Drilling at Nimba Could Make or Break First Au’s Liberian Ambitions
First Au Limited has kicked off a significant 3,000-metre diamond drilling campaign at its Liberian Nimba Gold Project, following a detailed 21-day geological mapping program that identified promising new targets.
- 3,000 metres diamond drilling commenced at Nimba Gold Project
- Mapping program completed over 10km² area identifying new targets
- Twin drill holes planned adjacent to previous NZ22-001 hole to confirm mineralisation dip
- Drilling led by newly appointed Executive Director Lei Shi
- Joint venture with Hamak Gold Limited’s subsidiary 79 Resources
Strategic Mapping Sets Stage for Drilling
First Au Limited (ASX, FAU) has initiated a 3,000-metre diamond drilling program at its Nimba Gold Project in Liberia, following the completion of a comprehensive 21-day structural and alteration mapping campaign. This mapping, covering a 10 square kilometre area within the Ziatoya Prospect, was led by newly appointed Executive Director Lei Shi and his team of structural geology specialists. The data collected is currently being digitised to refine geological models and identify high-potential drill targets.
Testing Structural Interpretations Near Historic Drill Hole
The drilling program aims to test the true dip angle of mineralisation intersected in a previous drill hole, NZ22-001, completed by Hamak Gold Limited, a London-listed company. Mapping revealed an antiformal fold hinge near NZ22-001, suggesting mineralisation may be confined to the eastern limb of the fold dipping 50-60 degrees southeast. To validate this, twin holes will be drilled adjacent to NZ22-001 to a depth of 240 metres at a 60-degree dip, targeting the thermal marker of granitic gneiss and associated pyritization at depth.
Advancing Joint Venture Exploration
The Nimba Gold Project is held under exploration license MEL7012725, owned by 79 Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hamak Gold Limited. First Au’s joint venture with Hamak represents a strategic move to acquire a flagship gold project with significant upside potential. The current drilling program is the first major operational milestone since the joint venture was announced in May 2025, and it will provide critical data to confirm structural interpretations and extend known mineralisation along strike.
Leadership and Forward Outlook
Executive Director Lei Shi expressed enthusiasm about the drilling commencement, highlighting the importance of integrating detailed geological mapping with drilling to unlock the project’s potential. The company also re-logged previous drill cores from Hamak’s 2023 program to enhance understanding of the deposit. Shareholders can expect further updates as drilling progresses and results are analysed.
Context Within First Au’s Portfolio
First Au is an advanced exploration company with projects in Australia and now Liberia, actively seeking a company-making flagship asset. The Nimba Gold Project adds a high-quality, underexplored gold opportunity to its portfolio, complementing its Victorian Goldfields and Gimlet Gold projects. The success of this drilling campaign could be pivotal in defining the project’s resource potential and shaping First Au’s growth trajectory.
Bottom Line?
As drilling unfolds, First Au’s Nimba project could soon reveal whether its structural insights translate into a significant gold discovery.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the twin holes confirm the interpreted dip and extent of mineralisation near NZ22-001?
- How will the new targets identified from mapping influence the overall resource potential?
- What timeline can investors expect for assay results and updated geological models?
