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Altair Appoints Dr. Sonia Scarselli and Forms Joint Committee to Boost Greater Oko

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Altair Minerals has strengthened its exploration leadership by appointing Dr. Sonia Scarselli as Specialist Advisor and forming a joint Technical Committee with Endeavour Mining to accelerate its Greater Oko Project in Guyana.

  • Dr. Sonia Scarselli appointed Specialist Advisor to Altair Board
  • Joint Technical Committee formed with Endeavour to enhance exploration
  • Committee leverages Endeavour’s proven discovery track record
  • Appointment follows Endeavour’s A$28 million strategic placement
  • Greater Oko Project poised for large-scale drilling and discoveries

High-Profile Appointment Elevates Altair’s Board Expertise

Altair Minerals (ASX:ALR) has tapped Dr. Sonia Scarselli, a heavyweight in mining exploration, as Specialist Advisor to its Board. Scarselli, currently Executive Vice President of Exploration and Growth at Endeavour Mining plc, brings a formidable track record including leadership roles at BHP and ExxonMobil. Her appointment follows Endeavour's A$28 million placement in Altair, underscoring a deepening strategic partnership.

With a PhD in Geology from ETH Zurich and an MBA from London Business School, Scarselli’s blend of technical and executive experience is expected to sharpen Altair’s decision-making across exploration, project development, and corporate strategy. CEO Faheem Ahmed highlighted her arrival as timely, coinciding with preparations for a major drill campaign at Greater Oko.

Joint Technical Committee to Accelerate Exploration

In a move to leverage combined expertise, Altair and Endeavour have formed a joint Technical Committee. This group, featuring key figures such as Altair’s Head of Exploration Pascal Van Osta and Endeavour’s VP of New Ventures Eduardo Etchart, will meet monthly to review geological data, refine targeting, and optimise exploration programs.

The committee draws heavily on Endeavour’s success in analogous greenstone belts, where it has discovered 22.4 million ounces of Measured and Indicated gold resources since 2016. This collaboration aims to replicate that success at Greater Oko, fast-tracking discoveries by blending local knowledge with proven technical methodologies.

Strategic Momentum Behind Greater Oko Project

Altair’s strengthened leadership and technical collaboration come at a pivotal time. The Greater Oko Project, located in Guyana’s prolific Guiana Shield, is gearing up for large-scale drilling programs designed to unlock its Tier-1 discovery potential. Recent capital injections from Endeavour have bolstered Altair’s treasury to approximately A$40 million, enabling an ambitious expansion of exploration activities.

The appointment of Scarselli and the formation of the joint committee complement earlier moves, including the recruitment of technical advisor Simon Bolster, known for his expertise in regolith geochemistry and rapid assay technologies. Together, these developments position Altair to deliver a steady stream of exploration results in the coming months, with multiple targets ready for testing.

Bottom Line?

Altair’s strategic hires and collaboration with Endeavour signal a serious push to convert its Greater Oko tenure into tangible discoveries, but the proof will come with drilling results.

Questions in the middle?

  • How quickly will the joint Technical Committee translate into drill success at Greater Oko?
  • What specific exploration milestones will Altair target in the next six months?
  • Could further capital or partnership deals follow if early drilling confirms targets?