Kpali Drilling Yields 12m at 8.29g/t Au, Confirming Robust Gold Discovery
Castle Minerals has reported compelling high-grade gold intercepts from its Kpali Gold Prospect in Ghana’s Upper West Region, confirming the site as a robust discovery with promising potential for a new West African mining camp.
- Eight-hole RC drilling confirms shallow, high-grade gold mineralisation at Kpali
- Notable intercepts include 12m at 8.29g/t Au and peak 1m at 20.43g/t Au
- Kpali discovery lies within a structurally complex, prospective Birimian terrane
- Broader district hosts multiple high-conviction prospects including Bundi and Kandia
- Next steps involve step-out drilling to expand resource and test adjacent targets
Robust Discovery in Ghana’s Emerging Northern Gold Belt
Castle Minerals Limited (ASX: CDT) has delivered a significant boost to its exploration narrative with the release of strong gold intercepts from its recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Kpali Gold Prospect in Ghana’s Upper West Region. The eight-hole programme, completed in January 2025, intersected mineralisation in all holes, confirming Kpali as a robust discovery within a largely underexplored district.
The standout intercepts include a remarkable 12 metres grading 8.29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from just 25 metres depth, featuring a high-grade core of 6 metres at 11.60 g/t and a peak 1 metre intercept of 20.43 g/t. These results highlight not only the grade but also the shallow nature of the mineralisation, which is a critical factor for potential mining economics.
Geological Context and Structural Complexity
Kpali is situated at the confluence of two major Birimian greenstone belts, the Bole-Bolgatanga and Wa-Lawra belts, and is associated with a 30 to 50-metre wide zone of structural deformation adjacent to granite intrusions. This setting is analogous to other prolific gold camps in West Africa, including the nearby Namdini and Black Volta deposits, which have multi-million-ounce resources.
The drilling has delineated multiple, closely spaced mineralised lodes plunging shallowly northwards over at least 650 metres of strike. Mineralisation is hosted within silicified and sericite-altered sandstones with quartz veining and disseminated sulphides, consistent with orogenic gold deposit styles typical of the region.
Expanding the Exploration Footprint
Beyond Kpali, Castle’s broader Wa Gold Project encompasses several other high-potential prospects, including Bundi, Kpali East, Wa South East, and Wa South West. The recent drilling success at Kpali, combined with encouraging results from the Kandia Prospect, where intercepts such as 7 metres at 3.36 g/t gold were recorded, reinforces the company’s thesis of a nascent mining camp emerging in northern Ghana.
Castle’s Executive Chairman, Stephen Stone, emphasised the significance of these results, noting that the combination of decent widths, high grades, and shallow depths could translate into attractive mining scenarios. He also highlighted the strategic advantage of exploring in Ghana, a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction with a rich history of gold production and infrastructure.
Next Steps and Market Implications
Castle plans to undertake follow-up step-out drilling at Kpali to extend the mineralised zones and to test other promising targets within the project area. The company’s immediate objective is to confirm a multi-prospect mineral resource of at least 1 million ounces of gold, which would establish a new West African gold mining camp in a region ripe for discovery.
These developments come at a time when gold prices remain robust, enhancing the economic potential of new discoveries. Castle’s systematic exploration approach, combining geophysical targeting with methodical drilling, positions it well to unlock further value from its Ghanaian assets.
Bottom Line?
Castle Minerals’ latest drilling results at Kpali mark a pivotal step toward defining a new gold camp in northern Ghana, with further drilling poised to unlock the district’s full potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming step-out drilling refine the size and grade continuity of the Kpali deposit?
- What are the timelines and criteria for advancing from exploration to resource estimation at Kpali?
- How might Castle’s discoveries influence regional exploration activity and investor interest in northern Ghana?