Askari Metals (ASX:AS2) targets resource growth with high-grade copper intercepts at Nejo Project

Askari Metals (ASX:AS2) has delivered a promising update from its Nejo Gold Project in Ethiopia, revealing historic high-grade copper mineralisation at the Katta Target.

Situated within the prolific Arabian-Nubian Shield, the project covers more than 1,100 square kilometres and is surrounded by major gold operations, including KEFI’s Tulu Kapi Mine and Allied Gold’s Kurmuk Project.

Recent analysis of exploration data from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) drilling in the 1960s and 70s has highlighted strong copper grades over significant widths, yet the area remains vastly underexplored. In this Q&A,

Executive Director Gino D’Anna discusses the historical data, the exploration potential at Katta, and Askari’s next steps toward defining a JORC-compliant resource.

What do the historic drill results at the Katta Target reveal about copper potential?

The historical results from UNDP drilling confirm that the Katta Target hosts high-grade copper mineralisation across broad intercepts.

These include standout results from UNDP_03, which intersected 14.33 metres at 3.2 percent copper from just 25.3 metres depth, and UNDP_04, which returned 35.51 metres at 0.82 percent copper from 152.55 metres, including several higher-grade internal zones.

“Despite these high-grade intercepts across wide thicknesses, there is an absence of systematic exploration, and this is a key opportunity for Askari Metals to unlock the potential of these targets through modern, systematic and focused exploration.”

These results show strong mineralisation near surface and at depth, with the mineralised system remaining open along strike and down dip.

However, historical follow-up was limited, and modern exploration techniques have never been applied, presenting a clear pathway for immediate exploration value

Why has Askari prioritised the Katta Target and what makes it attractive?

Katta has emerged as a high-priority exploration area due to the combination of encouraging historical results, extensive mapped copper-bearing gossans, and large-scale soil geochemical anomalies.

One gossan mapped at the site exceeds 600 metres in strike length and is up to 30 metres wide, soil sampling by UNDP also identified a copper anomaly spanning over 2 kilometres.

The historical drilling targeted this mineralised system at shallow and deeper levels, but drill collars were often poorly positioned relative to the gossans, and core recovery was inconsistent.

These technical shortcomings limited the ability to fully test the system. Askari now has the opportunity to improve on this work using modern geophysics, mapping, and more accurate drill targeting.

How reliable is the historical data and what steps are being taken to validate it?

The historical dataset has been compiled from original UNDP exploration records and a 1983 technical report produced by the Eastern and Southern African Mineral Resources Development Centre.

This data has been reviewed by a Competent Person under JORC (2012) guidelines and has undergone validation checks against original source documents, with no material inconsistencies identified.

“Validating our acquisition strategy by analysing and digitising the historical exploration data has been our first priority at Nejo.”

Although some records lack complete analytical data, especially for gold, the copper results are considered sufficiently reliable to guide follow-up work.

Askari is currently undertaking a field program to verify historical collar locations and trenching before commencing confirmatory drilling to support resource estimation in line with modern standards.

What does Askari plan to do next at the Nejo Gold Project?

The company has adopted a structured and efficient exploration strategy. Initial efforts are focused on field validation, geological mapping, trenching, and close-spaced soil geochemistry to refine target areas.

Following this, Askari plans to initiate a round of RC and diamond drilling to verify historical intercepts and test mineralisation extensions.

“With a large-scale landholding, extensive historical data, and clear targets, we have the ingredients to fast-track Nejo toward a maiden JORC resource.”

In addition to the Katta Target, Askari has identified six other copper-zinc anomalies within the Nejo Project that remain underexplored.

These areas, including Tulu Chuchu, Katta 6, Adare North, Kutala Area, Northwest Prospect, and Southern Prospect will be reviewed through mapping and sampling to prioritise future exploration efforts.

How does the Nejo Project compare geologically to other known deposits in the region?

Nejo sits within the Tulu Dimtu Shear Belt on the Arabian-Nubian Shield, a region well known for its gold and base metal potential.

The licence package surrounds the 1.7 million ounce Tulu Kapi gold project owned by KEFI and lies within the same greenstone belt as Allied Gold’s 3.4 million ounce Kurmuk deposit.

This highly mineralised corridor has seen minimal modern exploration despite its known endowment.

“We are excited to unlock the full potential of this project and deliver meaningful exploration milestones in the near term and emerge as a major African Gold and Copper Developer.”

The geology, historical data, and proximity to proven operations all combine to make Nejo a standout exploration asset within one of the most promising frontier regions for copper and gold development.

Building momentum toward discovery

With a combination of verified high-grade copper results, extensive gossan trends, and a clear exploration strategy, Askari Metals is well placed to rapidly advance the Nejo Gold Project.

The company is focused on validating historical findings through modern fieldwork, refining drill targets with geophysics and geochemistry, and progressing toward a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource.

As the first systematic exploration campaign is rolled out across Nejo, Askari is aiming to establish a strong pipeline of copper and gold discoveries within one of Africa’s most prospective belts.

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