Deep Mineralization Yields Impressive Grades at Many Peaks' Ferké Gold Project
Many Peaks Minerals (ASX:MPK) has announced exceptional diamond drilling results from its Ferké Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire, with assays revealing increasing gold grades at depth and significant expansion potential for the mineralized zone.
Drill Results Reveal Expanding Gold System with Higher Grades at Depth
The latest results from 11 diamond drill holes at the Ouarigue prospect have delivered substantial intercepts across a mineralized zone spanning 65m to 92m in true width from surface to more than 300m vertical depth.
Standout results include:
- 84.8m at 3.01g/t gold from 295.8m, including 7.5m at 9.27g/t gold (FNDC067)
- 103.0m at 1.24g/t gold from 103.0m, including 7.6m at 4.81g/t gold (FNDC055)
- 36.6m at 1.88g/t gold from 418.3m, including 6.6m at 4.02g/t gold (FNDC069)
- 17.15m at 2.72g/t gold from 142.0m, including 1m at 23.6g/t gold (FNDC053)
The results demonstrate a key trend: gold grades are increasing with depth, particularly in the southern portion of the deposit. This is significant as it expands both the open-pit potential and introduces conceptual underground mining opportunities.
"Ongoing and repeated success at Ferké has continually expanded the lateral and down-dip extent of the Ouarigue gold prospect mineralised intrusion, justifying the increase in the diamond core drilling campaign to more than 18,500m compared with the 6,000m originally planned when initiated in April this year," noted the company in its announcement.
Dramatic Expansion of Drilling Program
Due to consistent exploration success, Many Peaks Minerals Ferké Gold Project has substantially increased its diamond drilling program from the original 6,000m planned in April to more than 18,500m. To date, the company has completed 55 diamond drill holes totaling over 16,500m, with results pending for 21 holes representing more than 5,000m of drilling.
Additionally, reconnaissance RC drilling samples from 58 holes (6,673m) are awaiting analysis, with results expected in the coming weeks.
Understanding True Width and Mineralization Continuity
The drilling at the 550 Section outlines a substantial mineralized zone ranging from 65m to 92m true width that extends from surface to approximately 300m vertical depth. While the intrusion narrows to approximately 30m width at deeper levels (around 350m vertical depth), it thickens again to the south.
| Section | Depth | True Width | Grade Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 550 Section | Surface to 300m | 65-92m | 84.8m @ 3.01g/t Au |
| 550 Section | ~350m | ~30m | 36.6m @ 1.88g/t Au |
| 100m South | Similar depth | ~65m | 75m @ 6.11g/t Au |
The higher-grade gold results within broader zones of mineralization potentially demonstrate continuity of higher-grade zones within what appears to be developing as a bulk tonnage target.
What is an Intrusion-Hosted Gold System?
The Ferké Gold Project features an intrusion-hosted gold system, where mineralization is concentrated within and immediately surrounding a granitic intrusion that has been emplaced into the surrounding rocks.
Intrusion-hosted gold deposits form when magma (molten rock) cools and solidifies within the earth's crust, creating intrusive igneous rocks. During this process and subsequent events, gold-bearing fluids may permeate through the intrusion and adjacent rocks, depositing gold in fractures, veins, and disseminated throughout the rock mass.
Unlike narrow vein systems, intrusion-hosted deposits often present as larger, more continuous bodies of mineralization. This type of deposit can be advantageous for mining operations as it potentially allows for:
- Bulk mining methods with lower operating costs
- More consistent grade distribution
- Larger resource tonnages
- Better metallurgical performance in some cases
The increasing grades with depth seen at Ferké suggest a potentially robust mineral system with significant vertical extent—a positive indicator for resource growth.
Geological Context and Mineralization Controls
The Ferké Project is located on the eastern margin of the Daloa greenstone belt at the intersection of major regional scale shear zones. The geology within the permit consists of granitoid intrusions and metasediments typical of granite-greenstone belt Birimian Terrane in West Africa.
The mineralization style is classified as orogenic lode gold, which is common throughout West Africa's gold-producing regions. At Ferké, the gold mineralization appears to be controlled by:
- The contact zones between the intrusion and surrounding metasediments
- Structural features such as shear zones that cut through the intrusion
- Alteration zones within the intrusive body itself
The recent drilling results indicate that the mineralization may be controlled by a south-plunging intrusive body, with higher grades appearing to concentrate along certain structural trends within the intrusion.
Future Plans and Regional Potential
The Ferké Gold Project hosts a substantial >37km corridor of gold anomalism with limited drill testing to date. The current diamond drilling program continues with two rigs active on site, focusing on defining the expanding limits of the Ouarigue prospect mineralization.
The company's exploration plan includes:
- Completing the expanded 18,500m diamond drilling campaign
- Receiving and analyzing pending results from 21 diamond drill holes
- Evaluating results from 58 RC holes across the larger project area
- Potentially defining a mineral resource in the future
Investment Potential: Why This Matters
Many Peaks' Ferké Gold Project demonstrates several key attributes that make it worthy of investor attention:
- Expanding scale: The mineralized zone continues to grow with each drilling phase
- Increasing grades at depth: Higher gold grades at depth expand both open-pit and potential underground options
- Substantial widths: True widths of 65-92m support potential bulk mining operations
- Regional potential: A 37km corridor of gold anomalism suggests multiple discovery opportunities
- Active exploration: Two diamond rigs operating with a steady flow of results expected
The combination of significant widths, increasing grades with depth, and substantial exploration upside positions Ferké as a potentially significant gold project in West Africa's prolific Birimian Terrane, known for hosting numerous multi-million-ounce gold deposits.
For investors interested in emerging gold explorers, Many Peaks Minerals Ferké Gold Project offers exposure to a rapidly advancing project with expanding dimensions and improving grades in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with established gold production.
Technical Analysis of Recent Results
The recent drilling results provide several technical insights that may be significant for the project's development:
Grade Distribution Patterns
The drill results suggest a zonation of gold grades within the intrusion, with higher grades appearing at depth and to the south. This pattern could be important for targeting future drilling and potentially optimizing mine planning.
The higher-grade zones include:
- 7.5m @ 9.27g/t gold in FNDC067
- 7.6m @ 4.81g/t gold in FNDC055
- 6.6m @ 4.02g/t gold in FNDC069
- 1m @ 23.6g/t gold in FNDC053
These high-grade zones within broader mineralized envelopes suggest the potential for both bulk tonnage mining scenarios and possibly selective mining of higher-grade zones.
Structural Controls
The narrowing and then re-thickening of the mineralized intrusion with depth suggests structural controls on the emplacement of the intrusive body. Understanding these controls will be crucial for predicting the geometry of the mineralization in untested areas.
Metallurgical Implications
While no metallurgical testing has been reported yet, intrusion-hosted gold deposits often show favorable metallurgical characteristics compared to some other deposit types. The presence of visible gold in some drill core (as shown in the core photos included in the announcement) suggests at least some of the gold may be free-milling, though this would need to be confirmed by appropriate testwork.
The Ferké Gold Project continues to demonstrate significant potential as Many Peaks expands its exploration program. With each round of drilling results, the project's scale and grade continuity become more apparent, positioning it as an emerging gold discovery of interest in West Africa.
Want to Explore This Promising West African Gold Opportunity?
Visit Many Peaks Minerals' website to learn more about their expanding Ferké Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire. With impressive drill results showing substantial mineralisation widths and increasing gold grades at depth, the company's extensive 18,500m diamond drilling programme could present a compelling investment case. Don't miss the opportunity to evaluate this emerging story in one of the world's most prolific gold regions.
