Aya Gold & Silver expands exploration in Morocco

Aya Gold & Silver expands exploration in Morocco

Thu, August 6, 2026 at 5:46 PM GMT+3 2 min read

• AYA +9.48%

Aya Gold & Silver has acquired a significant exploration portfolio in Morocco for Dh10m ($1.06m), combining cash and debt assumption.

The portfolio comprises three mining licences and 18 exploration permits across 259km² and is aimed at enhancing the company's existing operations in the country.

The acquisition is expected to support Aya's exploration strategy, increasing its focus on precious, base and critical metals.

Aya Gold & Silver president and CEO Benoit La Salle said: "This acquisition reinforces Aya's first-mover advantage in Morocco and advances our strategy of building one of the largest exploration portfolios in the country.

"In 2026, we have expanded our land package from approximately 732km² to more than 991km², representing an increase of 35.4%. We continue to secure district-scale positions early, consolidate highly prospective mineral belts and build a pipeline of exploration opportunities that have the potential to unlock future discoveries and support Aya's next phase of long-term growth."

The newly acquired portfolio covers the Zagora, Agadir-Melloul and Goulmim projects. The Zagora project spans 158.6km² over 11 exploration permits and shows potential for cobalt, gold, lead, nickel, silver and zinc.

Occupying 68.5km², the Agadir-Melloul project consists of three mining licences and five exploration permits. It is noted for potential deposits of copper, silver, gold and rare earth elements.

Meanwhile, the Goulmim project covers 32km², comprising Lower Ordovician sedimentary rocks along with Middle Cambrian volcanic sequences, with potential for lead, silver, copper and gold.

The agreement includes milestone payments based on future exploration successes and a 2% net smelter return royalty for the sellers. Aya retains the option to repurchase the royalty under specific conditions. Some administrative processes in Morocco regarding the acquisition remain pending.

Aya plans an 18–24-month greenfield exploration programme to assess the discovery potential of these sites. This initiative will include stream sediment geochemistry, hyperspectral studies, mapping and prospecting. Depending on the outcomes, further steps may involve geophysics and drilling.

Overall, this acquisition is set to consolidate Aya's foothold in Morocco's mining sector.

"Aya Gold & Silver expands exploration in Morocco" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.