Canadian mining firm expands its footprint in Morocco's mineral-rich region

Wednesday 05 February 2025 - 14:30

By: Dakir Madiha

Canadian mining firm expands its footprint in Morocco's mineral-rich region

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. has significantly expanded its Boumadine exploration project in Morocco, acquiring four new mining licenses that increase its operational area by 28.3% to 271.5 square kilometers. The company's strategic expansion, announced on February 5, 2025, marks a substantial development in its Moroccan operations.

The expansion represents an 848% increase in the Boumadine footprint over the past 15 months, according to President and CEO Benoit La Salle. The company is implementing cutting-edge technology and modern exploration techniques to identify promising drill targets and enhance resource discovery.

In addition to the new licenses, Aya has obtained a 600-square-kilometer exploration authorization, giving it priority rights over unclaimed land within this zone. The company plans to continue expanding its permit portfolio as it develops a deeper understanding of the region's geological and mineralization patterns.

January saw significant progress in drilling operations, with 17,034 meters completed. The Boumadine site currently hosts 11 diamond drill rigs and one reverse circulation (RC) rig, with plans to add two more RC rigs as part of the 2025 exploration program. The company is exploring targets identified through multiple assessment methods, including previous drilling results, hyperspectral surveys, airborne geophysics, mapping, and prospecting.

The company currently awaits results from more than 30,000 evaluations and is collaborating with external laboratories to expedite result processing. A strict quality control program oversees core drilling sample collection, with analysis conducted at the Afrilab laboratory in Marrakech, incorporating standards, blanks, and duplicates to ensure accuracy.

Aya Gold & Silver's portfolio includes the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine, and the company continues to explore properties along the South-Atlas Fault, further strengthening its presence in Morocco's mining sector.