Oklo Resources begins new field season at Dandoko with gold drilling campaign

Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) has resumed work for the 2021 field season after the wet season with drilling at Seko prospect within its flagship Dandoko Gold Project in west Mali. The company has approved an initial drilling program of 15,000 metres drilling for completion by the year-end, with first assay results likely in November. This program predominantly targets the 3-kilometre-long SK1 North to Koko trend at Seko, which remains open at depth and along strike. “Aggressively explore extensive system” Oklo managing director Simon Taylor said: “We are delighted to have field crews back working at Dandoko following the highly successful drilling campaign before the wet season. “With the gold mineralisation at SK1 remaining open at depth and along strike, we will continue to aggressively explore this extensive system and add to our knowledge of the overall resource potential. “Importantly, our senior expatriate geologists have returned to Mali, the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. “We continue to see business as normal in Mali which has moved swiftly to install a transitional president and government and all international borders are open. “We look forward to continuing drilling success with all work fully funded from our strong cash position of circa $19.7 million.” The project Dandoko Gold Project lies within the Kenieba Inlier of west Mali, around 30 kilometres east of B2Gold’s 7.1 million ounce Fekola Mine and 50 kilometres SSE of Barrick’s 17.9 million ounce Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex. The company currently holds around 500 square kilometres of highly prospective ground in this emerging world-class gold region. Drilling update Drilling to date has outlined significant oxide gold mineralisation at SK1 North to depths of up to 200 metres with the primary zone remaining largely untested. Deeper diamond drilling is testing the primary zone for mineralisation below the broad oxide gold zone at SK1 North to depths of up to 300 metres. Shallow reverse circulation (RC) drilling has focused on infilling and closing off areas of near-surface oxide hosted mineralisation at SK1 and strike extensions south towards Koko. Shallow RC and aircore drilling is being done on extensions at Disse and other targets within proximity to Seko. All results will inform a mineral resource estimate, scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 subject to completion of the program and receipt of assays. Two multi-purpose RC/DD rigs started drilling this week and a third one is mobilising to site. COVID-19 With the easing of in-country restrictions by the Malian government, the company has resumed normal staff and contractor rotations and break schedules. The company’s expatriate staff have also resumed travel into Mali with all international borders now open. No staff member of the company has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and there has been minimal disruption to its main work programs. The company is continuing with the measures implemented during the COVID-19 outbreak including; health screening and temperature monitoring, change in rosters, social distancing protocols, a change in the flow of staff to and from local communities and the minimisation of staff in the Bamako administrative office. The situation is being continuously monitored by in-country director Madani Diallo and further actions may be appropriately undertaken as deemed necessary.