Awalé Resources Ltd (TSX-V:ARIC) has announced a remarkable high-grade gold discovery at its Odienné project in Côte d'Ivoire, with CEO Andrew Chubb describing a recent drill hole as nothing short of spectacular. The drill hole yielded an impressive 32 metres at 45.7 grammes per tonne of gold within a 57-metre interval averaging 26 grammes per tonne. Chubb emphasized the significance of this find, noting its consistency of high-grade mineralization without reliance on large gold nuggets. He described it as the best drill hole of his career, underscoring the exceptional nature of the discovery.
The company has only begun to explore the project's potential and plans to follow up with an imminent drilling program targeting both the BBM and Charger sites, with rigs expected to commence within two weeks. The BBM target, announced last week as a new discovery, and the Charger target, known for its visible gold breccia pipe system, are areas of focus due to their previously identified high-grade intercepts. Chubb expressed enthusiasm for the future, citing the Odienné project's drilling results as among the highest-grade gold sections in Africa in decades.
With 25,000 metres of drilling planned for the year, he anticipates further significant discoveries and commits to keeping stakeholders informed on the project's progress. The discovery represents a major advancement for gold exploration in West Africa and demonstrates the substantial mineral potential of the Odienné project. The high-grade nature of the find, combined with the consistency of mineralization, suggests the presence of a significant gold system that could have substantial economic implications for both the company and the region.
The immediate follow-up drilling program will be crucial in determining the full extent and continuity of the mineralization. The combination of the BBM and Charger targets provides multiple avenues for exploration success, with each showing distinct geological characteristics that could contribute to a larger mineralized system. The project's location in Côte d'Ivoire, a country with established gold mining operations, adds to the significance of this discovery within the broader West African gold mining landscape.
