Asara’s Massan Drilling Confirms Depth Extensions but Raises Resource Update Questions
Asara Resources reports encouraging results from 11 new drill holes at its Massan deposit in Guinea, validating its geological model and revealing promising extensions of gold mineralisation both near surface and at depth.
- 11 reverse circulation drill holes totaling 2,455m completed at Massan deposit
- Results confirm continuity and robustness of gold mineralisation in inferred zones
- Depth-extension drilling reveals new deeper mineralisation beyond previous limits
- Phase 2 drilling planned to target strike extensions north and south
- Geological model validated, supporting resource growth and reduced discovery costs
Exploration Progress at Massan
West African gold explorer Asara Resources Limited (ASX, AS1) has announced a fresh batch of positive drilling results from its flagship Kada Gold Project in Guinea. The latest assays come from 11 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes totaling 2,455 metres, focused on the Massan deposit, a key component of the project’s Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) area.
The drilling campaign, part of Phase 1 of a broader 22,000m RC and 4,000m diamond core program planned for 2025, aimed to increase geological confidence through infill drilling and to test the down-dip extensions of the known mineralisation. The results confirm consistent, broad zones of gold mineralisation, reinforcing the continuity between drill holes across previously inferred areas.
Notable Intersections and Geological Validation
Among the standout intercepts are broad intervals such as 55 metres at 1.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 17 metres depth, including a higher-grade 7 metres at 3.1 g/t, and a remarkable 1 metre intercept grading 20.8 g/t gold near surface. Deeper drilling beyond the US$1,800/oz pit shell has identified new mineralisation zones within fresh rock, with significant intersections extending past 300 metres depth.
These results not only confirm the expected widths and grades but, crucially, the intercepts were encountered exactly where the geological model predicted. This validation reduces exploration risk and supports the company’s strategy to lower discovery costs per ounce as the deposit continues to grow in scale.
Looking Ahead, Phase 2 and Resource Growth Potential
With Phase 1 drilling nearing completion, Asara plans to ramp up activity by introducing an additional rig to target strike extensions along the north and south of the Massan deposit. This next phase aims to expand the resource footprint further, potentially increasing the Inferred Mineral Resource component of the Kada Project.
CEO Matt Sharples highlighted the significance of these results, emphasizing the strengthened understanding of the deposit’s genesis and the enhanced confidence in exploration targeting. The company expects drilling to continue into the third quarter of fiscal 2026, with ongoing assay results guiding future exploration strategies.
Context Within Asara’s Portfolio
Asara’s focus remains firmly on the Kada Gold Project, which hosts an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 30.3 million tonnes at 1.0 g/t gold for approximately 923,000 ounces. The majority of this resource is shallow oxide-transitional mineralisation, with significant upside potential in underexplored areas of the 150-kilometre project zone.
While Asara also holds copper and silver-lead-zinc projects in Chile, including the Paguanta and Loreto projects, the company is prioritizing gold exploration in Guinea, supported by recent drilling success and a clear path to resource growth.
Bottom Line?
Asara’s latest drilling results at Massan reinforce its resource growth trajectory, setting the stage for an expanded footprint and deeper gold discoveries.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Phase 2 strike extension drilling impact the overall Mineral Resource Estimate?
- What are the implications of the new deeper mineralisation zones for future mining methods?
- Could ongoing drilling success accelerate Asara’s timeline towards feasibility and production?
