A Game-Changing Strike in Suriname
Founders Metals has made a headline-worthy breakthrough at the Maria Geralda target, a previously unexplored zone within its Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. The discovery features a 22.5-meter interval of 11.88 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold, marking one of the most substantial mineralization zones uncovered in the region to date.
This target lies roughly 5 km southeast of the company’s existing Lower Antino camp, and until this spring, had never seen a single drill hole.
“The 22.5 meters interval grading 11.88 g/t gold represents some of the highest grade mineralization we’ve encountered to date,” stated Colin Padget, President and CEO of Founders Metals.
How They Found the Gold
The strike wasn’t luck—it was the result of systematic exploration, including:
- Auger sampling that identified a 500 m × 400 m gold anomaly, with over 54% of samples showing more than 0.1 g/t gold
- Mapping of tonalite dykes and metavolcanic boundaries, believed to be key structures for gold localization
- Identification of free gold and pyrrhotite, offering clues through subtle magnetic highs
The drill site sits atop a structural zone that blends intrusion-hosted and shear-hosted systems, a rare geological convergence within a Paleoproterozoic greenstone belt. These conditions are ideal for forming high-grade gold veins.
What This Means for Mining Potential
This high-grade, wide intercept is not just geologically impressive—it could be a cost-efficiency jackpot:
- Open-pit mines rarely exceed 2 g/t, making this discovery nearly 6 times richer
- High grades over long intervals allow for lower waste, smaller environmental footprints, and higher profitability
- Early signs of stacked lenses hint at even greater potential in future drilling phases
This could shift Antino from a promising exploration asset to a strategic development-stage project.
“High-grade gold over long intervals reduces operational costs and elevates the economic viability of the entire Antino project.“
Next Steps in the Field
Founders Metals is wasting no time:
- Step-out pads are already being cleared 160 ft north and south of the discovery point
- Downhole electromagnetic tools will refine targeting
- Helicopter-assisted transport ensures rapid turnaround for assays
- Metallic screen assays will be used to account for visible gold and reduce errors from the nugget effect
The company is fully financed for a 60,000-meter drilling campaign in 2025, positioning it to aggressively pursue extensions of this new zone and possibly uncover more high-grade veins.
If consistent results follow, an airborne LiDAR survey will be launched to tighten their structural models, with the second diamond rig arriving for dry-season operations.
Suriname’s Economic and Environmental Balancing Act
Suriname, where mining and oil make up 60% of GDP and nearly 90% of export revenue, sees each gold discovery as a significant national development.
However, the country also sits on dense rainforest terrain with 160 inches of annual rainfall, demanding thoughtful planning. The government, since 2022, enforces:
- Baseline water studies
- Transparent royalty tracking
- Community engagement protocols
Local leaders from Tapanahony and Lawa districts have already asked for early consultations on land access and social impacts. If developed responsibly, the project could fund clinics, schools, and infrastructure, but missteps could result in environmental damage and social conflict.”This discovery is not just about gold—it’s about building trust, jobs, and long-term benefits for Suriname.“
