Kobo Resources (TSXV:KRI) has resumed diamond drilling at its Kossou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, launching a fully funded 10,000-metre drill program. The company aims to build on its previous exploration efforts at the 100%-owned site, targeting key gold zones to extend known mineralization at depth and along strike, while also testing new areas for potential gold deposits.

Edward Gosselin, CEO and Director of Kobo commented in a press release: “This is an exciting time for Kobo as we reinitiate our diamond drilling campaign on highly prospective gold targets at Kossou. We are fully funded for this program and into next year, providing us with the resources to aggressively pursue our exploration objectives. The key zones we’re targeting hold significant potential, and this new program will build on previous success by testing depth extensions and uncharted mineralized areas.” He continued: “We are also proud of our commitment to responsible exploration, highlighted by the fresh water well initiative that will benefit and support the local Bocabo community. Looking beyond Kossou, we are dedicated to advancing our regional exploration strategy, bolstered by the support of our strategic partner, Luso Global Mining. We remain focused on delivering results for our shareholders and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.”

The Kossou Gold Project is located approximately 20 km northwest of Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire’s capital, and lies near one of the largest gold mines in the region. The project holds significant promise due to its strategic location and the successful outcomes of prior exploration programs. Kobo Resources intends to focus its latest drilling on four major target zones: the Jagger Zone, Road Cut Zone, Kadie Zone, and Contact Zone.

Jagger Zone: Defined by a 2 km long gold-in-soil anomaly, the Jagger Zone has been trenched and drilled over a 1 km strike length, with mineralization remaining open both to the north and south. Previous drilling intercepted significant gold deposits, such as 19 meters at 2.03 g/t Au (hole KRC011). The current drill program will aim to test the extension of these mineralized structures at depths between 175 and 250 meters below the surface. Additionally, drilling will target a 350-meter untested gap where past Reverse Circulation (RC) drill results revealed 6 meters at 4.31 g/t Au (hole KRC015). A total of 3,700 meters will be drilled in 17 holes at the Jagger Zone during this campaign.

Road Cut Zone: With a 1.6 km long gold-in-soil anomaly and a 900-meter strike length, the Road Cut Zone has shown multiple mineralized shear zones in previous drilling efforts. The most recent results include 13 meters at 2.10 g/t Au (hole KRC044) and 11 meters at 1.71 g/t Au (hole KDD0012). Mineralization remains open to the south, where it may connect with gold found in the Jagger and Kadie zones. The upcoming drilling will aim to fill in gaps left by earlier efforts and test mineralization down to approximately 150 meters below the surface. The company plans to drill 3,700 meters across 18 holes in the Road Cut Zone.

Kadie Zone: Mineralization at the Kadie Zone is based on strong geochemical anomalies, but exploration here is still in its early stages, with only five diamond drill holes completed so far. Highlighted intercepts include 9 meters at 23.89 g/t Au (hole KDD005) and 7 meters at 1.91 g/t Au (hole KDD0024). The zone remains open at depth and along strike. As part of this program, Kobo plans to drill approximately 1,000 meters in seven holes.

Contact Zone: The Contact Zone Fault has emerged as a promising exploration target. This major structure is believed to have played a role in concentrating gold-bearing fluids during the area’s geological history. Gold-in-soil anomalies traceable over 2.5 km, along with nearby artisanal mining activity, suggest this area could hold significant mineralization. Kobo plans to drill 700 meters across seven holes in this zone during the upcoming campaign.

Kobo Resources has been actively exploring the Kossou Gold Project for several years, identifying numerous high-potential targets through a combination of trenching, soil sampling, and drilling. In 2023, the company conducted approximately 5,900 meters of reverse circulation drilling and 5,400 meters of trenching. Early in 2024, the company completed another 4,368 meters of diamond drilling. These efforts have delineated a 9 km-long prospective corridor containing gold mineralization in multiple zones, suggesting the presence of a large orogenic gold system.

As the company resumes its drilling program, it will look to further extend mineralization at depth and along strike at its existing targets. The results from this work will help define the potential size and scale of the gold system at Kossou.

Kobo Resources (TSXV:KRI) has launched the first phase of its drilling operation at the wholly-owned Kossou Gold Project in Cote d’Ivoire, a region known for its significant gold yields in West Africa. The operation for this year involves a comprehensive 8,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling divided into two distinct stages. The first stage of the program will focus on the Jagger Zone, Road Cut Zone, and the Contact Zone – these areas have been prioritized based on their previously identified high-grade gold mineralization in rock and trench samples.

Edward Gosselin, CEO and Director of Kobo commented in a press release: “With the completion of the road access and drill platforms, we are pleased to have started our maiden drill program at the Kossou Gold Project with the immediate objective of defining the strike and down-dip extensions of the gold mineralization identified on surface. The recently reported high-grade intersection averaging 29 m at 6.42 g/t Au in trench KTR028 at Jagger Zone represents our primary target, and we look forward to delineating a significant gold-bearing shear structure in this area.”

The initial phase comprises 45 angled boreholes, varying between 50 m and 230 m in depth, with a total length of 4,250 m. The drill plan involves conducting 23 holes at the Jagger Zone (2,650 m), 10 holes at the Road Cut Zone (1,000 m), and 12 holes (600 m) at the Contact Zone.

After a brief halt to evaluate the results of the first phase, the second phase of reverse circulation drilling, covering 3,750 m, will take place. The break will also facilitate planning for additional drilling platforms at the Jagger South Zone and other company-identified targets.

The Jagger Zone, distinguished by a prominent, well-structured north-south shear zone, has been identified as the primary target for the 2023 Exploration Program in light of recent trench results. Gold mineralization was validated in the zone through detailed infill soil sampling, geological mapping, and trenching. The Jagger Shear Zone, characterized by the most pronounced soil geochemical anomaly found at Kossou to date, is about 1.85 km in length with peak gold soil concentrations reaching up to 112 g/t Au.

High-grade gold zones were found in recent sampling results for trench KTR028. The westernmost zone showcases 6.42 g/t over 29.0 m, which includes sub-intervals of 18.04 g/t Au over 5 m, 11.44 g/t over 8 m, and 5.53 g/t Au over 17 m. The entire strike length of the Jagger Zone, incorporating untested geochemical anomalies, is a primary focus for the 2023 drilling plan.

Originally identified during early exploration work at Kossou, the Road Cut Zone is located within another shear zone, hosting altered volcanic rocks frequently intersected by quartz and quartz-carbonate veins. The initial exposure returned 4.64 g/t Au over an 18.2 m length in continuous chip samples.

The Contact Zone, where the Jagger Shear Zone intersects the juncture between meta-volcanic and meta-sedimentary rocks, is considered by the Company to have a high potential for significant gold mineralization. Notably, artisanal mining of free gold along the Lake Kossou shoreline aligns directly above and along the interpreted geological contact, as shown by airborne magnetic data. Recent geological mapping and rock chip sampling in this area have identified grades of 7.10 g/t Au.

The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a licensed professional for investment advice. The author is not an insider or shareholder of any of the companies mentioned above.