PhosCo’s Gasaat Project Faces Critical Test as Assays Awaited for New DOH Discovery
PhosCo Ltd has confirmed a significant phosphate mineralisation discovery at its DOH prospect within the Gasaat Project in Tunisia, highlighting the project’s potential as a world-scale phosphate source. This discovery complements pending maiden resource estimates at nearby prospects, reinforcing Gasaat’s strategic value amid global fertiliser supply pressures.
- Phosphate mineralisation averaging 13m thickness over 1,300m strike at DOH
- Eight drill holes confirm significant scale and grade comparable to previous results
- Pending maiden resource estimates at SAB and KM prospects expected in April
- Additional drilling at KM to enhance geological confidence
- Metallurgical testing underway to optimise processing and project economics
Discovery at DOH Strengthens Gasaat’s Position
PhosCo Ltd has announced a major breakthrough at its wholly owned Gasaat Phosphate Project in Tunisia, with drilling at the DOH prospect revealing substantial phosphate mineralisation. Eight widely spaced drill holes intersected a phosphate horizon averaging 13 metres thick, extending over a strike length of 1,300 metres and a width exceeding 600 metres. Preliminary portable XRF measurements indicate phosphate grades consistent with earlier findings, underscoring the prospect’s considerable scale and quality.
Resource Growth Potential and Strategic Timing
This discovery at DOH arrives as PhosCo prepares to release maiden resource estimates for the SAB and KM prospects, expected in April. These new resources will complement the existing Gasaat resource of 146.4 million tonnes at 20.6% P2O5, potentially expanding the project’s inventory and mine life. The company’s Managing Director, Taz Aldaoud, emphasised the strategic advantage of Gasaat’s Mediterranean location, offering diversification in a phosphate market facing supply chain pressures and geopolitical risks.
Advancing Towards Development
PhosCo is also progressing additional drilling at KM to increase geological confidence, particularly in the south-eastern extent of mineralisation. Concurrently, sighter metallurgical testing is underway to identify optimal processing routes, a critical step to enhance the project’s economic viability. The upcoming combined Mineral Resource update will feed into an optimised scoping study, aiming to prioritise low-strip resources and improve early-stage project economics.
Geological Context and Exploration Methodology
The Gasaat phosphate deposit is a marine carbonate-hosted sedimentary phosphate deposit, characterised by a laterally continuous phosphate layer typically 10–15 metres thick. The DOH prospect’s geological setting is consistent with other Gasaat prospects but features a distinctive eastward dip. PhosCo’s exploration program employs rigorous sampling, logging, and assay protocols, including diamond core drilling and portable XRF analysis, ensuring reliable data to support resource estimation.
Outlook and Next Steps
Assay results from the latest drilling at DOH and KM are anticipated within 3 to 4 weeks, which will inform the maiden resource definition for DOH and finalise resource estimates at SAB and KM. These developments are pivotal as PhosCo advances the Gasaat Project towards development, aiming to capitalise on rising global demand for phosphate fertilisers and the strategic imperative for supply diversification.
Bottom Line?
PhosCo’s expanding resource base at Gasaat positions it well to meet growing phosphate demand, but upcoming assay results and metallurgical tests will be key to unlocking full project value.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the final assay results reveal about the grade and continuity of the DOH phosphate horizon?
- How will the maiden resource estimates at SAB and KM influence the overall project economics and mine planning?
- What processing methods will metallurgical testing identify as optimal for Gasaat’s phosphate ore?
