Awalé Resources Limited (TSXV: ARIC) has identified a lengthy anomaly in ongoing exploration activities at the Odienné gold-copper project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Odienné Project is subject to an earn in joint venture agreement with Newmont Ventures Limited.
New soil and termitaria sampling at the BBM Prospect, which is located approximately 13 km northeast of the Sceptre target, has delineated a 3.5km long > 50ppm (80th percentile) copper (Cu) anomaly with a 2km >104ppm Cu core (98th percentile).
The BBM copper anomaly has been defined through pXRF analyses and is also associated with elevated values of both molybdenum and arsenic. The BBM prospect sits adjacent and parallel to an interpreted belt-basin margin which is a typical setting for gold mineralisation in West Africa.
These latest results are indicative of a fourth significant copper target at the Odienné JV with similarities to the nearby Sceptre , Charger and Lando targets.
Total cumulative strike length of these four Cu-Au anomalies now exceeds 13km. Both Sceptre and Charger are gold anomalous, with recent drilling at Charger returning high grade gold intercepts along with significant Cu values.
The current work programme is being funded by Newmont as part of an earn-in JV agreement through which Newmont retains the option to earn-in to a minimum 65% interest, from Awalé, in the Odienné project in return for the sole funding of USD 15M in exploration. Awalé is the project manager for the initial three-year phase.
“The BBM target is yet another new and exciting Iron Oxide Copper Gold (ICOG) target with encouraging copper grades and we await the gold and multi-element ICP results,” CEO Glen Parsons said.
“The footprint and geochemistry of the BBM prospect is consistent with the Sceptre , Charger and Lando targets and the proposed IOCG setting at Odienné. Furthermore, the proximity to an interpreted major basin margin structure is also favourable.
“These new results from the BBM target in concert with the previously announced Lando, Sceptre, Charger targets and Empire discovery confirm the significant scale of the mineralised system at Odienne. This success is directly attributable to the team’s sound and systematic exploration approach.
“To date the Odienne JV has discovered orogenic gold mineralisation in the Empire Corridor, and four distinct large copper plus gold targets. The real potential and scale of Awalé’s Odienne district focus and first mover advantage is only just being recognised.
“We are rapidly approaching the impending drill programme at the Sceptre and Charger targets in early December, which will commence once results from our ground geophysical surveys are received.
“We continue to focus on both new target potential and the existing target pipeline to meet the JV objectives, as per our agreement with Newmont and we look forward to further positive results.”
Next Steps
The company is working toward finalising a drilling programme in late Q4. The recently commenced Induced Polarisation (IP) ground geophysics – consisting of targeted surveys (gradient array and pole dipole sections) at both Charger and Sceptre are considered a final phase of work necessary to complete drill planning and targeting. The surveys are expected to be complete in the next fortnight and results to follow soon after.
Upon completion the IP will contribute to planning of scout drilling in December. At the BBM prospect the company awaits ICP/MS multielement analysis in the next four to six weeks.
For further information please visit: https://www.awaleresources.com/
