How Deep Does Kobada’s Gold Go? Toubani’s Drilling Uncovers New Zones

Expanding Kobada’s Gold Potential

Toubani Resources Limited (ASX, TRE) has announced encouraging results from its ongoing drilling campaign at the Kobada Gold Project in southern Mali. The project, already hosting a substantial 2.2 million ounce gold resource predominantly in oxide material, is showing signs of significant mineralisation beyond its current boundaries. This development could extend the mine life and enhance project economics.

The recent diamond core drilling has intersected broad zones of gold mineralisation well below and outside the existing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Notably, intercepts such as 50.8 metres at 0.97 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and high-grade zones including 1 metre at 13.4 g/t gold demonstrate the potential of fresh rock mineralisation at depths between 120 and 250 metres. These findings mark the first systematic targeting of deeper mineralisation at Kobada, which historically focused on near-surface oxide deposits.

Near-Surface Discoveries and Project Readiness

Complementing the deep drilling, reverse circulation (RC) drilling has identified new near-surface oxide mineralisation outside the current resource footprint. Highlights include a remarkable 1 metre at 21.7 g/t gold from 43 metres and 2 metres at 3.78 g/t gold from just 7 metres depth. These results not only add to the resource inventory but also inform critical infrastructure planning and early construction phases.

Beyond resource expansion, the drilling program is gathering essential geotechnical and hydrological data to refine the final mine design. This includes slope stability assessments and infrastructure layout optimization, which are vital for safe, cost-effective mining operations. The integration of these data points into the definitive feasibility study (DFS) is expected to enhance project confidence and support upcoming mining contract tenders.

Outlook and Strategic Implications

CEO Phil Russo emphasised the significance of these results, noting that intersecting over 50 metres of mineralisation outside the current MRE underscores the untapped potential within the fresh rock domain. The dual-track exploration strategy targeting both oxide and fresh rock mineralisation aims to systematically grow Kobada’s resource base. With approximately 150,000 metres of drilling to date focused mostly on oxide zones, this new phase opens a promising chapter for resource extension at depth.

As drilling continues, further assay results are anticipated in the coming weeks, which will provide greater clarity on the scale and grade of these extensions. The company plans immediate follow-up drilling to build on these discoveries, potentially reshaping the resource model and extending the project’s economic life.

While the true widths of mineralised zones remain to be confirmed, and some assay results are pending, the current data provide a compelling case for resource growth. Investors and stakeholders will be watching closely as Toubani advances Kobada towards production readiness with a stronger, more robust resource base.