Desert Gold Ventures has begun a 4,250m phase one reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at its Senegal Mali Shear Zone (SMSZ) Project in western Mali.
The initiative focuses on five key targets, namely Koussili, Mogoyafara South, Gourbassi West North (GWN), Kolon-Soa and the Barani Gap.
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The programme is expected to be completed in the first half of this year (H1 2026).
It aims to expand known mineralisation and assess extensions of these zones, both in strike and depth.
Additionally, the drilling programme aims to evaluate areas for higher-grade mineralisation, supporting resource growth near the proposed Barani East oxide gold mine.
At Koussili, approximately 900m of drilling will examine gold-in-soil and rock anomalies along the northern extension of the GWN mineralised corridor.
Meanwhile, GWN itself will see 1,190m of drilling to explore mineralisation over its 1.6km strike and evaluate structural zones for potential high-grade deposits.
It holds an indicated mineral resource of 2.72 million tonnes at 1.06 grams per tonne gold, totalling 92,600oz.
In Mogoyafara South, Desert Gold plans 825m of drilling to explore beyond existing resources, supported by recent geophysical and geochemical findings.
This area has a resource estimate of 447,500oz of gold, with mineralisation remaining open for further exploration.
A proposed 5,000m trenching programme is also in preparation to enhance the geological framework of the area.
Barani Gap will see around 545m of drilling to assess the potential for resource expansion within under-explored structures.
The zone currently holds an inferred mineral resource of 30,200oz of gold.
Kolon-Soa, identified as an 8km-long mineralised corridor, is set for initial drilling of 790m to test key targets and evaluate the potential for near-surface oxide mineralisation.
This work builds on previous findings including high-grade rock samples and extensive artisanal workings.
Desert Gold president and CEO Jared Scharf said: “We are delighted to kick off the 2026 drill programme at our SMSZ project. This phase of drilling will focus on five areas; three of which already contain gold resources where we plan to test to depth and down plunge for extensions to existing gold lenses.
“We also plan to step out along strike with an aim to materially expand the scope of these gold systems. The other two target areas have seen only limited drilling to date and represent the potential for new discoveries and additional gold resources.”
