Desert Gold Ventures Inc. has unveiled its exploration strategy for the Tiegba gold project, a newly acquired 297 km² site located in Ivory Coast. The company aims to initiate Phase 1 of its exploration efforts, which will incorporate various methodologies including surface work, a high-resolution drone aeromagnetic survey, and broad air core drilling.
Jared Scharf, CEO of Desert Gold, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential, highlighting prior assessments and data gathered during site visits. He noted, “The Tiegba project appears to be poised for a new discovery,” signaling the strategic importance of drilling the primary gold anomaly located along a northeast trending shear corridor. Additional surface work will also aim to expand the exploration into less-examined segments of the tenement.
Key highlights of the Tiegba project include extensive structural potential, with over 10 kilometers of mapped northeast-trending shear corridors that present favorable conditions for gold accumulation. The geological context mirrors that of the successful Bonikro-Agbaou mine complex, suggesting that the area could support large-scale gold systems. Further, the existence of coherent gold anomalies, alongside magnetic lineaments and structural features, enhances target validation for the upcoming exploration.
The Tiegba project is located on the Tehini Shear Zone, a significant geological structure within a gold-rich belt boasting more than 7 million ounces of known resources. Despite the presence of strong surface anomalies, the project has remained undrilled, presenting an exceptional first-mover opportunity for Desert Gold.
The exploration program planned for 2025-2026 aims to transition Tiegba from preliminary mapping toward drilling specific targets. The total anticipated expenditure for this initial phase is set at $535,000 (USD).
The exploration strategy is divided into two main phases:
Phase 1a: Surface Work (Q4 2025 – Q2 2026)
- The company plans to gather approximately 3,500 soil samples to refine and expand on previous soil anomalies.
- Geological mapping will be conducted to identify structural frameworks and potential transport pathways.
- Up to 500 rock samples will be taken to confirm anomalies, and around 500 meters of grooving will expose near-surface structures for channel sampling.
Phase 1b: Drone Geophysics and Air Core Drilling (Q1 2026 – Q2 2026)
- A UAV-based magnetic survey will cover around 164 line-kilometers over the central northeast corridor, focusing on the Tehini Shear Zone. This survey will systematically survey the area, providing valuable data to facilitate target refinement.
- Following this, a 3,500-meter Aircore drilling campaign will be launched to test anomalies identified in surface work and corroborated by the magnetic data.
Looking forward, the company plans to follow up on the findings from the initial phases with Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling slated for Q2 and Q3 of 2026, contingent on positive results from prior exploration efforts. This step is crucial for delineating drill targets and establishing a detailed plan for encroaching resource drilling.
This comprehensive approach reflects Desert Gold’s commitment to maximizing its exploration potential at Tiegba, tapping into the rich geological landscape of Ivory Coast.
