Dalaroo Metals Advances Fully Funded 12,000m Maiden Drilling at Bondoukou

Drill Pads Ready for Maiden RC Program at Bondoukou

Dalaroo Metals Ltd (ASX:DAL) has cleared a critical operational hurdle at its Bondoukou Gold Ridge Project in Côte d’Ivoire by completing initial drill pad and access route preparations. This milestone paves the way for the company’s maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign, fully funded for 12,000 metres, set to commence no later than 15 August 2026.

The Phase 1 program will directly test three priority gold targets, Mag, Wilfred, and Ali, using a methodical, discovery-focused approach. Initial drilling will employ a scissor-hole technique, drilling opposing holes at each target to establish the orientation and geometry of mineralised structures before progressing to systematic fence drilling. This approach aims to reduce the risk of missing key structural orientations and refine drilling directions for follow-up work.

Expanded Drilling Program Following Capital Raise

Originally planned as a 10,000-metre campaign, the Phase 1 program has been expanded to 12,000 metres following a successful capital raising. This increase allows Dalaroo to systematically test all three targets in greater detail, enhancing the geological understanding of the Gold Ridge corridor ahead of subsequent drilling phases.

The drilling program is designed to be flexible and responsive. Geological logging, structural observations, and downhole surveys will be reviewed continuously, allowing the company to adjust hole locations, depths, and orientations in real time. Assay results, expected approximately four to six weeks after sample submission, will be integrated into an evolving geological model to guide targeting and prioritisation of future drilling phases.

Phased Strategy to Build Geological Insight

Dalaroo’s broader exploration strategy at Bondoukou involves a phased drilling approach, with the 12,000-metre Phase 1 campaign forming the opening stage of a planned 20,000-metre program. The initial scissor holes will inform the geometry and continuity of mineralisation, enabling the design of focused fence drilling across the targets.

Following Phase 1, geological data will underpin the design and prioritisation of Phases 2 and 3, with drilling methods and locations refined to target zones showing the strongest mineralisation potential. This staged, geology-led methodology helps manage risk and capital expenditure while maximizing the chance of discovery.

Operational Readiness and Next Steps

The company’s field team is finalising operational checks with the drilling contractor to ensure a smooth mobilisation. Samples will be delivered progressively to Intertek laboratories, with weekly submissions planned to maintain a steady flow of assay data. Priority samples may be fast-tracked based on geological logging, particularly where strong alteration or sulphide content is observed.

Immediate next steps include commencement of RC drilling, completion and review of initial scissor holes, and progression into systematic fence drilling across Mag, Wilfred, and Ali. Dalaroo will continue to engage with local communities and stakeholders throughout the program.

Management Highlights Growing Confidence

CEO John Morgan described the drill pad completion as a “significant milestone” that positions Dalaroo to test extensive surface gold anomalies at depth for the first time. He emphasised the expanded Phase 1 program’s role in systematically evaluating the three targets before focusing subsequent drilling phases.

Exploration Manager Frank Twum-Berima Bosompem highlighted the integration of geochemical, geological, and magnetic data in defining the targets and the value of the scissor drilling technique in answering key structural questions early in the program.