The hit, from the M1 prospect at Tanlouka, returned 31m at 17gpt gold from 60m, including 4m at 109gpt gold, ending in mineralisation.

In a second high-grade zone, drilling hit 12m at 10.7gpt gold from 80m, including 4m at 22.6gpt gold; and 24m at 7.4gpt gold from 44m, including 8m at 17gpt gold.

Mineralisation remains open in all directions.

“These high-grade results are spectacular and will add significant value to the project,” West African chairman Mark Connelly said.

M1 is a recently discovered prospect at Tanlouka, and is not yet included in the project’s resource inventory.

The project has current indicated and inferred resources of around 2 million ounces of gold, as well as a probable ore reserve of 11.2 million tonnes at 1.22gpt gold for 440,000oz gold.

A 2015 prefeasibility study on a heap leach starter pit envisaged a seven-year operation producing an average of 49,000oz per annum at all-in cash costs of $US749 an ounce.

The company plans to update the resource in the June quarter and said an upgrade would have a favourable impact on project economics.

Drilling will continue in the meantime.

West African had $A2.6 million at the end of 2015 after raising $2.04 million in December, but raised a further $303,500 last month through a share purchase plan.

Shares in West African were up 26% to 7.2c after hitting an intraday high of 7.9c this morning.