Elite Exploration Team Joins Altair to Discover High-Grade Copper Systems

Elite Exploration Team Joins Altair at Critical Time

Altair Minerals (ASX: ALR) has significantly strengthened its exploration capabilities by bringing on GexplOre, the original geological firm that played a pivotal role in defining drill targets at the Oko West Deposit—a project that led to a $1 billion takeover of Reunion Gold by GMIN in 2024.

GexplOre, co-founded by former Reunion Gold Exploration Manager Dennis Lahondes, brings specialised expertise in the Guiana Shield region. The team’s impressive track record includes groundwork that led to the successful Antino discovery in Suriname, which achieved a $1 billion valuation earlier this year.

“Our goal from the start was to bring on the ‘best of the best’ to join Altair Minerals Ltd exploration team for the exceptional exploration opportunity present at Greater Oko,” said Altair CEO Faheem Ahmed. “GexplOre are an invaluable addition to our exploration team as we look to gear up to get boots on ground.”

Magnetic Survey Reveals Multiple High-Priority Targets

Coinciding with this strategic appointment, Altair has acquired and analysed airborne magnetic survey data from the Government of Guyana, revealing numerous structural targets for immediate follow-up at the Greater Oko Project.

The survey has identified several magnetic anomalies that are directly analogous to those underpinning billion-dollar neighbouring deposits. Most notably:

Critically, the magnetic signature at E1 and W1 targets directly coincides with soil anomalies that returned values greater than 100ppb Au and high-grade stream sediments of 2.14g/t Au and 1.55g/t Au.

Understanding Gold Mineralisation in the Oko Region

The magnetic anomalies identified by Altair are particularly significant because they indicate the presence of magnetite-rich rock units—a crucial factor for gold mineralisation in the region.

At both the Oko West and Ghanie deposits, magnetite-bearing units played a vital role in the gold deposition process. The iron-rich minerals create the necessary chemical environment for gold to precipitate from hydrothermal fluids flowing through the shear zones.

Every major magnetic high previously identified along the Oko Shear has coincided with a significant gold discovery:

• • GMIN’s Oko West: 5.9Moz Au @ 2.2g/t Au

• • G2 Goldfields’ Ghanie: 1.7Moz @ 2.4g/t Au

• • G2 Goldfields’ New Oko: Intersections including 60m @ 5.9g/t Au

How Magnetic Surveys Guide Gold Exploration

Magnetic surveys are a fundamental tool in modern exploration programmes, particularly in regions like the Guiana Shield. These surveys detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by different rock types below the surface.

In gold exploration, these surveys are especially valuable because certain rock types that often host gold deposits contain magnetic minerals. When hydrothermal fluids—hot, mineral-rich waters—move through rocks along shear zones and faults, they can deposit gold in these iron-rich environments.

The data collected from these surveys allows geologists who join Altair Minerals Ltd exploration team to identify:

1. Major geological structures: Shear zones like the Oko Shear appear as linear features in magnetic data
2. Favourable host rocks: Magnetite-bearing units show up as magnetic highs
3. Alteration patterns: Areas where hydrothermal fluids have changed the magnetic properties of rocks

By analysing these patterns, exploration teams can prioritise areas for follow-up work such as soil sampling, trenching, and eventually drilling—focusing resources on the most promising targets.

Guyana: The Final Frontier for Gold Exploration

Guyana has rapidly emerged as a premier gold jurisdiction, drawing increasing attention from major mining companies. The country hosts an extension of the Birimian Greenstone Belt that has produced world-class gold discoveries across West Africa, yet remains significantly underexplored.

Altair’s Greater Oko Project represents a strategic advantage in this landscape, covering 592km² of contiguous land—the largest exploration project in the country. This positions Altair uniquely among explorers in Guyana, where permits are typically fragmented into small blocks held by private citizens.

“The Greater Oko Project continues to attract quality personnel and talent, who are all excited by the immense discovery potential that can rank us amongst our billion-dollar neighbours,” Ahmed added.

Geological Connection to West Africa

What makes Guyana particularly interesting to geologists is its geological connection to West Africa. Approximately 150 million years ago, South America and Africa were connected as part of the supercontinent Pangaea. When these continents separated, the same geological formations that host major gold deposits in West African countries like Ghana and Burkina Faso were split, with portions ending up in the Guiana Shield region.

This geological relationship explains why the gold-bearing greenstone belts in Guyana share similar characteristics with their West African counterparts. However, while West African deposits have seen intensive exploration and development for decades, the Guianan portion remains relatively untouched—creating a significant opportunity for companies that join Altair Minerals Ltd exploration team.

What’s Next for Altair?

Altair is finalising its exploration strategy and preparing to deploy ground personnel imminently. In parallel, the company continues to complete due diligence items, which is expected to be finalised within the next 4 weeks.

The company aims to advance South Oko to drill-readiness quickly, allowing for simultaneous drilling at both South Oko and North Peters targets following the completion of due diligence.

Given the promising geophysical results, the next phase of exploration will likely include:

1. Detailed mapping of the newly identified target areas
2. Expanded soil sampling to further define the geochemical footprints
3. Trenching across key anomalies to expose bedrock for direct sampling
4. Initial drilling programme design for the most promising targets

With GexplOre now part of the team, Altair is positioned to implement a focused and efficient exploration approach based on proven methodologies that have led to major discoveries in the region.

Investment Significance

Altair’s strategic positioning in Guyana, combined with its elite exploration team and promising geophysical targets, presents a compelling investment case. The company is following in the footsteps of neighbouring success stories that have achieved billion-dollar valuations:

• • G2 Goldfields: $920M market capitalisation

• • Reunion Gold: $1B takeover by GMining Ventures

• • Founders Metals: $470M market capitalisation

• • OMAI Gold Mines: $650M market capitalisation

• • Greenheart Gold: $130M market capitalisation

With the largest magnetic anomaly on the Oko Shear now identified on Altair’s property, and a world-class team in place, the company has positioned itself for potential discovery success in one of the world’s most promising and underexplored gold districts.

“We’ve assembled exactly the right team with the right experience to systematically advance our exploration targets,” said Ahmed. “The combination of our extensive land package, promising geophysical results, and the expertise of those who join Altair Minerals Ltd exploration team gives us a unique advantage in this highly prospective region.”

Want to Catch the Next Billion-Dollar Gold Discovery?

Discovery Alert’s proprietary Discovery IQ model instantly notifies investors of significant ASX mineral discoveries like those made by Reunion Gold and G2 Goldfields, giving you the edge to capitalise on potentially transformative opportunities before the market catches on. Explore historic examples of exceptional returns on the Discovery Alert discoveries page and start your 30-day free trial today.