Aldoro Resources (ASX: ARN) has begun a 1,080-metre diamond drilling programme at its Avondschaduw copper-gold prospect in Namibia, targeting geophysical anomalies that could indicate sulphide mineralisation at depth.
The two-hole programme marks the company's first diamond drilling campaign at the prospect in Namibia's Damara Belt near Kalkfeld, with both holes located within Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 7895, Aldoro said in an October 19 stock exchange announcement.
The first hole, AD001, is being drilled to a planned depth of 680 metres to investigate a broad chargeability anomaly identified at an apparent depth exceeding 450 metres. The anomaly coincides with low electrical resistivity, which may indicate sulphide-bearing rocks.
A second hole, AD002, is planned to reach 400 metres and will test a shallower chargeability anomaly identified at an apparent depth of 190 to 200 metres.
The targets were identified through an induced polarisation survey covering 8.76 square kilometres, comprising 34 survey lines and 2,252 measurement stations, supplemented by six detailed sounding lines.
High-resolution magnetic surveys also identified magnetic lows associated with the chargeability anomalies, which Aldoro interprets as possible evidence of hydrothermal alteration and sulphide mineralisation at depth.
However, the geophysical results do not establish the presence of an economic mineral deposit, which remains subject to drilling and laboratory analysis.
"Maiden diamond drilling at Avondschaduw has commenced, marking an important milestone," Aldoro executive chair Quinn Lee said.
Lee said the programme formed part of the company's strategy to expand its Namibian copper-gold exploration portfolio alongside development of its flagship Kameelburg critical minerals project.
Avondschaduw lies northeast of Kameelburg, where Aldoro is advancing a separate rare earths, niobium and strontium project.
The company said drilling would proceed to the second hole after completion of AD001, with geological logging and sample preparation conducted progressively on site.
Laboratory assay results are expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to processing times, and will provide the first direct test of the copper-gold potential indicated by the geophysical surveys.
Corporate news from global emerging markets companies, provided by the IntelliNews Press Release service.