Exploration Risks Loom as MetalsGrove Embarks on Vavoua Gold Soil Sampling
MetalsGrove Mining Limited has been granted the Vavoua gold exploration permit in Côte d’Ivoire, advancing its strategic foothold near the Abujar gold mine. An initial soil sampling program using cutting-edge PortablePPB technology is set to commence early next year.
- Vavoua permit granted covering 378 km² in central-west Côte d’Ivoire
- Part of a four-permit joint venture portfolio spanning 1315 km²
- Located near the 3.8 million ounce Abujar gold mine
- Initial soil sampling program to use PortablePPB assay technique
- MetalsGrove earning up to 80% interest through JV with GEMICA
Strategic Permit Acquisition in a Proven Gold Belt
MetalsGrove Mining Limited has officially secured the Vavoua gold exploration permit (PR-0454) in central-west Côte d’Ivoire, a region renowned for its prolific Birimian greenstone belt. This permit forms one of four joint venture permits that collectively cover an extensive 1315 square kilometres of highly prospective terrain. The Vavoua permit itself spans 378 square kilometres and is strategically positioned between 60 and 140 kilometres northeast of the operating Abujar gold mine, which boasts a resource of 3.8 million ounces.
The location is significant, as the geological setting aligns with the broader Abujar-Napié gold trend, a corridor known for hosting orogenic gold deposits. MetalsGrove’s portfolio includes over 75 strike kilometres of major fault and shear zones, which are key structural features controlling gold mineralisation in the region.
Innovative Soil Sampling to Accelerate Exploration
Following the permit grant, MetalsGrove plans to initiate an initial Phase 1 soil sampling program using the PortablePPB assay technique, an innovative method developed in Australia that allows rapid, on-site gold analysis. Approximately 600 soil samples will be collected on a 1km by 1km grid, excluding agricultural and settlement areas, with results expected within 48 hours of collection. This rapid turnaround will enable dynamic infill sampling while the field crew remains on site, enhancing the efficiency and precision of the exploration campaign.
The soil sampling on Vavoua will commence after a similar program on the adjoining Zuénoula permit, which MetalsGrove recently joint ventured with Stellar AfricaGold Inc. The initial results, anticipated by February to March 2026, will guide more detailed follow-up sampling and help define robust drill targets.
Joint Venture Structure and Local Partnerships
MetalsGrove is earning up to an 80% interest in the Vavoua permit through a joint venture with local partner Générale des Mines et Carrières S.A.R.L (GEMICA). The JV agreement includes staged expenditure commitments and milestone payments, with the Ivory Coast government retaining a 10% free-carried interest upon granting an exploitation permit. This structure balances MetalsGrove’s exploration ambitions with local stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance.
Management expresses confidence in the permit’s potential, citing encouraging regional auger geochemistry and aeromagnetic survey data that highlight complex structural settings favourable for gold mineralisation. The company’s exploration manager, Robert Perring, brings relevant expertise in orogenic gold systems, underpinning the technical rigour of the program.
Outlook and Market Implications
The granting of the Vavoua permit and the deployment of advanced soil sampling techniques mark a pivotal step in MetalsGrove’s strategy to unlock value in a highly prospective West African gold province. While no drilling results are yet available, the forthcoming assay data will be critical in validating the exploration model and guiding subsequent drill programs. Investors will be watching closely for early signs of mineralisation that could underpin a significant new discovery in the region.
Bottom Line?
MetalsGrove’s next few months of soil sampling and assay results will be crucial to unlocking the Vavoua permit’s gold potential and shaping its exploration trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the initial soil sampling confirm the extension of gold mineralisation trends into the Vavoua permit?
- How will MetalsGrove balance JV expenditure commitments with exploration progress and market conditions?
- What are the timelines and criteria for advancing from soil sampling to drilling and resource definition?