Zeus Resources Confirms Copper Outcrop at Mauritania Project Near Major Mine
Key Takeaways
- A Zeus director and technical team completed a site visit to the Diaguili Copper–Gold Project (permit 2475B2) in southern Mauritania, confirming visible malachite and chrysocolla across an approximately one-kilometre mineralised trend on two separate hills.
- Zeus is seeking to acquire up to 100% of Sab Metals Mauritania SARL, the permit holder, under a definitive share sale agreement announced 23 July 2026, with the site visit forming part of formal technical due diligence.
- Four rock chip samples (HDVS001–HDVS004) spanning approximately 1.07 km have been submitted for multi-element geochemical analysis, with results pending as at the announcement date.
- Historically reported drill intercepts beneath the outcrop include 35m @ 1.44% Cu from 1m and 22.25m @ 2.10% Cu from 48m, though these have not been verified by Zeus or reported under JORC Code 2012.
- The project sits within the Mauritanides orogenic belt, the same geological belt hosting First Quantum Minerals' operating Guelb Moghrein copper–gold mine, approximately 36 km from Selibaby.
Zeus confirms outcropping copper mineralisation at Diaguili in southern Mauritania
A Zeus director and technical personnel have completed a due diligence site visit to the Diaguili Copper–Gold Project, covering exploration permit 2475B2 in the Guidimaka region of southern Mauritania. The visit confirmed Malachite and Chrysocolla in outcrop on both hills along the approximately one-kilometre mineralised trend previously described by Gryphon Minerals Limited (ASX:GRY) in its 12 December 2014 ASX report.
Zeus Resources Limited (ASX:ZEU) is conducting the site visit as part of its technical due diligence programme under the definitive share sale agreement announced 23 July 2026, under which the company is seeking to acquire up to 100% of Sab Metals Mauritania SARL, the holder of permit 2475B2. The project sits approximately 36 km from Selibaby and 7 km from Diaguili village, within the Mauritanides orogenic belt — the same geological belt that hosts First Quantum Minerals’ operating Guelb Moghrein copper–gold mine.
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What the site visit found on the ground
The mineralised outcrop sits on two low hills standing above a plain covered by a largely continuous mantle of alluvial and aeolian material. Field teams traversed the mineralised ground on both hills on foot, observing copper oxides at multiple separate locations.
Malachite and Chrysocolla were identified on fracture surfaces, along shear-controlled ledges, and disseminated through altered chlorite schist, as well as within brecciated jaspilite and serpentinite. Sulphides identified as pyrite and chalcopyrite were observed within chlorite schist, along with a mineral tentatively identified as arsenopyrite. All mineral identifications in this announcement are visual field determinations and have not been confirmed by laboratory analysis, petrography, or X-ray diffraction.
The majority of historical drill collars were located at or close to their recorded coordinates. Concrete collar monuments for holes F19 and F23 were photographically documented during the visit, though the announcement notes that locating collars does not constitute verification of historical assay grades.
| Lithology | Mineralisation observed | Alteration |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorite schist | Malachite, Chrysocolla, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite and Arsenopyrite (arsenopyrite tentatively identified in the field and not confirmed) | Chloritisation, sericitization |
| Jaspilite | Manganese and Magnesium Oxides, Chromite, Haematite, Limonite, Malachite and Chrysocolla (selective) | Silicification, iron oxidation, haematitisation |
| Serpentinite | Serpentine, Silica, Haematite, Malachite and Chrysocolla (selective) | Talc alteration, silicification, haematitisation |
| Amphibolite | Asbestiform minerals, Talc | — |
| Gneiss | Epidote, Silica | Silicification, albitisation |
Table 1: Lithologies, mineralisation and alteration observed at surface during the site visit. Mineral identifications are visual field determinations and have not been confirmed by laboratory analysis.
Structural controls and the IOCG parallel
Mineralisation occurs along shear zones, faults and fracture networks, with alteration intensity greatest in the more strongly mineralised zones. This relationship suggests that structural corridors may have acted as pathways for mineralising fluids.
Both hills exhibit silicified cores interpreted as the product of hydrothermal silicification. Magnetite is widespread across the permit area, and tremolite–actinolite veinlets of the kind described at Guelb Moghrein were observed. Taken together, these surface features are consistent with, but do not confirm, an iron oxide copper–gold (IOCG) origin. The deposit model at Diaguili remains unconfirmed, and further work including drilling will be required to test it.
Understanding copper oxide mineralisation and why it matters at Diaguili
The structural setting matters too. Mineralisation occurs along shear zones, faults and fracture networks, with alteration intensity greatest in the more strongly mineralised zones, suggesting that these structural corridors may have acted as pathways for mineralising fluids.
Guelb Moghrein, operating in the same belt, provides geological context for the style of mineralisation being assessed at Diaguili. This does not imply Diaguili is the same type or scale of system. At this stage, the surface observations confirm visible mineralisation only and do not establish economic potential.
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Historical drill results and rock chip sampling underway
Sitting beneath the confirmed outcrop are historically reported drill intercepts from prior explorers, previously reported to ASX by Gryphon Minerals Limited on 12 December 2014. These results have not been reported in accordance with the JORC Code 2012 and have not been verified by Zeus:
- 22.25m @ 2.10% Cu from 48m (hole F12)
- 35m @ 1.44% Cu from 1m (hole F19)
- 33m @ 1.43% Cu from surface (hole F07)
- 12.7m @ 2.94% Cu from 60m (hole SDG-2)
Drilling was shallow, and mineralisation was previously described in Gryphon’s 2014 report as remaining open at depth and along strike. Reported intersections are downhole lengths and true widths are not known.
During the site visit, four rock chip samples (HDVS001–HDVS004) were collected from mineralised outcrops across the permit and submitted for multi-element geochemical analysis. Results are pending as at the date of the announcement.
| Sample ID | Easting (UTM 28N) | Northing (UTM 28N) | RL (m) | Field description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDVS001 | 787,312 | 1,644,949 | 50 | Highly altered serpentinite |
| HDVS002 | 787,382 | 1,644,845 | 72 | Brecciated jaspilite with malachite and chrysocolla |
| HDVS003 | 787,106 | 1,644,436 | 54 | Malachite disseminated in chlorite schist |
| HDVS004 | 787,860 | 1,645,200 | 54 | Quartz vein in brecciated jaspilite |
Table 2: Rock chip sample locations and field descriptions. Coordinates are WGS84 UTM Zone 28N as recorded by handheld GPS. Assay results are not available as at the date of this announcement. Descriptions are field observations only and are not a statement of grade.
The four sample sites span approximately 1.07 km from HDVS003 in the south-west to HDVS004 in the north-east. Copper oxide mineralisation was observed at HDVS002 and HDVS003, which are separated by approximately 493m.
Ready to Learn More About the Diaguili Copper–Gold Project?
Zeus Resources (ASX:ZEU) has confirmed outcropping copper mineralisation across a one-kilometre trend in southern Mauritania, with rock chip samples now submitted for multi-element geochemical analysis. The project sits within the same Mauritanides orogenic belt that hosts First Quantum Minerals’ operating Guelb Moghrein copper–gold mine, adding compelling geological context to the early-stage opportunity.
Explore the full details of Zeus’s acquisition strategy, historical drill results, and next steps by visiting the Zeus Resources (ZEU) investor profile on Discovery Alert.