Skylark Minerals Extends M’Basso Gold Strike to 2km With Resource Upgrade Due Q4
Key Takeaways
- Phase 2 RC drilling at M'Basso has extended the mineralised footprint to approximately 2km of continuous strike, with the new mineralised zone — the more significant of the two — confirmed by four holes and still open along strike and at depth.
- The new mineralised zone is returning similar grades and locally wider intercepts compared to Phase 1 discovery holes, meaning the system is growing in scale without diluting grade.
- 62 holes for 10,977m have been reported from the 2026 programme, with a further 23 holes awaiting processing and 3 still in progress — additional results are imminent.
- A Mineral Resource Estimate upgrade at M'Basso is targeted for early Q4 2026, representing the key re-rating catalyst, against an existing resource of 364,600 oz at 1.8 g/t Au (Inferred).
- The rig moves to Ehuasso after M'Basso drilling concludes, with Ehuasso RC results also expected in the December quarter, concentrating multiple newsflow events into the next few months.
M’Basso mineralised strike approaches 2km as Phase 2 confirms system scale
Phase 2 RC drilling at the M’Basso Prospect has materially extended the mineralised footprint at Skylark Minerals’ flagship Zaranou Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, with the system now interpreted to extend over approximately 2km of continuous strike. Assay results from 24 Phase 2 holes bring the total reported to 62 holes for 10,977m from the 2026 programme, and mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth. A Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) upgrade at M’Basso is targeted for early in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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Phase 2 results — what the drilling returned
Phase 2 has confirmed continuation of both principal mineralised zones identified during Phase 1, extending the system to the north-east. Zone 1, the first main mineralised zone, now has interpreted strike continuity approaching 1.5km, confirmed by holes ZARC0172 and ZARC0174. The new mineralised zone, first identified towards the end of Phase 1 drilling, is the more significant development: holes ZARC0184, ZARC0185, ZARC0194 and ZARC0195 have confirmed its continuation, extending interpreted strike continuity to almost 2km.
Crucially, the new mineralised zone is showing similar grades and locally increased mineralised widths compared with the initial Phase 1 discovery intercepts. That is a positive development, not a dilution of earlier results — the system is growing in scale and maintaining grade as drilling extends it further north-east. A further 23 holes have been completed and are awaiting processing, with 3 holes still to complete, meaning additional results are pending.
Notable intercepts from Phase 2
- ZARC0174: 5m at 5.43 g/t Au from 68m, including 3m at 9.00 g/t Au
- ZARC0195: 14m at 1.32 g/t Au from 55m, including 5m at 3.17 g/t Au and 1m at 12.40 g/t Au
- ZARC0184: 12m at 1.37 g/t Au from 34m, including 7m at 2.06 g/t Au and 3m at 3.50 g/t Au
- ZARC0185: 45m at 0.72 g/t Au from 125m, including 11m at 1.02 g/t Au and 7m at 1.29 g/t Au
- ZARC0187: 6m at 1.00 g/t Au from 60m, including 1m at 5.45 g/t Au
- ZARC0188: 11m at 0.78 g/t Au from 13m, including 6m at 1.22 g/t Au and 3m at 2.00 g/t Au
Nikolai Zelenski, Executive Chair, Skylark Minerals
“The Phase 2 programme has materially expanded the scale of M’Basso, with the interpreted mineralised footprint now extending over approximately 2km of continuous strike, where it is yet to be constrained.”
What is a Mineral Resource Estimate and why does this one matter?
A Mineral Resource Estimate is a formal, JORC-compliant calculation of the quantity and grade of mineralisation that has been identified and can be reasonably estimated. Think of it as the official scorecard: it tells investors how much gold is in the ground, expressed in tonnes and grade (grams per tonne), and how confident geologists are in that estimate.
The lowest confidence classification is Inferred, which means the estimate is based on limited drilling data. As more drilling fills in the picture, Inferred resources can be upgraded to Indicated or Measured, which carry greater reliability and underpin more advanced project studies.
Strike length matters here because more continuous strike generally translates to greater volume of mineralised rock, which in turn can lift total contained ounces. Skylark’s existing MRE at Zaranou stands at 364,600 oz at 1.8 g/t Au (Inferred). The company has stated that the extended strike continuity and additional mineralised volumes defined through Phase 2 drilling are expected to contribute to a material increase in the M’Basso Mineral Resource. That conditionality is worth preserving: the upgrade is targeted and expected, not yet confirmed, but the directional signal from the drilling is clear.
Catalysts ahead — MRE upgrade, Ehuasso drilling and the 2027 roadmap
The activity pipeline from here is well-defined, with several near-term milestones sequenced across the remainder of 2026:
- Remaining Phase 2 assays: 23 holes completed and awaiting processing; 3 holes still to complete at M’Basso
- RC drilling at M’Basso expected to conclude shortly, with the rig then moving to Ehuasso for approximately one further month of drilling
- MRE upgrade at M’Basso targeted for early Q4 2026 (the October–December quarter)
- Ehuasso RC results also expected to be returned in the December quarter
- Drill planning for M’Basso 2027 already underway
That is a meaningful amount of newsflow concentrated into the next few months, with the MRE upgrade representing the key re-rating catalyst for the project.
Zaranou Project — the broader context
For readers less familiar with Skylark’s portfolio, the Zaranou Gold Project is a single 287km² exploration licence in Côte d’Ivoire, approximately three hours by road from Abidjan. The licence covers approximately 47km of prospective strike, with mineralisation defined over 8km and drilled to average depths of just 62m to date. Beyond Zaranou, the company also holds the Vavoua Project (licences under application, 100% Skylark, 537km²) and the Maphai Project (EL application, earning up to 100%, 398km²), providing a district-scale pipeline of exploration opportunities across West Africa.
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Programme snapshot — 2026 drilling at a glance
The table below summarises the current status of the 2026 M’Basso RC drilling programme. Note that the total of 10,977m is stated for all 62 reported holes; Phase 2 total metres are stated as 7,553m for 47 holes completed to date, but individual phase metre splits are not separately disclosed in the source announcement.
| Programme | Holes Completed | Metres Drilled | Assays Reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — M’Basso | 38 | — | 38 | Complete |
| Phase 2 — M’Basso (reported) | 24 | — | 24 | Results released |
| Phase 2 — M’Basso (pending) | 23 | — | 0 | Awaiting processing |
| Phase 2 — M’Basso (drilling) | 3 | — | 0 | In progress |
| Total 2026 M’Basso programme | 62+ | 10,977m | 62 | Ongoing |
With the MRE upgrade, Ehuasso results, and 2027 drill planning all converging in the December quarter, the next few months represent a concentrated window of potential news for Skylark shareholders.
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