Early Gold Anomaly Raises Stakes but Drilling Will Reveal True Potential

A New Gold Frontier in Guyana

Altair Minerals Limited (ASX, ALR) has announced compelling soil sampling results from its South Oko Prospect, part of the Greater Oko Project in Guyana. The company’s initial geochemical program has delineated a major gold anomaly stretching approximately 2 kilometres, exhibiting a geochemical signature strikingly similar to the adjacent Oko West Deposit, which was acquired for $1 billion by GMining Ventures in 2024.

This discovery is notable not only for its size but also for its enrichment. Altair’s South Oko anomaly is reportedly larger and more geochemically enriched than the 5.9 million ounce Oko West deposit, suggesting significant exploration potential within this underexplored greenstone belt.

Target Zones and Geological Context

The soil sampling program, conducted by Adamantium Exploration Inc. in 2022 and now acquired by Altair, identified two primary gold-rich targets, the W1 Target, a 2km northeast-southwest striking zone on a western splay fault of the Oko Shear Zone, and the E1 Target, a 1.3km north-south striking zone directly over the shear zone contact. Both targets show gold concentrations exceeding 100 parts per billion in soil samples, with supporting high-grade stream sediment assays up to 2.14 grams per tonne.

These targets lie within a 15km strike extension of the Oko Shear Zone, a geological corridor that has recently yielded over 9 million ounces of gold resources from previous explorers. Altair’s land position is unique, offering the largest contiguous exposure of this emerging greenstone belt, a factor that could prove decisive in unlocking further discoveries.

Strategic Advantage and Next Steps

Guyana’s mining jurisdiction is gaining prominence due to its political stability and geological kinship with prolific West African gold belts. However, fragmented land tenure has historically hampered large-scale exploration. Altair’s joint venture with Adamantium Exploration Inc. has secured a contiguous 592 square kilometre land package, providing a rare strategic foothold in this promising region.

With due diligence advancing ahead of schedule, Altair plans to mobilize an exploration team imminently to conduct follow-up soil sampling, stream sediment sampling, and infill sampling to better define the W1 and E1 targets. The company aims to transition swiftly into drilling programs to test these high-priority zones, potentially accelerating the path toward a significant gold discovery.

Industry Context and Market Implications

Altair joins a select group of explorers in the Guiana Shield, following in the footsteps of GMining Ventures and G2 Goldfields, both of which have achieved substantial market valuations through discoveries along the Oko Shear Zone. The parallels between Altair’s South Oko anomaly and the Oko West deposit underscore the potential scale and economic significance of this emerging gold district.

CEO Faheem Ahmed expressed optimism, highlighting the early-stage results as exceeding expectations and emphasizing the company’s strong position to capitalize on the region’s exploration upside. The unfolding story at South Oko will be closely watched by investors eager for the next major gold discovery in Guyana.