Turaco (ASX:TCG) tastes compelling first strikes from auric Afema on Ivory Coast

Turaco Gold’s first batch of drill results out of Afema has returned a slew of top-flight intercepts as two rigs punch away to quickly establish a maiden resource at its newly acquired asset on the south-eastern end of Cote d’Ivoire.

A 67 metre at 8.43 grams per tonne gold from 94 metre strike including visible gold was the best of a collection from the Anuiri and Jonction deposits with widths and grades surpassing expectations from the historical drill model.

Turaco sees the results demonstrating large-scale, high-tenor gold mineralisation across a 25-kilometre-long Afema Shear that hosts more than 15 open deposits.

These results came from the only two of the collection subjected to deeper drilling, with Turaco Managing Director Justin Tremain saying they exceeded expectations and clearly demonstrated the scale of mineralisation.

“The true width and grade of mineralisation at both the Jonction and Anuiri deposits is exceptional,” Tremain said.

“Turaco’s project strategy is to expedite a maiden JORC resource estimate with immediate resource drilling and metallurgical test work.

“The short-term objective is to confirm Afema as a multi-million-ounce gold project with tremendous exploration potential, located in an infrastructure rich part Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa’s premier jurisdiction.”

Samples are now being flown back to the explorer’s home base of Perth in Western Australia for metallurgy work as results come in from diamond drilling over Anuiri-Jonction and a reverse cycle campaign over the recently discovered Woulo Woulo prospect.

Turaco is confident in producing a maiden resource from Woulo Woulo to stand beside a wider estimate and is likely to feel validated after trimming down its portfolio to focus on Afema as a tentpole asset.

The company can up its initial 50 per cent interest to a 70% stake, but first up is an initial resource as the gold price continues flickering around record highs.

Significant results (estimated true width 60% to 80% of reported downhole results)

Anuiri

Jonction