Mako Gold adopts multi-rig approach at Napié to accelerate maiden resource estimate

Mako Gold (ASX: MKG) has confirmed two rigs are currently in operation at the Tchaga and Gogbala prospects within its flagship Napié project in Côte d’Ivoire.

The first rig is conducting reverse circulation drilling at Gogbala while the second is dedicated to the diamond drilling of deeper targets at Tchaga which cannot be accessed by reverse circulation work.

Both prospects are located on a 23-kilometre-long soil geochemical anomaly and coincident to the 30km-long Napié Fault.

Multi-rig approach

Mako managing director Peter Ledwidge said the multi-rig approach will help the company accelerate its exploration efforts towards the definition of a maiden mineral resource estimate planned for early in the new year.

“We are very pleased to be accelerating our drill programs at Tchaga and Gogbala as we move towards our maiden estimate,” he said.

“Having two rigs on the ground will also allow us to test regional targets with the aim of discovering new zones along the Napié Fault for future additional resource definition.”

He said the company anticipates new drill results before year end.

Untested zones

Ongoing drilling at Gogbala has covered large untested zones along strike of recent and previous shallow, wide and high-grade intercepts which returned 35m at 1.72 grams per tonne gold and 20m at 1.92g/t gold.

Oher past highlights include 20m at 3.41g/t gold from 19m; 12m at 5.39g/t gold from 11m; 7m at 6.7g/t gold from 6m; 35m at 1.72g/t gold from 43m; 23m at 1.81g/t gold from 19m; and 20m at 1.92g/t gold from 33m.

Mako believes the Gogbala mineralisation continues to the south including a portion of the permit-scale soil anomaly measuring more than 40 parts per billion, as well as an induced polarisation (IP) geophysical chargeability high anomaly.

It said the coincident anomalies “validate and further prioritise” the target.

Extensional drilling

At Tchaga, multiple reverse circulation pre-collars have been completed in anticipation of reaching deeper targets with the diamond rig through extensional drilling.

Drilling is targeting mineralised zone extensions to the southwest and at depth, as well as new zones south of a seasonal watercourse.

Highlights from previous drilling at the prospect include 10m at 18.98g/t Au from 7m; 41m at 4.51g/t Au from 17m; 32m at 7.1g/t Au from 13m; 13m at 20.82g/t Au from 32m; and 9m at 22.73g/t Au from 36m.

Mako said any significant mineralisation intersected should add potential ounces to Napié’s maiden resource estimate.