8m at 18 g/t Au Highlights DeSoto’s Shallow Gold Potential in Guinea
DeSoto Resources reports standout shallow gold intercepts up to 71.2 g/t Au from recent power auger drilling at its Tole Project in Guinea, highlighting promising exploration potential across its extensive Siguiri Basin holdings.
- 8m at 18.03 g/t Au including 2m at 71.2 g/t Au from surface at Tole
- Two 400m x 400m coherent gold anomalism zones identified at Tole
- Gold mineralisation confirmed to at least 20m depth at Dadjan via infill drilling
- New gold in soil anomalies and high-grade rock chip samples at Timbakouna
- Further sampling, trenching and drilling planned; awaiting regulatory approvals
Exploration Breakthrough at Tole
DeSoto Resources Limited (ASX – DES) has unveiled compelling results from a recently completed 3,600-metre power auger drilling program at its Tole Gold Project in Guinea’s prolific but underexplored Siguiri Basin. The standout intercept of 8 metres grading 18.03 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from surface, including a remarkable 2 metres at 71.2 g/t, underscores the potential for high-grade mineralisation near surface.
The drilling delineated two coherent gold anomalism zones, each approximately 400 by 400 metres, centered around areas of active artisanal mining. These zones remain open along multiple directions, suggesting significant upside for further resource expansion. However, a deep artisanal pit between the zones limited drilling continuity, highlighting the challenges of working in historically mined terrain.
Expanding Footprint Across Timbakouna and Dadjan
Beyond Tole, DeSoto’s exploration efforts at the Timbakouna and Dadjan projects have also yielded encouraging results. At Timbakouna, extensive rock chip and dump sampling revealed two new gold-in-soil anomalies with rock chip grades reaching 13.72 g/t Au and dump samples up to 4.3 g/t Au. These findings complement historic drilling intercepts, such as 18 metres at 11.8 g/t Au, reinforcing Timbakouna’s status as a key focus area.
Meanwhile, infill power auger drilling at Dadjan confirmed gold mineralisation extending to at least 20 metres depth, with several holes ending in mineralisation. Additional surface sampling has identified new anomalous zones west of the main trend, further broadening the exploration target portfolio.
Strategic Landholding and Next Steps
DeSoto now holds one of the largest land packages in the Siguiri Basin, comprising 14 gold projects. The company’s exploration strategy, guided by experienced directors Paul Roberts and Dr Barry Murphy, employs a mineral systems approach to target generation, which has already identified multiple promising trends.
Looking ahead, DeSoto plans to continue soil, rock chip, and dump sampling programs, alongside trenching and further drilling, particularly at Dadjan and Tole. The company is currently awaiting government approval to commence power auger and air-core drilling at Timbakouna, which could unlock further high-grade discoveries.
Managing Director Chris Swallow expressed optimism about the results, noting the encouraging grades emerging from shallow drilling and the significant exploration potential across the projects.
Bottom Line?
DeSoto’s shallow high-grade gold discoveries in Guinea’s Siguiri Basin set the stage for a pivotal exploration phase with potential to reshape its resource profile.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling at Timbakouna confirm continuity of historic high-grade intercepts?
- How will government reforms in Guinea impact DeSoto’s tenure expansion and exploration pace?
- What are the implications of artisanal mining activity on resource delineation and development?