Greater Oko Expansion Raises Questions on Resource Conversion and Market Impact
Altair Minerals has identified approximately 17 kilometres of new gold target zones at its Greater Oko Project in Guyana, significantly expanding the prospective footprint based on historic geochemical data.
- Discovery of 17km new gold target zones at Greater Oko
- High-grade gold anomalies at South Oko and North Peters prospects
- Three new regional targets identified near existing prospects
- Historic stream sediment and BLEG data underpin findings
- Ongoing soil sampling and trenching programs underway
Expanding the Gold Frontier at Greater Oko
Altair Minerals Limited has announced a significant expansion of its exploration targets at the Greater Oko Project in Guyana, unveiling approximately 17 kilometres of new gold prospective zones. This development is based on a comprehensive analysis of historic stream sediment and Bulk Leach Extractable Gold (BLEG) geochemical data acquired from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, covering sampling conducted between 2000 and 2016.
The newly identified anomalies at the South Oko and North Peters prospects reveal high-grade gold values, some exceeding 4,000 parts per billion (ppb), which multiply the scale of potential mineralisation beyond previously known boundaries. Notably, the South Oko anomaly spans a 5-kilometre zone aligned with the structural corridor of the Oko Shear, a geological feature that hosts multi-million-ounce deposits nearby.
Strategic Regional Targets and Geological Context
In addition to the expanded zones at South Oko and North Peters, Altair has pinpointed three new regional targets; West Puruni, Mara-Mara, and West Peters; each demonstrating highly anomalous gold levels in stream sediment samples. These targets, while currently lower priority, underscore the vast exploration potential within the Greater Oko Project, which covers an extensive 590 square kilometres of one of the most prospective greenstone belts globally.
The Greater Oko Project’s proximity to the billion-dollar Oko West deposit, which contains nearly 6 million ounces of gold, situates Altair’s holdings in a highly strategic position. The geological similarities and structural continuity with neighbouring deposits suggest that the new anomalies could represent extensions or new discoveries within the same mineralised system.
Advancing Exploration with Groundwork and Sampling
Altair is actively progressing its exploration efforts with multiple teams now engaged in trenching and extensional soil sampling programs at South Oko and North Peters. The first batch of soil assays has been submitted to the laboratory, with results pending, and further sampling is underway to delineate the extent and grade of the newly identified anomalies.
CEO Faheem Ahmed highlighted the importance of the historic geochemical dataset in validating the expansion potential and expressed optimism about the project’s future. He emphasized that the anomalies align precisely with expected structural corridors, reinforcing the geological model and supporting the company’s strategy to develop Greater Oko into a multi-deposit gold project.
Caution and Next Steps
While the geochemical results are promising, it is important to note that these findings are based on historic data and surface sampling, without current drilling confirmation. The foreign resource estimates referenced are not compliant with the Australasian JORC Code, and further exploration including drilling will be necessary to establish JORC-compliant mineral resources.
Altair’s next phase will focus on detailed geochemical follow-up and drilling to test the newly defined targets. The company’s ability to convert these anomalies into economically viable resources will be critical in determining the project’s long-term value and impact on the market.
Bottom Line?
Altair’s expanded gold targets at Greater Oko set the stage for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape its resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling confirm the high-grade gold anomalies identified in historic data?
- How quickly can Altair advance from geochemical targets to JORC-compliant resource estimates?
- What impact will these new targets have on Altair’s valuation relative to regional peers?