Aim-listed minerals exploration company IronRidge Resources reports that the initial second phase of its drilling programme at its Ehuasso gold target in Côte d'Ivoire has returned multiple high-grade and broad low-grade results from 5.9 km worth of aircore (AC) drilling, to date.

The Ehuasso target is within the Zaranou gold project area. The licence is on the border with Ghana and is along strike from significant operating gold mines including Chirano, Bibiani and Ahafo.

In Côte d'Ivoire, IronRidge has entered into conditional earn-in arrangements, securing access rights to highly prospective gold mineralised structures and pegmatite occurrences covering a combined 3 584 km² and 1 172 km² respectively.

The projects are well located with access to an extensive bitumen road network and along strike from multimillion-ounce gold projects and mines.

The initial 124 holes that made up the second phase of the drill programme form part of a greater overall 15 km second phase AC and reverse circulation (RC) programme. All AC drilling to date has been completed at -55° dip.

The results show mineralisation continuity in drilling over multiple growing targets over 500 m long and up to 100 m wide, all open along strike and at depth.

IronRidge reports that drilling is ongoing, with two drill rigs on site at the main Ehuasso grid and Ebilassokro exploration target, both within the broader 47-km-long Zaranou shear zone. About 5 km of AC and RC drilling remains to be completed, with additional results reported as soon as they become available and have been reviewed.

All sampling was completed at the drill site and consisted of 4 m composites submitted to ALS laboratory for sample preparation in Côte d'Ivoire, and analysis in Burkina Faso. All results passed internal and laboratory quality assurance and quality control protocols.

All 4 m composites reported at greater than 0.1 g/t gold have been submitted for re-analysis at 1 m intervals from retained primary samples at the drill site.

IronRidge COO Len Kolff says mineralisation continuity over multiple areas of 500 m strike and up to 100 m width has been successfully confirmed in multiple targets in the newly reported results at Ehuasso, while targets remain open in both directions with additional results pending.

“Blade refusal depths up to a maximum of 89 m and an average 50 m downhole depth in the reported results substantiate first phase drilling observations, confirming deep weathering profiles in the Ehuasso target area and the potential for extensive oxide mineralisation targets; significant as it indicates potential for low capital intensity mining operations.”