Famien Resources has expanded its landholding in Côte d’Ivoire by 871 km2 and reported encouraging gold intercepts from ongoing RC drilling at the Bonougbara Trend, confirming a substantial mineralised system with further work planned.
- 871 km2 net ground increase via new permits and applications
- RC drilling confirms gold mineralisation over 400m strike at Bonougbara
- New 28 km2 gold-anomalous target identified at Toumodi permit
- Follow-up drilling and soil sampling programs scheduled
- Focus on large, lightly explored areas using cost-effective methods
Significant Tenure Expansion Bolsters Côte d’Ivoire Portfolio
Famien Resources Limited (ASX:FMN) has increased its exploration footprint in Côte d’Ivoire by 871 square kilometres, adding the Korhogo Exploration Permit (376 km2) and acquiring three exploration permit applications totalling 757 km2 in the Ferkessedougou area. This expansion aligns with the company’s strategic focus on large, lightly explored greenstone belts that have seen little modern exploration, aiming to leverage its Tier 1 Targeting System to identify major gold systems.
Bonougbara Trend Drilling Confirms Robust Gold Mineralisation
Drilling activity continues to advance at the Bonougbara Trend within the Gogo Permit, where reverse circulation (RC) drilling has now tested approximately 720 metres of a 5-kilometre gold-anomalous strike. Results from 13 of 16 planned holes on the northern target reveal consistent gold mineralisation down-dip of artisanal workings over a 400-metre strike length. Notable intercepts include 8 metres at 0.94 g/t Au from 94 metres (including 4 metres at 1.69 g/t) and 4 metres at 2.44 g/t Au from 54 metres (including 2 metres at 4.02 g/t), highlighting broad mineralised zones with multiple higher-grade intervals.
The mineralisation is hosted within foliated, sericite-altered mafic volcanics with quartz veining and sulphide minerals, dipping approximately 45 degrees northwest. Encouragingly, the thickest cumulative mineralised widths were intersected at depth and at the northern limit of current drilling, signalling potential for extension. Follow-up RC drilling is planned after completion of programs at the Tougbo permit, including the Kalama Bave target, which has recently delivered highly encouraging aircore results.
New Gold-Anomalous Target Emerges at Toumodi Permit
Famien’s reconnaissance BLEG stream sediment sampling at the recently granted Toumodi Permit, located about 20 kilometres along strike from Montage Gold’s Blaffo Guetto deposit, has delineated a substantial 28 km2 gold-anomalous catchment area. Peak assay values reached 19.4 ppb Au, considered highly anomalous given the absence of significant artisanal mining in the area. The company plans to commence follow-up soil sampling shortly to refine this target.
Exploration Philosophy and Next Steps
Managing Director Paul Roberts emphasised the company’s approach of acquiring large, underexplored prospective areas and applying cost-effective early-stage exploration techniques to rapidly identify drill targets. The current results at Bonougbara, covering less than 20% of the known anomalous trend, suggest a sizable mineralised system warranting further drilling. The Korhogo permit, straddling a major structural boundary between significant gold belts, will see initial BLEG stream sediment surveys in the coming months, while work on the Ferkessedougou package will commence once permits are granted.
With multiple permits secured and early drilling confirming mineralisation continuity, Famien is positioning itself to build a robust exploration pipeline in Côte d’Ivoire. The ongoing drilling at Bonougbara and planned programs at Tougbo and Toumodi will be key to defining the scale and grade potential of these emerging gold systems.
Bottom Line?
Famien’s expanding Côte d’Ivoire tenure and promising drill results position it well for defining a significant gold system, but key assay follow-ups and permit activations remain critical near-term catalysts.
Questions in the middle?
- How will follow-up drilling at Bonougbara refine the extent and grade continuity of the mineralised system?
- What exploration results will emerge from the newly acquired Korhogo and Ferkessedougou permits once surveys and drilling commence?
- Can the large gold-anomalous target at Toumodi translate into a viable deposit with further soil sampling and drilling?