Desert Metals Unveils High-Grade Gold Hits Over 1.4km at King Kong Prospect
Desert Metals Limited has reported multiple high-grade gold intercepts from its initial diamond drilling phase at the King Kong prospect in Côte d’Ivoire, confirming a significant gold system over a strike length exceeding 1.4 kilometres.
- 12 diamond holes drilled for 2,246.5m in phase one
- High-grade gold intercepts including 3m at 20.6 g/t and 2m at 16.9 g/t
- Gold mineralisation confirmed over +1.2km strike length
- Visible free gold observed in drill core samples
- Next drilling phase planned for Q4 2025 targeting extensions and new prospects
Initial Drilling Confirms Significant Gold System
Desert Metals Limited (ASX, DM1) has delivered encouraging results from the first phase of its diamond drilling program at the King Kong prospect, part of the Adzope gold project in southern Côte d’Ivoire. The company completed 12 diamond drill holes totaling 2,246.5 metres, targeting a gold corridor previously identified through earlier exploration.
Eleven of the twelve holes intersected gold mineralisation, confirming the presence of a substantial high-grade gold system extending over at least 1.2 kilometres of strike. Notable intercepts include 3 metres grading 20.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 114 metres depth, and 2 metres at 16.9 g/t gold from 273 metres. Visible free gold was observed in drill core, underscoring the quality of the mineralisation.
Expanding the Gold Corridor and Exploration Potential
The King Kong prospect now encompasses an interpreted gold corridor exceeding 3 kilometres in length, with drilling to date focused on a 1.4-kilometre section. The southern end of this corridor features a semi-continuous 400-metre mineralised zone connecting previous discovery intercepts with the latest high-grade hits. The presence of parallel structures and extensive artisanal workings at the nearby Beach prospect further highlight the district-scale potential of the project.
Desert Metals’ Managing Director Stephen Ross emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that the high-grade intercepts and visible gold provide compelling evidence of a free gold system with considerable scale. He indicated that the current drilling has only scratched the surface, with further phases planned to test extensions along strike, at depth, and across parallel zones.
Upcoming Drilling and Regional Exploration
The company is preparing to submit assays from the remaining five holes of the first phase, with results expected in September 2025. A second phase of diamond drilling is scheduled for the fourth quarter, aiming to infill the gold corridor, test parallel structures, and initiate exploration at the Beach prospect. Complementary regional stream sediment sampling will also be undertaken to identify additional targets across the 229 square kilometre Adzope permit.
These systematic exploration efforts are supported by integrated geophysical surveys and soil geochemistry, which have helped define high-priority targets. The combination of robust assay results and geological data positions Desert Metals well to advance the project toward a potential resource delineation.
Strategic Implications for Desert Metals
With the Adzope project located near established gold mining operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’s prolific Sefwi greenstone belt, Desert Metals is strategically positioned within a highly prospective gold province. The confirmation of high-grade mineralisation over significant strike lengths enhances the company’s exploration credentials and could materially impact its valuation as drilling progresses.
While true widths of mineralisation remain to be determined and further assay results are pending, the current data provides a strong foundation for future resource estimation and development planning. Investors will be watching closely as Desert Metals advances its drilling campaign and expands its footprint in West Africa’s gold sector.
Bottom Line?
Desert Metals’ King Kong results mark a promising step forward, but the real test lies in upcoming drilling phases and resource definition.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the remaining assay results reveal about the continuity and grade of the gold system?
- How will Desert Metals prioritize targets between the King Kong corridor, Beach prospect, and parallel zones?
- What timeline and scale might be expected for a maiden resource estimate at Adzope?