Desert Metals Unveils Extensive High-Grade Gold System at King Kong Prospect
Desert Metals has confirmed significant gold mineralisation over a 1.2km strike at its King Kong prospect in Côte d’Ivoire, underpinning plans for expanded exploration across its Adzope project.
- 15 of 17 diamond drill holes intersect anomalous gold mineralisation
- High-grade gold confirmed over a semi-continuous 400m zone
- Gold corridor extends over 1.4km with potential for 3km strike length
- Next phase of exploration planned for Q1 2026 including regional sampling
- Additional drilling targeted at Tengrela South’s Tiogo and Kakologo prospects
Confirming a Significant Gold System
Desert Metals Limited (ASX – DM1) has released the final assay results from its recent diamond drilling campaign at the King Kong gold prospect, part of the Adzope project in southern Côte d’Ivoire. The company drilled 17 holes totaling 3,472 metres, with 15 holes intersecting anomalous gold mineralisation along a strike length exceeding 1.2 kilometres. This robust dataset confirms the presence of a substantial and potentially high-grade gold system within the prospect.
Among the highlights, a semi-continuous mineralised zone approximately 400 metres long was delineated at the southern end of the gold corridor. This zone includes previously reported high-grade intercepts such as 17 metres at 7.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 262 metres depth, reinforcing the prospect’s potential to host economically significant gold mineralisation.
Expanding the Gold Corridor
The drilling results extend the known gold corridor to at least 1.4 kilometres, with geological and geophysical data suggesting the structure could stretch beyond 3 kilometres. This corridor is characterised by free gold within quartz-related sulphides and volcaniclastics, a style of mineralisation that bodes well for future resource development. Notably, high-grade intercepts are spaced over 1.4 kilometres, indicating continuity along strike.
One of the more intriguing findings is the identification of a parallel southern gold zone, which returned anomalous gold values and exhibits strong geophysical and geochemical signatures. This zone represents a new target style for Desert Metals, broadening the exploration scope within the permit.
Looking Ahead – Regional Exploration and Drilling Plans
With the diamond drilling program at King Kong now complete, Desert Metals is preparing for an ambitious next phase of exploration commencing in early 2026. This includes further diamond drilling to test high-priority anomalies at depth and along strike, as well as initial sampling of the expansive and largely untested Beach prospect within the 228 square kilometre Adzope permit.
Complementing this, the company plans a comprehensive regional stream sediment sampling program to identify additional gold targets across the permit. At the Tengrela South project, aircore and reverse circulation drilling are slated to follow up on promising high-grade results at the Tiogo and Kakologo prospects, which lie near Perseus Mining’s operating Sissingué gold mine.
Strategic Implications
Desert Metals’ results at King Kong reinforce the prospectivity of the Adzope project and demonstrate the company’s capability to delineate significant gold mineralisation in a relatively underexplored region. The combination of high-grade intercepts, structural continuity, and multiple target zones provides a compelling platform for resource growth. However, true widths of mineralisation remain to be confirmed, and the company will need to carefully manage exploration risks as it advances toward resource definition.
Bottom Line?
Desert Metals’ King Kong results set the stage for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape the company’s footprint in West Africa’s gold sector.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the next phase of drilling reveal about the true width and continuity of the gold mineralisation?
- How will Desert Metals prioritise targets within the vast and largely unexplored Adzope permit?
- What are the timelines and potential challenges for advancing the Beach prospect and southern parallel zone?
