consolidate ownership to 90%.