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Massan Deposit’s Underexplored High-Grade Zone Raises Resource Upgrade Stakes

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Asara Resources reports a significant 54m intercept at 2.3 g/t gold from its Massan deposit in Guinea, confirming a high-grade northeast structural extension and expanding the inferred resource footprint.

  • 54m @ 2.3 g/t Au intercept confirms NE high-grade extension
  • Phase 1 drilling converts inferred resources to indicated status
  • Systematic drilling ongoing to depths of at least 250m
  • Massan deposit resource footprint extended beyond historical limits
  • Geology-driven exploration model validated by recent results

Strong Results from Phase 2 Inferred Extension Programme

Asara Resources Limited (ASX: AS1) has announced promising drilling results from its flagship Massan deposit within the Kada Gold Project in Guinea. The standout intercept comes from drillhole MSRC26-013, which returned a thick 54 metres grading 2.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold starting at 42 metres depth. This intercept includes multiple higher-grade zones, such as 12 metres at 3.6 g/t and several 4-metre intervals exceeding 3.5 g/t gold. The hole ended in mineralisation, indicating potential for further depth extensions.

This result confirms the continuity of a northeast-trending high-grade structural corridor (D2 structure) intersecting the primary north-south structural trend (D1), extending beyond the limits defined by previous historical drilling. Notably, prior drilling in this area was shallow and sub-optimally oriented, underscoring the significance of this new discovery.

Phase 1 Indicated Conversion Programme Advances Resource Confidence

Alongside the Phase 2 extension drilling, Asara’s Phase 1 Indicated Conversion Programme continues to deliver consistent broad zones of mineralisation. This programme aims to upgrade existing Inferred Mineral Resources to the higher-confidence Indicated category by infilling drill spacing and extending mineralisation to depths of at least 250 metres. Recent results include multiple intercepts such as 37 metres at 1.0 g/t gold from surface and deeper high-grade hits including 5 metres at 5.1 g/t gold from 217 metres.

The continuity demonstrated between drillholes reinforces confidence in the geological model and supports the potential for resource growth and upgrading within the Massan deposit. The company has mobilised additional drilling rigs to accelerate this work, signalling a methodical and geology-driven approach to resource development.

Expanding the Kada Gold Project Footprint

Asara’s exploration strategy at Kada remains twofold: converting Inferred resources to Indicated status through systematic infill drilling, and expanding the Inferred Resource footprint along strike. The recent intercepts from Phase 2 drilling extend mineralisation more than 500 metres beyond the current Inferred Resource limits, highlighting substantial exploration upside. The company’s structural interpretations, validated by these results, guide the placement of new high-priority drillholes targeting continuity and grade consistency.

With a current Mineral Resource Estimate of 30.3 million tonnes at 1.0 g/t gold for 923,000 ounces, the Kada Project remains one of the most under-explored gold projects in West Africa. The Massan deposit is central to this resource, and ongoing drilling is expected to further enhance its scale and classification.

Looking Ahead: Systematic Drilling and Resource Growth

Asara plans to continue its systematic drilling campaigns targeting mineralisation continuity to depths of at least 250 metres and along strike extensions. The recent results from MSRC26-013 and other drillholes provide a strong foundation for expanding and upgrading the Mineral Resource base. CEO Matthew Sharples emphasised the importance of the geology-driven approach, noting that the new intercept validates structural models and identifies a previously under-tested high-grade corridor.

Additional rigs have been mobilised to accelerate the Phase 1 Indicated Conversion Programme, while Phase 2 drilling continues to explore extensions. The company also maintains regional geochemical drilling to support further target delineation. These efforts collectively aim to unlock the full potential of the Kada Gold Project and enhance its attractiveness to investors and partners.

Bottom Line?

Asara’s latest drilling success at Massan confirms significant high-grade extensions, setting the stage for resource upgrades and deeper exploration.

Questions in the middle?

  • How will the new high-grade extension impact the upcoming Mineral Resource Estimate update?
  • What are the timelines and targets for converting more Inferred resources to Indicated status?
  • Could further drilling reveal deeper or lateral extensions beyond the currently targeted 250m depth?