Starcore Updates on Exploration at Kimoukro Gold Project in Cóte d’Ivoire – Soil geochemistry and Auger Drilling campaign
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
April 9, 2025 TSX: SAM
FSE: V4JA
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES
Starcore Updates on Exploration at Kimoukro Gold Project
in Cóte d’Ivoire – Soil geochemistry and Auger Drilling campaign
Vancouver, B.C. - Starcore International Mines Ltd. (TSX: SAM) (“Starcore” or the “Company”) is
pleased to announce results of the auger drilling soil sampling , and soil Geochem follow-up, on its
Kimoukro gold project, in the central Ivory Coast, some 30 km south of the country’s capital,
Yamoussoukro.
The field activities completed in 2024 include:
✓ Installation of the main camp and opening of a private access road stretching 3.5 km from the paved
road A4 near the village of Kimoukro, into the permit boundary.
✓ Pole-dipole Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey, and ground magnetic survey, for a total
of 55 line-kilometres, spaced 100 m apart and oriented N 110, covering a surface of 5.5 km2.
✓ A 3000 m auger drilling campaign in saprolite and soil , covering the untested areas in the central
part of the permit; auger drilling was carried out essentially over the lines opened for the IP survey,
avoiding the artisanal mining zone where, access was not possible for adverse terrain.
Presentation of the auger drilling exploration results
The auger drilling campaign was completed in November 2024 using the local contractor, Geo -Explo
Services SARL. The program was designed to confirm the previously identified topsoil gold anomaly and
to test the remaining central part of the project, where alluvial clay cover returned barren samples in surface.
This auger drilling campaign is a first -pass exploration in the full soil profile, following historic surface
sampling over a 25x25 m soil sampling grid in the mineralised area , while the surface sampling grid
remained first-pass, 200 x 200 m, in barren surface samples.
A total of 355 holes were drilled with auger on a 100x100 m grid, amounting to 2,988 meters of drilling.
Site preparation, carried out with the assistance of local labourers, spanned one month. Drilling commenced
in late August and concluded in late November, with a one -month suspension from October 4th to
November 4th due to heavy rainfall. Two drilling rigs were employed: a motorized, trail-mounted rig with
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
a 2.5 m column height and a 16 cm auger diameter, used for most holes. A lightweight, manually operated
rig was used for drilling in rugged terrain, particularly near artisanal mining areas. Drilling was subdivided
in 5 different phases according to logistics and weather conditions. The initial phase covered the zone closer
to the access road: it was away from the ongoing geophysical survey to avoid any signal noise, and aimed
to test possible gold anomalies under the alluvial cover. Phase 2 to phase 3 drilling continued mostly in
alluvial cover, in the central and western par ts of the permit. Drilling restarted after the rainy season with
phase 4, approaching the area of active artisanal mineworks, which was tested with portable auger due to
ground conditions. Phase 5 included infill of an unsampled area, to complete the c.a 3000 m program. Some
areas remain untested between the blocks of phase 1, 2 and 5.
Except for weather conditions and problematic access in the days right after rain, the drilling continued
with no major issues during the 35 days of effective drilling. Daily production of drilling averaged 10 holes,
85 m; drilled depth ra nged between 2.0 m and 16 m, averaging 8.4 m. Both rigs were able to reach and
sample the top of the bedrock most of the time. Accordingly, the inferred depth to the bedrock varies
between 2 m and 16 m.
Logging while drilling, although basic, allowed collecting representative composite samples of maximum
length of 3 meters for the cover and argillic saprolite, while the base of saprolite and in the saprock were
sampled each meter. A total of 1367 samples were collected in the field.
Ten percent (10%) QA/QC samples were introduced, namely 74 field duplicates, 55 blanks, and 8 standard,
for a grand total of 1,504 samples. Samples have been assayed for gold at the MSA lab in Yamoussoukro
with fire assay and AA finish. Preparation for all samples was PRP -915 consisting of dry, crush to 2mm,
split ~500g and pulverize to 85% -75μm. The assay methods were FAS -121 (0.005-100 ppm Au) 748
samples and FAS -221 (0.01 -100 ppm Au) for 756 samples. The quality control and assessment were
positive with no issues to report.
Methodology
For each hole, sampling commenced after bypassing the topsoil, which was not collected during auger
drilling. Samples were taken based on lithology and material consistency:
• Alluvial Cover: One or two composite samples were typically collected.
• Rock and Saprock: Continuous sampling was conducted at 1-meter intervals.
• Saprolite and Other Lithologies: Composite samples were collected if no changes were observed
in the material description, with a maximum sample length of 3 meters.
Drilled material from each meter was retrieved as the auger was lifted. The material was then mixed and
homogenized in a plastic container. A ~2 kg sample was collected from the homogenized material using a
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
scale. For larger or composite samples, the material was placed on a plastic sheet during the process to
minimize contamination and material loss. Field duplicates were prepared in the field at the same time of
the parent sample.
Cleaning of used tools was done mechanically and using a brush, in order to minimize cross-contamination.
The drilling technique included rimming and cleaning the hole per each sample, and removing the fallen
material; usually, colour and consistency change were obvious indicators of reworked vs fresh material.
Field samples, as well as their duplicates, were labelled with unique identification numbers at the drilling
site. A corresponding tag was inserted into the sample bag, and an additional tag was retained as a reference
in the sampling matrix for future verification. At the end of each hole, at least one picture was taken at the
spot, with coordinates, hole name and sample interval. This was in order to have proof of evidence, but
more importantly, to introduce best practice operational procedures. A sample number is left every 40
samples, for blank samples or standard sample (CRM).
At the end of the working day, all the samples were transported with a motor tricycle and stored in the
village, at the place of the geology team. When enough samples were ready for shipment, the sample bags
were aligned in the ground and physically checked for preparing sample shipment. QA/QC samples (Blank
and CRM) were inserted in this phase.
Larger bags containing approximately 20 sample bags (totalling some 40 kg weight) were prepared at the
storage facility; the sample list was completed in the lab’s shipment form, and delivered to the MSA labs
in Yamoussoukro, for preparation and assay.
Key Findings:
➢ The overburden mainly consists of alluvial clay or transported material forming small pockets of
sand and gravels. No significant gold intercepts were recorded, except for a few anomalous samples
with peak values of 0.37 ppm Au in clay and 0.42 ppm Au in sand and gravel.
➢ Auger drilling was not conducted within the artisanal mining area due to unfavourable ground
conditions (bumpy terrain, frequent open holes together with water and mud ponds). However, the
area was encompassed within the survey, confirming and expanding the previously defined in-soil
gold anomaly greater than 50 ppb Au; peak values where of 1.7 ppm Au in saprock, 0.7 ppm Au in
saprolite, and 0.53 ppm Au in residual laterite.
➢ Based on the assay results from auger and surface soil samples, an updated delineation of the gold
anomaly in the overburden has been compiled. The in -soil gold anomal y >20 ppb Au, stretches
approximately 2.5 km in length and 500 to 800 meters in width, continuously covering more than
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
1.3 km². Additionally, scattered anomalies have been identified over an area of 1.8 x 600 meters in
the central part of the project.
➢ The in-soil gold anomaly correlates with IP anomalies with good continuity at depth, and reflects
primary mineralisation.
➢ Depth-to-saprock, groundwater level, and thickness maps of the cover units have been compiled to
provide input for interpretation of the geophysical data, as well as for best planning the subsequent
exploration activities, particularly trenching and drilling.
Two IP anomaly zones , in the central part of the permit, and in the eastern part, remained relatively
uncovered by the auger drilling program; the gap will be filled in a next phase of exploration ; infill of
selected lines could be performed as well.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the distribution of the samples from the auger drilling campaign, and the compiled
in-soil gold anomaly map based on existing samples.
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
Figure 1 - Auger drilling distribution and sample assay results
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
Figure 2 – Soil, auger and rock samples in the central part of the project, highlight of samples > 50 ppb Au)
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
Follow-up
In Q1 2025, a field office was established at Oumé, some 15 km west of the permit. Geology field work
continued with reconnaissance mapping and geochemical soil sampling, aiming to cover the remaining area
of the permit.
The ongoing activities include completion of a superficial soil sampling program collected with manual
auger at a depth of about 1 m, aiming to test some 5.5 km 2 over a grid of 100x100 m, counting
approximately 1300 field samples. Sampling is ongoing in the NW side of the permit, to complete the
planned program.
A total of 653 samples returned from the lab; figure 3 shows the distribution of all samples returned. Sparse
anomalies are found in the alluvial and eluvial material in the northern part of the permit, east of the
Bandama river , without clear pattern identification . In the s outhern portion of the permit, west of the
Bandama river, the in-soil gold anomaly greater than 50 ppb Au spans 700 m x 400 m; the anomaly is open
to the west. Samples from the opposite, east side of the Bandama, mostly in alluvial and pisolitic cuirasse,
returned sparse mineralised samples. Further sampling will fill the gaps in the under-sampled areas.
Figure 3 – Sample distribution at the Kimoukro project
______________________________________________________________________________
Suite 750 – 580 Hornby Street, Box 113, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3B6 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Fax: (604)
602-4936 e-mail. [email protected] website: www.starcore.com
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical disclosure in this news release has been supervised and approved by Dr.
Riccardo Aquè, Ph.D. Eurogeol., a Qualified Person as that term is defined in NI 43-101. He is independent
of the Company.
Other News
In other news, the Company reports that it has appointed Baker Tilly WM LLP, Chartered Professional
Accountants of Vancouver, B.C., as auditors of the Company. The appointment follows the resignation of
the former auditors, Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, at the request of the
Company. The Company reports that there have been no reservations in the report of Davidson & Company
for the audit of the most recently completed fiscal period and, in the opinion of the Company, prior to the
appointment of Baker Tilly WM LLP, there were no reportable events. A reportable event is an occurrence
in relationship between the reporting issuer and the former auditor which may have been a contributing
factor in the change. A notice of Change of auditors has been filed by the Company on SEDAR pursuant
to National Instrument 51-102.
A reporting package has been filed with the regulators and will be included in the management materials
sent to shareholders for the next annual general meeting of the Company.
About Starcore
Starcore International Mines is engaged in precious metals production with focus and experience in Mexico.
While this base of producing assets has been complemented by exploration and development projects
throughout North America, Starcore has expanded its reach internationally with the project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Company is a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility and advocates value driven decisions that will
increase long term shareholder value. You can find more information on the investor friendly website here:
www.starcore.com.
ON BEHALF OF STARCORE INTERNATIONAL
MINES LTD.
(Signed) “Robert Eadie”
Robert Eadie, President & Chief Executive Officer
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
ROBERT EADIE
Telephone: (604) 602-4935