Skylark Minerals’ latest drilling at the M’Basso Zone within its Zaranou Gold Project reveals thicker and richer gold intersections at greater depths, validating its geological model and hinting at significant resource expansion.
- Initial assays confirm mineralisation extends deeper and along strike
- High-grade intercepts include 24m at 3.07 g/t Au with standout 1m at 26.52 g/t Au
- Drilling depth increased from historical 50m to average 180m, revealing thickening zones
- M’Basso hosts 11,700 oz inferred resource, part of broader 364,600 oz Zaranou resource
- Strong cash position supports ongoing drilling and upcoming diamond drilling phases
A Promising Start at M’Basso
Skylark Minerals Limited has kicked off 2026 with encouraging results from its Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling programme at the M’Basso Zone, a key part of its flagship Zaranou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. The initial assay results reveal that gold mineralisation not only extends along strike but also thickens and improves in grade at depth, significantly beyond the reach of previous drilling campaigns.
Historically, drilling at M’Basso averaged just 50 metres in depth, but Skylark’s current programme has pushed this to around 180 metres, uncovering mineralised zones down to at least 170 metres vertical depth. This deeper testing has returned some standout intercepts, including a 24-metre section grading 3.07 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, featuring a remarkable 1-metre interval at 26.52 g/t Au.
Validating the Geological Model
The drilling results strongly support Skylark’s structural interpretation of the mineralised system. The continuity of mineralisation observed in holes spaced along strike and at depth confirms that the gold system remains open in multiple directions, suggesting ample room for resource growth. Notably, hole ZARC0143’s high-grade intercept aligns with mineralisation seen in adjacent holes, reinforcing confidence in the geological model.
Executive Chair Nikolai Zelenski highlighted the significance of these findings, noting the correlation between the new RC data and historical Air Core drilling results, which bolsters the company’s confidence in both the model and the potential scale of the deposit.
Resource Potential and Next Steps
Currently, the M’Basso Zone hosts an inferred mineral resource estimate of approximately 11,700 ounces of gold at 1.0 g/t, a modest portion of the broader Zaranou resource base of 364,600 ounces at 1.8 g/t. The new drilling results suggest a clear pathway to materially expand this resource.
Skylark has completed 21 holes so far, with assays pending for several more. The company plans to follow up with diamond drilling to better define the structural controls and test mineralisation continuity to depths of around 200 metres. This deeper drilling will provide critical insights into the geometry and controls of the gold system, essential for advancing towards resource upgrades and feasibility studies.
Strong Financial Position Supports Exploration
Backing these exploration efforts is a robust balance sheet, with over A$7 million in cash to fund ongoing drilling activities. This financial strength enables Skylark to maintain momentum across its multi-phase drilling programme, which also includes upcoming work at the nearby Ehuasso Zone and other regional targets within its Côte d’Ivoire portfolio.
With a district-scale landholding covering nearly 300 square kilometres and multiple exploration licences in application, Skylark is well positioned to leverage these early successes into a significant West African gold development story.
Bottom Line?
Skylark’s deeper, higher-grade hits at M’Basso set the stage for a potential resource upgrade that could reshape the Zaranou project’s outlook.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming diamond drilling refine the understanding of mineralisation controls at depth?
- What impact could these results have on the timing and scale of a resource upgrade?
- How might the expanding resource at M’Basso influence Skylark’s broader development strategy in Côte d’Ivoire?