Stellar AfricaGold - First Gold Exploration Targets Identified Within Fifty-Five Prospect Area, Zuenoula Gold Project, Cote D'ivoire
(TheNewswire)
Vancouver, BC – May 13, 2026 – TheNewswire - Stellar AfricaGold Inc.
(“Stellar” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SPX) provides the
following update on the exploration progress at the
Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote
d’Ivoire.
Highlights
• Within
Zuénoula’s Fifty-Five Prospect area, two gold anomalous trends
defined by parallel +2.5 km-long NE-trending clusters of gold
anomalous soil samples (>20 ppb Au), peaking at 583 ppb Au, were
identified and have been selected as Priority Exploration
Targets.
• Existing
broad-spaced soil sampling (200m by 200m) to be infilled to 200m by
50m to tighten definition of these two 1.5 km2 exploration targets
ahead of auger drilling.
• NE-orientation
of gold anomalous trends interpreted to reflect principal fault
architecture of this prospective greenstone belt.
• Sampling of
termite mounds and mesothermal quartz vein float located within the
vicinity of +100ppb gold soil sample sites completed. Samples are at
the laboratory for assay.
• Topographical
mapping completed using high-resolution LiDAR-orthophoto survey data
to support soil geochemistry interpretation and infill soil sample and
auger drill planning
• Auger drilling
program considered feasible during the coming wet season (June –
September)
• Assay results
received for 1000 soil samples, with another 617 soil samples at
Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan.
Stellar-MetalsGrove
Joint Venture Zuénoula Gold Project, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Stellar-MetalsGrove
Zuénoula Gold Project is a joint venture exploration project between
Stellar’s Ivorian subsidiary Aucrest SARL (“Aucrest”) and
MetalsGrove Mining Ltd. subsidiary MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd
(MetalsGrove) to advance Stellar’s 395.78 square kilometer
early-stage exploration permit called Zuénoula in Côte d’Ivoire
(see Figure 2 below). Pursuant to the joint venture agreement
MetalsGrove, the project operator, may earn up to a 50% interest in
the Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring US$3,000,000 in exploration
expenditures and up to an 80% interest in the
Zuénoula Gold Project by incurring a total of US$6,000,000 in
exploration expenditures. (For further details
of the Stellar-MetalsGrove Joint Venture Agreement see Stellar news
release December 9, 2025.)
Stellar Management
Commentary
Stellar President and
CEO J. François Lalonde commented:
“Stellar is very
pleased with the continued exploration success at the Zuénoula Gold
Project in Cote d’Ivoire.
Identifying and
selecting the first priority gold exploration targets at the
Fifty-Five Prospect is an
important milestone for the Stellar-MetalsGrove
Joint Venture and further validates the
prospectivity of the Zuénoula Gold Project.
The identification of
two parallel +2.5km-long gold anomalous
trends, peaking at 583ppb Au, together with
favourable NE-oriented structures, highlights the potential scale of
the system emerging from the Joint Venture’s systematic exploration
approach.
Exploration activities
are now progressing to tighter-spaced infill sampling and auger drill
planning to further refine these targets ahead of deeper drilling,
while additional assay results and ongoing regional programs continue
to build momentum across the project.”
Priority Exploration
Targets Selected
Stellar is pleased to announce that two parallel +2.5 km-long gold anomalous trends identified from completed 200m x 200m soil sampling have
been ranked as Priority Exploration Targets (see
Figure 1 below) at Zuénoula’s Fifty-Five Prospect area. These trends
are defined by clusters of gold anomalous (>20 ppb Au) soil samples
with two or more samples assaying greater than 100 ppb Au (105 to 583
ppb Au).
The soil sampling will be infilled to 200m x 50m to
tighten definition of these two 2.5 km Exploration Targets ahead of auger
drilling. Auger drilling during the coming wet season (June –
September) is considered feasible following site assessment of access
routes.
The NE-orientation of these trends is interpreted to be
favourable for gold deposit discovery and reflects the orientation of
the principal fault architecture of this prospective greenstone belt
and is characteristic of the NE-orientation of the structures that
control many of the large gold deposit is Côte d’Ivoire.
Further termite mounds (see Images 1 and 2 below) and
mesothermal quartz vein float located within the vicinity of +100ppb
gold soil sample sites have been sampled by the Joint Venture’s
local exploration team and assays are pending. The soil in termite
mounds can be transported from up to 15m below surface and provides an
inexpensive opportunity to collect soil samples from deeper in the
soil profile.
Topographical mapping of the Fifty-Five Prospect has
been completed using high-resolution LiDAR-orthophoto survey data
imaging technology (image shown on Figure 1). Mapping of the
topography (elevation), the direction of water flow and geochemical
dispersion pathways supports soil geochemistry interpretation and the
planning of infill soil sample and auger drilling traverses.
Next Phases of Work
The Joint Venture has planned the following next phases
of exploration programs to advance the identification of additional
gold exploration targets:
-
Infill soil sampling programs in new areas (400m by
400m ) commenced across three areas:
-
Rouge Prospect,
-
South-West Prospect and
-
Konezra Prospect
-
Infill 200m by 50m soil sampling at Fifty-Five Prospect
(planning completed, sampling scheduled)
-
Planning of auger drilling traverses at Fifty-Five
Prospect (planning pending 200m x 50m infill completion and assessment
of assay results).

Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 1. Zuénoula soil sampling progress on LiDAR topographical image
Red and Orange: high ground. Blue: low ground with
transported soil cover
Image 1. Sampling of Termite Mounds at Fifty-Five
Prospect
Image 2. Sampling of Termite Mounds at Fifty-Five
Prospect

Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 2. Location of Zuénoula
permit and the Fifty-Five Prospect within
Zuénoula
Qualified Person
The technical information contained in this release has
been reviewed and approved by Mr. Robert Perring, a current member of
the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG) and Exploration
Manager of MetalsGrove Mining Limited. Mr. Perring is a Qualified Person under National
Instrument 43-101.
About Stellar Africagold Inc.
Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian precious metal
exploration company focused on precious metals
in North and West Africa, with active programs in
Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire. Stellar’s principal exploration
projects are its advancing gold discovery at the Tichka Est Gold
Project in Morocco, and its
early-stage exploration Zuénoula Gold Project in Côte
d’Ivoire which is operated in Joint venture with MetalsGrove Mining
Ltd subsidiary, MetalsGrove CDI Pty Ltd.
The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange
symbol TSX.V: SPX, the Tradegate Exchange TGAT: 6YP and the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange FSX: 6YP.
The Company maintains its head office in Vancouver, BC
and has a country office in Marrakech, Morocco.
QA/QC
JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1
Section 1- Sampling Techniques and Data
|
Criteria
|
JORC Code Explanation
|
Commentary
|
|
Sampling Techniques
|
-
Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels,
random chips, or specific specialied industry
standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under
investigation, such as downhole gamma sondes, or
handheld XRF instruments, etc.) These examples should not be taken as
limiting the broad meaning of sampling.
-
Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample
representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement
tools or systems used.
-
Aspects of the determination ofmineralisation that are Material to the Public
Report.
In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been
done, this would be relatively simple (e.g. ‘reverse circulation
drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised
to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases, more
explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that
has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation
types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed
information.
|
No drilling has been undertaken on Zuenoula
PR-750
All soil samples collected on Zuenoula PR-750 have been
analysed for gold by fire assay at Bureau Veritas laboratory in
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
SOIL SAMPLING STAGES
-
Stage 1: Initial, permit-wide,
broad-spaced soil sampling on 1000m x 1000m grid
-
Stage 2: Gold anomalous clusters
and trends defined by multiple anomalous soil samples (+20ppb Au) are
then infilled with soil samples collected on 400m x 400m grid
-
Stage 3: Coherent gold soil
anomalies are then infilled with soil samples collected on 200m x 200m
grid
-
Stage 4: Higher density 200m x
50m soil sampling to sharpen definition of gold soil
anomalies
-
Stage 5: Augering and trenching
of coherent gold soil anomalies
-
Stage 6: Aircore drill testing of
gold soil and auger anomalies.
SOIL SAMPLING PROCEDURES
-
MGA has contracted the experienced consulting group
SEMS Exploration Services (SEMS) to conduct all soil sampling
-
Up to four sampling crews may be active at any one
time
-
The MGA Exploration Manager was onsite at the start of
the field program to instruct the sampling crew on the Standard
Sampling Procedure required by MGA
-
MGA provided SEMS Exploration Services with an Excel
table listing the designated sample point locations using WGS-84 UTM
zone 29N coordinates
-
Each soil sample is collected from within 20 metres of
the designated sample point, with the actual sample point then
recorded
-
At each sample point: 1) the organic rich soil is
brushed away, 2) a 40cm deep hole dug and the sample collected by
taking a channel-cut along the bottom 20cm of the hole, 3) 1000g of
the minus 2mm sieved fraction of each sample is collected from the
sample point, 4) gold is determined by fire assay (LDL 2ppb)
-
Duplicate samples are collected every 20th sample,
certified reference material (CRM) inserted every 20th sample, and
blanks inserted every 20th sample.
-
Samples are stored at the secure SEMS field compound in
Zuénoula prior to transport to Bureau Veritas in Abidjan of gold
analysis.
|
|
Drilling Techniques
|
-
Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole
hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details
(e.g. corediameter,tripleorstandard
tube,depthofdiamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core
is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).
|
|
|
Drill Sample Recovery
|
-
Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample
recoveries and results assessed.
-
Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure
representative nature of the samples.
-
Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery
and grade,andwhether
samplebias may have occurred due to preferential
loss/gain of fine/coarsematerial.
|
|
|
Logging
|
-
Whether core and chip samples have been geologically
and geotechnicallyloggedtolevel of detail to support
appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, miningstudiesandmetallurgical studies.
-
Whether loggingisqualitativeor quantitative in nature.
Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography.
-
Thetotallengthandpercentage oftherelevantintersections logged.
|
-
No drilling has been undertaken
-
Soil samples are comprehensively logged for a range of
parameters including colour, soil horizon, sample weight, slope,
dominant grain size (clay, silt, sand), general topography, residual
or transported, proximity to artisanal workings, other ground
disturbances such as field plowing, and general land use (grassland,
plantation, crop, etc.).
|
|
Sub-sampling Techniques
and Sample Preparation
|
-
Ifcore,whethercutorsawnand whether
quarter, half or all core taken.
-
Ifnon-core,whetherriffled,tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or
dry.
-
For all sample types, the nature, quality and
appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.
-
Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling
stagestomaximise
representivity of samples.
-
Measures taken to ensure that thesamplingisrepresentativeof the in-situ material
collected, including, for instance, results for field
duplicate/second-half sampling.
-
Whethersample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.
|
-
No drilling has been undertaken
-
No sub-sampling of the 1000g soil samples is undertaken
prior to the sample arriving at Bureau Veritas laboratory
-
At Bureau Veritas, the entire 1000g sample is pulped
prior to the laboratory taking a 50g split for lead collection fire
assay determination of gold concentration.
|
|
Quality of Assay Data and Laboratory Tests
|
-
The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying
andlaboratoryproceduresused and whether the
technique is considered partial or total.
-
Forgeophysical tools,
spectrometers, handheld XRF
instruments,etc.,theparameters used in determining the
analysis, including instrument make and model, reading times,
calibrationfactorsapplied,and
their derivation, etc.
-
Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g.
standards, blanks, duplicates, externallaboratorychecks)and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias)
and precision have been
established.
|
-
Bureau Veritas is an internationally accredited assay
laboratory located in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
-
Assay results for all samples presented in the
announcement were determined by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL
2ppb), which is a total gold extraction method for analysis.
-
The lower detection limit (LDL) of 2ppb is considered
appropriate for greenfields, early stage, exploration soil
sampling
-
Fire assay gold is considered one of the most reliable
assay techniques for gold analyses.
|
|
Verification of Sampling
and Assaying
|
-
The verification of significant intersections by either
independent or alternative company personnel.
-
Theuseoftwinnedholes.
-
Documentationofprimarydata, data entry procedures,
data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.
-
Discussanyadjustmentstoassay data.
|
FIRE ASSAY ANALYSIS
-
All samples have been analysed for gold by fire assay
at Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
-
The 1000g -2mm sample collected in the field is
analysed for gold by fire assay (Lab Code: FE450, LDL 2ppb)
-
At the laboratory, the 1000g -2mm sample is dried and
pulverised to 85% passing 75 microns.
-
This sample pulp is then mixed with a combination of
chemical reagents, which when heated to high temperatures results in
the formation of a lead button and slag. The lead button that contains
the precious metals (including gold) is cupelled at high temperature.
The lead is adsorbed by the cupel leaving behind a bead that contains
the precious metals.
-
The bead is acid digested and analysed by AAS, with a
lower detection limit of 2ppb Au
|
|
Location of Data Points
|
-
Accuracy and qualityof surveys
used to locate drillholes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches,
mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource
estimation.
-
Specification of the grid system used.
-
Quality and adequacy of topographic control.
|
-
A handheld GPS is used to locate the soil data
positions, with a +/-5m vertical and horizontal accuracy
-
Sample locations (UTM WGS-84 zone 29N) and sample
descriptions are noted on a standard form in the field and entered on
a computer of an evening
-
GPS measurements of sample positions are sufficiently
accurate for exploration targeting gold systems.
|
|
Data Spacing and Distribution
|
-
Data spacing for reporting Exploration
Results.
-
Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient
to establish the degree of geologicalandgradecontinuity appropriate for the Mineral
Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications
applied.
-
Whethersamplecompositing hasbeenapplied.
|
-
An 1000m by 1000m offset grid pattern has been adopted
for the entire project area, excluding areas of irrigated sugar cane
and villages.
-
Broad-spaced soil sampling (1000m by 1000m) and low level gold fire assay analysis (LDL 2ppb) is
considered an effective technique for identifying and delimiting gold
anomalous clusters and trends, which are then followed up with higher
density sampling at 400m 400m, 200m x 200m, and
in some areas 200m x 50m, as the next phases of sampling ahead of
trenching, augering, and drill testing of coherent gold soil
anomalies.
|
|
Orientation of data in relation
to geological al
structure
|
-
Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased
sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known,
considering the deposit type.
-
If the relationship between the drilling orientation
and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to
have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported
if material.
|
|
|
Sample security
|
|
-
1000g of -2mm sieved fraction of soil samples are
collected in plastic bags, assigned individual sample numbers and
transported to the secure SEMS compound in Zuénoula
-
Samples have been analysed by fire assay at
Bureau Veritas in Côte d’Ivoire and
were personally transported to the laboratory by
a senior member of the MetalsGrove Abidjan-based exploration team.
|
|
Audits or Reviews
|
|
-
The sampling and assay techniques adopted by
MetalsGrove has been effectively used in the Vavoua-Kounahiri
district, and more widely in Cte d’Ivoire, to
define drill targets and it is considered an effective initial
approach for defining gold anomalous lithogeochemical trends.
|
Section 2 - Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to
this section.)
|
Criteria
|
JORC Code Explanation
|
Commentary
|
|
Mineral Tenement and Land
Tenure Status
|
-
Type, reference name/number, location and ownership,
including agreements or material issues with third parties such as
joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title
interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and
environmental settings.
-
The security of the tenure held at the time of
reporting, along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to
operate in the area.
|
-
Following the acquisition of the three Gemica joint venture (JV) permits
PR-454 (granted), PR-1063 (application) and PR-1102 (application) in
Côte d’Ivoire, MetalsGrove entered another JV with TSX-V listing
company Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (Stellar) on PR-750 Zuénoula.
-
Zuenoula PR-750 was granted on 17 April 2024 for an
initial four-year period, renewable for two additional three-year
periods.
-
The Vavoua permit is located with Kounahiri West,
Vavoua West and Zuenoula permits occupy a combined area of 1,315 km²,
strategically situated along the Abujar–Napie
gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian greenstone belt in
central west of Côte
d’Ivoire, approximately 100 km north of the Abujar gold mine and 160
km south of the Napie gold project.
|
|
Exploration Done by Other Parties.
|
|
-
MetalsGrove is not aware of any previous systematic
exploration for gold having been conducted within either Zuenoula
PR-750, Vavoua PR-454, Vavoua West PR-1102, or Kounahiri West
PR-1063
|
|
Geology
|
|
-
The Vavoua, Vavoua West, Kounahiri West and Zuénoula
permitsare located in the central west of Côte
d'Ivoire at the south edge of the West Africa craton. This region
is the world’s largest Proterozoic gold-producing region, and
Cte d’Ivoire contains 35% of the region’s
Birimian Group rocks, which host multiple multi-million-ounce gold ore
systems.
-
The GEMICA JV permits and Stellar JV permit, together cover a combined
area of 1,315 km², and are strategically situated along the
Abujar–Napié gold trend within the Oumé–Fetekro Birimian
greenstone belt, and are located approximately 100 km north of the
Abujar gold mine and 160 km south of the Napié gold project.
|
|
Drillhole Information
|
-
A summary of all information material to the
understanding of the exploration results, including a tabulation of
the following information for all Material drill holes:
-
easting and northing of the drillhole collar elevation
or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in metres) of the
drillhole collar dip and azimuth of the hole
-
down hole length and interception depth hole
length.
|
|
|
Data Aggregation Methods
|
-
In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging
techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g., cutting of
high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be
stated.
-
Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of
high-grade results and
longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be
stated, and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown
in detail.
-
The assumption used for any reporting of metal
equivalent values should be clearly stated.
|
|
|
Relationship Between
Mineralisation Widths and
Intercept Lengths
|
|
|
|
Diagrams
|
-
Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and
tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant
discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to,
a plan view of drillhole collar locations and appropriate sectional
views.
|
|
|
Balanced Reporting
|
-
Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration
Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and
high grades and/or widths should be practied, avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results.
|
|
|
Other Substantive Exploration Data
|
-
Other exploration data, if meaningful and material,
should be reported, including (but not limited to): geological
observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results;
bulk samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test
results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock
characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating
substances.
|
-
LiDAR or Laser imaging,
Detection, and Ranging is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object or a
surface with a laser and
measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver.
LiDAR may operate in a fixed direction, or it may scan directions in a
special combination of 3D scanning. LiDAR on a drone
platform is being used at Zuenoula to make high-resolution (3cm
resolution) topographical maps. For the survey, SEMS used a DJI Matrix
300 RTK drone mounted with a Zenmuse L@ LiDAR using a flight altitude
of 150m AGL. The point cloud density was 94 points/m with a horizontal accuracy of 5cm and a vertical accuracy of
4cm. The sensor pulse rate was 240,000 laser points per second. Five
base reference points were established linked to National Survey
Beacons to continuously record x, y and z data for RTK positioning and
correction of data and flight trajectory. Data processing was
undertaken using an MSI Tomahawk workstation with an Intel
Core i9-9900k processor using Dji Terra and
Global Mapper Pro software. An optical camera of 20 Megapixel
resolution was used to generate, after processing, orthoimages with an
accuracy of 1 to 3cm.
-
Orthophotography (orthophoto)
are orthoimages geometrically corrected (orthorectified) to remove
distortion from camera tilt and terrain relief. These images have a
uniform scale, allowing for direct, accurate measurements of
distances, areas, and angles, functioning as a map that represents
true surface locations. The orthophotography was captured as part of
the LiDAR survey using an optical camera of 20 Megapixel
resolution.
|
|
Further Work
|
-
The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g.
tests for lateral extensions, or depth extensions, or large-scale
step-out drilling).
-
Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible
extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future
drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially
sensitive.
|
-
Completion of 400m x 400m and 200m x 200m at several
prospects.
-
Plotting and interpreting the assay results for the 617
soil samples currently being assayed at Bureau Veritas.
-
Planning and scheduling 200m by 50m infill soil
sampling at Fifty-Five Prospect.
-
Searching +50ppb Au sites for quartz vein outcrop
and/or float.
-
Sampling termite mounds at gold anomalous soil sites.
|
Stellar’s President and CEO J. François Lalonde can
be contacted at +1 514-9940654 or by email at lalondejf@stellarafricagold.com. Additional information is available on the Company’s
website at www.stellarafricagold.com.
On Behalf of the Board
J. François Lalonde
President & CEO
This news release
contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements which may
not have been based solely on historical facts but rather may be based
on the Company’s current expectations about future events and
results. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or
belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable
basis.
Forward-looking
statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at
the date of this news release and are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results
or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, exploration
risk, mineral resource risk, the Company not achieving the production
milestones described herein, changes in business plans or commodity
prices, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, geopolitical country
risk, and the risk factors described in the Company’s most recent
Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form,
which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be
unduly relied upon. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
contained herein.
Neither the TSX Venture
Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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