DeSoto Resources Ramps Up Three Exploration Fronts Across 1,300km² Guinea Gold Belt
Key Takeaways
- DeSoto Resources is simultaneously running Power Auger drilling, a completed 6,262-line-kilometre geophysical survey, and soil sampling programs across more than 1,300 km² of Guinea's Siguiri Goldfields.
- The 485-hole, 10,000m Timbakouna drill program targets historical high-grade intercepts — including 18m at 11.8 g/t Au — that were never systematically followed up by prior operator Search Gold.
- Fortuna Mining Corp. is sole-funding exploration across the southeast Siguiri JV until the later of three years or US$12.5 million in expenditure, giving DeSoto a 30% interest at zero exploration cost.
- DeSoto's Yarakoura permit sits immediately south of Asara Resources' 923,000-ounce Kada Project along the same interpreted gold mineralisation trend, with soil sampling now underway to test for extensions.
- DeSoto has established itself as the fifth-largest landholder in the Siguiri Basin by area, neighbouring AngloGold Ashanti's 9.2 Moz Siguiri mine and the 5.4 Moz Bankan deposit.
DeSoto ramps up exploration across Guinea’s Siguiri Goldfields
DeSoto Resources (ASX: DES) is simultaneously advancing multiple work programs across more than 1,300 km² of Birimian Greenstone tenure in Guinea’s Siguiri Goldfields. Three active fronts are running in parallel: Power Auger drilling at Timbakouna is ramping up with two additional rigs returning to site, a 6,262-line-kilometre geophysical survey has been completed across seven projects with data processing now underway, and soil sampling has commenced in SW Siguiri following encouraging BLEG results. Exploration has also commenced across the DeSoto–Fortuna Mining Corp. (TSX: FVI; NYSE: FSM) joint venture in southeast Siguiri.
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Q1 FY27 exploration activity snapshot
| Project / Area | Program Type | Status | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timbakouna | Power Auger drilling (485 holes, 10,000m) | Recommenced; two additional rigs joining | 100%-owned |
| Timbakouna, Dadjan, Tolè, Nèrèkoro Sud, Koba, Kassa Est and Mini Projects | Geophysical survey (6,262 line km) | Completed; data processing underway | 100%-owned |
| Yarakoura, Woussoubadou, Branama | Soil sampling (follow-up to BLEG) | Underway | 100%-owned |
| SE Siguiri (7 projects, ~591 km²) | BLEG, geological mapping, structural interpretation | Underway | DES/Fortuna JV (30/70) |
What is Power Auger drilling and why does it matter here?
At Timbakouna, it is the right tool for this stage of exploration. The project hosts 6 km of artisanal workings, indicating near-surface gold activity across a wide corridor. Historical RC drilling by Search Gold, a private Canadian exploration company, was largely confined to the northern part of the project, did not test below 80m depth, and never extended into fresh rock.
That prior work did, however, return several high-grade intercepts that were never systematically followed up:
- 18m @ 11.8 g/t Au from 48m in NDI-02, including 1m @ 78.84 g/t Au and 3m @ 40.4 g/t Au
- 4m @ 10.6 g/t Au from 33m in NDI-39
- 1m @ 54.1 g/t Au from 5m in NDI-15
The 485-hole, 10,000m Power Auger program is designed to systematically test these historical high-grade zones and the broader artisanal working corridor, generating the data needed to prioritise targets for deeper follow-up.
Three exploration fronts building the investment case
Timbakouna drilling — targeting high-grade history
Drilling recommenced at Timbakouna in August 2026 and the program is now scaling up, with two additional Power Auger rigs returning to site. The 485-hole, 10,000m program targets 6 km of artisanal workings, with line cutting to recommence without the assistance of heavy machinery.
Geophysical survey complete — new targets incoming
The completed survey covered Timbakouna, Dadjan, Tolè, Nèrèkoro Sud, Koba, Kassa Est and Mini Projects across 6,262 line kilometres, flown on 100-metre-spaced survey lines with 1,000-metre tie-line spacing. The datasets produced include magnetic, radiometric and digital terrain models. Data processing is now underway, with output expected to generate new drill targets across all seven projects.
SW Siguiri soil sampling — following the gold trend south
Soil sampling is now underway at Yarakoura, Woussoubadou and Branama, following a 143-sample BLEG program covering more than 687 km² of drainage catchments across six projects (announced 26 May 2026). Three priority catchment areas have been identified and ranked for progressive advancement through soil sampling, further geological and regolith mapping, rock-chip sampling, auger drilling and, where warranted, deeper drill testing.
Yarakoura is a particular focus. The permit sits along the interpreted north-south Siguiri Gold Mineralisation Trend, immediately south of Asara Resources’ (ASX: AS1) Kada Project tenure. Asara’s Kada Project hosts a published Mineral Resource of 30.3 Mt at 0.95 g/t Au for approximately 923,000 oz, sourced from Asara’s 1 October 2023 announcement. DeSoto’s programs are designed to independently test whether favourable host rocks and mineralised structures extend into its adjoining project areas.
Fortuna JV — southeast Siguiri now active
The DeSoto–Fortuna Mining Corp. joint venture, operated through High Guinea Gold SARLU, has commenced work in southeast Siguiri. Under the JV structure, Fortuna holds an initial 70% interest and DeSoto holds 30%, with Fortuna sole-funding exploration until the later of three years from JV commencement or aggregate expenditure of US$12.5 million across approved projects.
The initial acquisition package covers seven projects across approximately 591 km², including four contiguous blocks. Active programs include BLEG stream-sediment sampling, historical data compilation, geological and regolith mapping, and structural interpretation, all ahead of a planned airborne magnetic survey. The acquisition remains staged and subject to tenure validation and due diligence before individual permits are designated as “Go Projects.”
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Building one of the Siguiri Basin’s largest exploration positions
Since February 2025, DeSoto has assembled approximately 1,300 km² of prospective gold tenure across 22 Reconnaissance Authorisations and Exploration Permits in the Siguiri Basin, establishing itself as the fifth-largest landholder in the basin by area.
The Siguiri Basin sits within the Birimian Gold Province of the West African Craton, recognised as one of the world’s most richly endowed gold provinces. Neighbours on the regional map include AngloGold Ashanti’s 9.2 Moz Siguiri mine, the 5.4 Moz Bankan deposit, 4.0 Moz at Lefa, and 4.0 Moz at Tri-K, as indicated on DeSoto’s regional project map.
With drilling, geophysics and soil sampling all active simultaneously, DeSoto is building the data foundation needed to advance targets toward more definitive testing. The company has stated it will continue to update the market on drilling and exploration results across all active programs.
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