Famien Resources’ maiden RC drilling at the Bonougbara Trend delivers multiple gold intercepts, reinforcing the prospectivity of its Cote D’Ivoire portfolio. Further drilling and sampling programs are underway to delineate the emerging mineralised system.
- Maiden 3,500m RC drilling at Bonougbara Trend progressing after delays
- First five holes confirm broad gold mineralised zones with grades up to 5.61g/t Au
- Dump sampling at Koroba West reveals anomalous gold in altered granite
- Regional BLEG stream sediment programs advancing across permits
- Further RC drilling planned at Kalama Bave and Koroba West targets
Bonougbara Trend Drilling Uncovers Robust Gold System
Famien Resources Limited (ASX:FMN) has reported encouraging early results from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program on the Bonougbara Trend within its Gogo Permit in northeast Cote D’Ivoire. Despite initial setbacks due to rig maintenance and parts delays, the 3,500-metre program is now advancing on double shifts and is expected to complete by the end of July.
The first five holes drilled into the southern segment of the 5-kilometre Bonougbara Trend have intersected broad zones of gold mineralisation characterised by intense alteration, shearing, and sulphide presence. Notable intercepts include 6 metres at 2.68 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 33 metres (GOERC0005) and 3 metres at 5.61 g/t gold from 44 metres (GOERC0002). These results validate the presence of a structurally controlled gold system open along strike in both directions.
Structural Setting and Artisanal Mining Support Prospectivity
The drilling targeted areas beneath artisanal mining sites, which have historically extracted gold over more than two decades, with shafts reaching depths of 80 metres. Geological logging revealed broad zones of sheared sericite-quartz-pyrite alteration within mafic volcanics, indicative of a significant fault zone extending along the Bonougbara Trend. A wavelet analysis of historical aeromagnetic data highlights a northeast-trending structural corridor, with a ‘dilational jog’ near the northern target suggesting enhanced hydrothermal fluid flow and potentially richer mineralisation.
Koroba West Sampling Highlights Altered Granite Target
On the Tougbo East Permit, dump sampling at the Koroba West prospect has confirmed anomalous gold values in altered granite, with peak assays reaching 0.66 g/t gold. This is significant because such granitic intrusives are prime targets for disseminated gold deposits amenable to bulk mining, as seen in regional analogues like Bankan in Guinea and Ouarigue South in Cote D’Ivoire. A limited RC drilling campaign is planned for August-September to test beneath these artisanal workings following completion of the Kalama Bave program.
Regional Sampling Programs and Next Steps
Famien’s regional exploration efforts continue with BLEG (bulk leach extractable gold) stream sediment sampling underway across the Toumodi, Dimbokro, and Gogo West permits. Samples are currently with Bureau Veritas in Perth, with results anticipated in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, the company plans to return the RC rig to the Kalama Bave target on the Tougbo East Permit in August to test the gold mineralised system at depth. The ongoing Bonougbara drilling program will also extend to the northern and central targets, which have shown high-grade artisanal workings and gold-in-auger anomalies respectively.
Managing Director Paul Roberts emphasised the promising start, noting the similarity to early drilling success at Tougbo1 and the potential for a significant mineralised system along the Bonougbara Trend. However, he acknowledged that substantial work remains to define the system fully.
Exploration Context within Birimian Gold Province
Famien’s permits cover over 1,500 square kilometres straddling a key structural corridor in the Birimian Supergroup, a prolific gold-producing geological formation in West Africa. The area hosts metavolcanics, metasediments, and felsic intrusives, all prospective for orogenic gold mineralisation. Historical exploration by major players such as Newcrest, Lihir Gold, and Equigold, alongside extensive artisanal mining, underscores the district’s potential.
The company’s systematic approach combining soil geochemistry, power auger drilling, aeromagnetic interpretation, and now RC drilling, aims to unlock this potential. While true widths of mineralised zones remain undetermined and independent verification of results is pending, the initial data provide a solid foundation for resource definition work.
Bottom Line?
Famien’s early drilling success at Bonougbara and Koroba West signals a promising gold system, but upcoming assay results and deeper drilling will be critical to assess its commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the northern and central Bonougbara targets perform once drilling results are released?
- Can the Koroba West altered granite host a bulk-minable gold deposit akin to regional analogues?
- What insights will the forthcoming BLEG stream sediment results provide on regional gold distribution?