Fortuna’s Sunbird deposit results lift Séguéla prospects

Drilling at Fortuna Mining’s (TSX: FVI; NYSE: FSM) Séguéla mine in Côte d’Ivoire confirms that high-grade mineralization remains open at depth in the Sunbird deposit, one of the richest targets that Fortuna envisions as a potential underground mine.

Highlight hole SGDD148 cut about 19 metres grading 6.1 grams gold per tonne from 564 metres depth, Fortuna reported Thursday, while hole SGRD2475 returned 13.3 metres at 4.1 grams gold from 504 metres depth. Séguéla is about 250 km northwest of the capital Yamoussoukro.

“With five drill rigs currently focused on Sunbird, these results build on previously announced high grade drill intercepts and further underpin the potential for resource growth,” Paul Weedon, senior vice-president of exploration, said in a release.

Key Séguéla deposit

The results for Sunbird add to a resource update last month that estimated Sunbird represents about 26% of the overall reserves at Séguéla, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s biggest gold mines. Its construction and commercial ramp-up demonstrates the emergence of Côte d’Ivoire as one of West Africa’s more stable gold jurisdictions.

Other significant drill results include hole SGRD2473 that cut 4.2 metres grading 15.4 grams gold from 478 metres downhole, including 2.1 metres at 26.2 grams gold; and hole SGRD2491 that returned 8.4 metres grading 5.2 grams gold from 513 metres depth.

Hole SGRD2477 cut 4.9 metres at 13.9 grams gold from 489 metres downhole. 

High grades have shown up repeatedly across the more than 1 km of plunge length drilled so far at Sunbird, offering Fortuna “critical mass” and giving it the opportunity to mine other underground deposits, The Northern Miner was told in a November site visit.

1.54M reserves

Last month’s update pegged Sunbird’s contribution at 3.5 million tonnes in probable reserves grading 3.6 grams gold for 401,000 contained ounces. In total, Séguéla hosts 15.9 million tonnes in proven and probable reserves grading 3.01 grams gold for 1.54 million oz., according to the update, which also extended the mine life to nine years from 7.5.

The January update lifted the total reserve estimate by 31% over a previous update in November. 

Sunbird is the sole underground target at the mine, whose seven other deposits are open pit.

Drilling at Sunbird has focused on extending its lower shoot and has delineated high grade mineralization about 400 metres beyond the existing reserve envelopes. Fortuna plans more drilling throughout 2026 at Sunbird.