Desert Metals Unveils Major Gold Anomaly and Expands Côte d’Ivoire Holdings

Nyan Prospect Emerges as Drill-Ready Gold Target

Desert Metals Limited (ASX:DM1) has reported a standout discovery at its Adzope permit in southern Côte d’Ivoire, where maiden soil sampling at the Nyan prospect has defined a major gold-in-soil anomaly stretching over 7 kilometres. The anomaly features two discrete high-grade zones within a nearly 10km² footprint, including a 165-metre-wide zone grading above 0.5 g/t gold and a second zone extending 570 by 600 metres with peak assays approaching 1 g/t gold.

These results are particularly compelling as Nyan lies directly along strike from the company’s King Kong discovery, which previously returned drilling hits of 17 metres at 7.5 g/t gold, and both prospects share the same structural trend within the Birimian greenstone belt. The Nyan anomaly remains entirely untested by drilling, setting the stage for Desert Metals’ planned maiden aircore program of approximately 6,750 metres, alongside infill soil sampling and ground geophysics to refine drill targets. This positions Nyan as a prime candidate for advancing the Adzope Gold Project.

Tiogo Gold Corridor Extended with High-Grade Aircore Results

At the Tengrela South permit, Desert Metals has extended the Tiogo gold corridor to 1.7 kilometres through a follow-up aircore drilling campaign comprising 40 holes over 2,032 metres. The drilling confirmed continuous gold mineralisation along strike, highlighted by intercepts such as 4 metres at 19.48 g/t gold and 12 metres at 3.81 g/t gold, including higher-grade sub-intervals.

Geological logging indicates that the mineralisation is hosted in quartz veins within Birimian metasediments, predominantly within the saprolite and transition zones. The fresh bedrock below remains untested but shows potential as the primary ore source. Planned next steps include deeper reverse circulation and diamond drilling to 150–250 metres to evaluate this bedrock mineralisation. Additionally, a new Tiogo North soil anomaly extending 1.8 kilometres north of existing drilling was identified, with peak soil values up to 617 ppb gold, prompting upcoming aircore drilling to test this oxide zone and assess continuity.

Strategic Acquisition of Agboville Permits Expands Portfolio

In a significant portfolio expansion, Desert Metals acquired 100% ownership of two Agboville permits covering approximately 598 km² in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. These permits lie within a proven Birimian greenstone belt prospective for both gold and lithium, complementing the company’s existing assets. Historical government sampling and nearby discoveries by Atlantic Lithium underscore the district’s potential for lithium and rare earth elements.

The acquisition was completed through an issue of 18.1 million DM1 shares valued at about A$145,000, replacing a previous joint venture arrangement that required staged exploration expenditure. This move consolidates Desert Metals’ control over a highly prospective region and streamlines its exploration strategy.

Capital Raising Supports Next Exploration Phase

Desert Metals successfully completed a fully underwritten non-renounceable entitlement offer, raising approximately $325,000 before costs through the issue of new options exercisable at $0.015 each. The proceeds are earmarked to fund ongoing exploration activities, including the maiden drilling programs at Nyan and Tiogo North.

Exploration expenditure during the quarter totalled $219,000, with the company ending the period with $398,000 in cash. While this funding covers near-term activities, Desert Metals is actively finalising plans to secure additional capital for the next exploration phase and continues to evaluate new gold and critical minerals opportunities to complement its Côte d’Ivoire portfolio.