DeSoto Resources Advances Siguiri Gold Exploration with High-Grade Channel Sampling

Timbakouna Channel Sampling Highlights Exceptional Gold Grades

DeSoto Resources Limited (ASX:DES) has unveiled compelling early-stage exploration results from its Central Siguiri and Timbakouna Projects in Guinea, with channel sampling from artisanal workings at Timbakouna delivering some eye-catching assays. Notably, a 2-metre sample returned a blistering 23.31 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, alongside several other samples exceeding 1 g/t Au over multiple metres. These results stem from two distinct zones within the project area, Kodjarani and Kôba prospects, where the company is now gearing up for follow-up trenching, power auger, and aircore drilling programs.

The emphasis on artisanal workings is telling, given the Siguiri Basin’s reputation as one of West Africa’s most prolific gold mining regions. The high-grade channel samples validate the potential of Timbakouna’s largely underexplored tenure, which has seen limited historic drilling but promising intercepts such as 18 metres at 11.8 g/t Au from 48 metres depth.

Soil Sampling Defines Extensive Gold Anomalies Across Multiple Projects

Beyond Timbakouna, DeSoto has completed more than 12,000 soil samples across six project areas including Dadjan, Tolé, Koba, Nerekoro Sud, Kassa Est, and Mini. The regional grid sampling, typically spaced at 800 by 200 metres, has delineated significant gold anomalism zones, up to 4 kilometres long at Koba and 3.5 kilometres at Nerekoro Sud. These wide-spaced anomalies are now being infilled with tighter soil grids to refine targets for subsequent trenching and drilling.

These developments build on previous work confirming a large gold system at Dadjan and Tolé, where maiden drilling in late 2025 showed encouraging high-grade mineralisation. The current exploration push aligns with the company’s strategy of district consolidation in the Siguiri Basin, securing extensive ground early to leverage the region’s established structural corridors and artisanal mining activity. The appointment of West African exploration veteran Aimé NGanare as In-Country Manager underscores the operational momentum.

Geophysical Survey and Stream Sediment Sampling to Accelerate Target Generation

To complement surface sampling, DeSoto has engaged New Resolution Geophysics (NRG™) to conduct an airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over six project areas: Dadjan, Tolé, Koba, Kassa Est, Mini, and Nerekoro Sud. This geophysical data will help identify structural features and lithological variations critical for targeting gold mineralisation.

Additionally, Bulk Leach Extractable Gold (BLEG) stream sediment sampling has been completed over newly acquired projects, Yarakoura, Doutila, Branama, Dalaban, Woussoubadou, and Moussaya, covering more than 687 square kilometres along the Siguiri Gold Mineralisation Trend. Results from these surveys are pending but could further expand the company’s footprint in this prolific gold corridor.

Exploration Progress Reflects Growing Footprint in Siguiri Basin

DeSoto’s exploration activities span 12 permits and more than 1,200 square kilometres of greenfield tenure in the Siguiri Basin, a region known for its orogenic gold deposits hosted in Birimian-aged rocks. The company is actively converting reconnaissance authorisations into exploration permits, enabling more intensive ground-disturbing work such as drilling.

This latest update follows a series of strategic moves, including the acquisition of new projects along the Siguiri trend and the confirmation of high-grade gold mineralisation in previous drilling campaigns. The company’s approach is consistent with the broader trend of consolidating land positions in emerging gold provinces before discovery success attracts competition and drives up land costs, as seen in its recent expansion with three new projects along the Siguiri trend.

While no new drilling results are reported in this release, the extensive soil sampling and high-grade channel samples from artisanal workings provide a robust foundation for upcoming drilling programs. The involvement of experienced personnel and deployment of advanced geophysical surveys position DeSoto well to unlock further value from its Siguiri Basin portfolio.