New Baffia Discovery Signals Potential Resource Expansion Risks for Turaco
Turaco Gold's maiden drilling at the Baffia Prospect within the Afema Project reveals significant gold mineralisation, reinforcing the project's growth potential beyond its existing 2.52Moz resource.
- Maiden drilling at Baffia returns up to 32m @ 1.7g/t gold
- New broad gold zone discovered within a 3.5km by 2.5km soil anomaly
- Baffia located just 3km from the Jonction deposit in Afema Project
- Three drill rigs active targeting updated JORC resource by quarter-end
- Ongoing soil sampling and geophysical surveys to expand exploration pipeline
Exploration Breakthrough at Baffia
Turaco Gold Limited has announced encouraging results from its first-ever drilling campaign at the Baffia Prospect, part of the 80%-owned Afema Project in southeast Côte d'Ivoire. The initial 13 holes of a 28-hole program have delineated a new broad zone of gold mineralisation, with standout intercepts including 32 metres at 1.69 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 12 metres depth and 21 metres at 1.79 g/t gold from 104 metres.
This discovery is particularly significant given the large-scale gold-in-soil anomaly at Baffia, which extends approximately 3.5 kilometres by 2.5 kilometres. The drilling tested only a central portion of this anomaly, suggesting considerable upside potential remains untested.
Strategic Location and Geological Context
Baffia lies just 3 kilometres northwest of the Jonction deposit, a key component of the Afema Project's maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2.52 million ounces (Moz) gold announced in August 2024. Mineralisation at Baffia is hosted within granodiorite intercalated with dolerite and remains open in all directions, indicating the potential for resource expansion.
The geological setting features silica-iron carbonate and sericite alteration with disseminated pyrite, typical of mesothermal gold deposits. The broad soil anomaly and multiple higher tenor zones trending northeast further underscore the prospectivity of the area.
Ongoing Drilling and Exploration Activities
Turaco currently operates three drill rigs on double shifts across the Afema Project, including ongoing drilling at the Asupiri Prospect along the Afema Shear. The company aims to update the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate by the end of the current quarter, incorporating new data from Baffia and other prospects.
Complementing drilling efforts, extensive soil sampling and geophysical programs, including an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey, are underway to refine exploration targets and identify potential repetitions of mineralisation along key structural contacts.
Management Perspective and Market Implications
Managing Director Justin Tremain highlighted the significance of the Baffia results, noting the good width and grade from initial drilling and the validation of soil anomalism as a reliable indicator of mineralisation at Afema. He emphasized the multiple opportunities to grow the existing resource base and the company's commitment to aggressive exploration.
These developments position Turaco Gold as a compelling exploration story in West Africa, with the potential to significantly enhance the value of the Afema Project through resource growth and discovery of new deposits.
Bottom Line?
Turaco’s Baffia discovery could be the catalyst for a substantial resource upgrade, setting the stage for a pivotal quarter ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the pending assay results from the remaining Baffia drill holes impact the overall resource potential?
- What metallurgical characteristics will the new Baffia mineralisation exhibit, and how might this affect processing?
- Could the ongoing IP survey reveal additional high-grade targets along the Afema Shear corridor?
