Dalaroo Advances Bondoukou Soil Program with 4,400 Samples Ahead of Drilling

Milestone Soil Sampling Defines Extensive Gold Corridor

Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) has wrapped up a comprehensive soil geochemistry program at its Bondoukou Gold Project’s Gold Ridge Prospect in Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant technical step forward. The program spanned both Priority 1 and Priority 2 target blocks, delivering systematic coverage across an interpreted mineralised corridor stretching approximately 9 kilometres. Over 4,300 samples; including soil, channel, grab, and quality control specimens; have been dispatched to Intertek Laboratory for analysis, with assay results eagerly awaited to guide upcoming drilling campaigns.

This large-scale sampling effort builds on earlier phases, notably expanding on the Priority 1 coverage that was reported in late April when over 2,200 samples were submitted. The current completion effectively doubles the dataset, providing near-continuous geochemical data across structurally prospective zones characterised by artisanal workings, quartz veining, and Birimian host lithologies. The corridor’s scale and continuity reinforce Dalaroo’s exploration model for a structurally controlled Birimian gold system, a hallmark of prolific West African gold belts.

Field Observations Bolster Hydrothermal Gold System Hypothesis

Field teams documented widespread hydrothermal alteration features consistent with significant gold mineralisation. These include iron oxide alterations such as hematite, goethite, and limonite, alongside abundant quartz stockworks and vein fragments. Priority 1 areas predominantly feature metasedimentary rocks with duricrust development, while Priority 2 is dominated by metavolcanic lithologies with clay-rich weathering profiles. These geological signatures align with pathfinder indicators common in Birimian gold systems and support the structural interpretation of mineralised corridors.

Channel sampling was also conducted at artisanal mining sites Dingbi and Amodi, with 71 channel and 14 grab samples collected to better understand mineralisation controls. These samples targeted altered schistose sediments hosting quartz veinlets and sulphide-bearing quartz, providing crucial data to refine structural models and prioritise drill targets.

Strategic Location in a Proven Gold Province

The Bondoukou Project sits within the Birimian Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s most fertile gold provinces. It lies about 35 kilometres northwest of Endeavour Mining’s Tanda-Iguela gold system, within a region that hosts multiple multi-million-ounce deposits. Gold mineralisation here typically associates with regional shear zones, fold-related traps, and quartz veining; features that Dalaroo’s exploration has identified and targeted. Extensive artisanal workings along these shear zones offer tangible evidence of near-surface gold mineralisation potential.

Dalaroo’s exploration strategy is underpinned by modern techniques and systematic sampling grids, as demonstrated by the 200m by 50m soil sampling grid employed over nearly 195 kilometres of line length. This approach is designed to detect coherent geochemical anomalies that could indicate extensions to known mineralised trends.

Path to Drilling and Upcoming Catalysts

With assays pending, the immediate focus will be on integrating geochemical data with structural and geological interpretations to define high-priority drill targets. Planned activities include trenching, auger drilling, and the rollout of a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign. CEO John Morgan emphasised that the program’s completion is a major milestone, positioning Dalaroo strongly as it moves toward the next exploration phase.

Notably, this progress follows a recent capital raise of A$1.75 million aimed at accelerating exploration efforts at Bondoukou and Greenland, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing its portfolio. The broader context includes Dalaroo’s growing footprint in West Africa and Greenland, where it is advancing rare earth and zirconium projects, highlighting a diversified exploration strategy across multiple commodities and jurisdictions.

Exploration Manager Frank Twum-Berima Bosompem highlighted the structural controls and alteration patterns observed, reinforcing the potential for a significant Birimian gold system. The company’s systematic approach and expansive sampling campaign are setting the stage for what could be a pivotal phase of drilling and discovery.