Mako Gold Ltd (ASX:MKG) has identified 15 ‘significant’ targets for reverse circulation (RC) drilling from a phase 2 auger program at the flagship Napié Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The second phase of the 25,000-metre auger program outlined multi-kilometre-long anomalies along the 30-kilometre-long Napié Shear equal to or greater in size than Tchaga and Gogbala prospects which constitute the company's maiden resource of 868,000 ounces at 1.2 g/t gold.
Notably, infill auger drilling returned several results over 0.5 g/t gold which is considered high for auger, including 4.8 g/t, 1.1 g/t and 0.8 g/t gold.
Looking ahead, Mako is awaiting a report from the structural consultants at Napié, which when integrated into auger interpretation will greatly assist planning the next drill program.
“High-priority drill targets”
Mako managing director Peter Ledwidge said: “We are extremely pleased that phase 2 of the auger program has confirmed and enhanced the anomalies identified in phase 1.
“The complete auger program has provided 15 significant drill targets along the 30-kilometre Napié shear.
“The auger has narrowed down the wide soil anomalies and pinpointed precise targets for resource expansion at Napié which is likely to reduce the discovery cost per ounce.
“In phase 2 we focused on the extensive multi-kilometre mineralised trends identified at Tchaga North and Gogbala in phase 1, to generate a multitude of high-priority drill targets.
“We plan on following up phase 1 auger results elsewhere on the permit in the future. Napié is showing strong potential to host multiple deposits within the permit.”
Phase 2 program
Mako's phase 2 program which comprised 6,723 metres across 791 holes, was designed to vector on the multi-kilometre-long gold anomalies identified in phase 1 for enhanced RC drill targeting.
The program is designed to infill wider-spaced auger drilling from phase 1 to vector in on anomalies identified in that phase.
Phase 1 drilling was conducted on a 400 by 100 metres grid and phase 2 reduced the drill spacing to 200 by 50 metres in high-priority areas.
Notably, a new mineral trend oriented northwest was identified in auger and confirmed by artisanal mining.