Summary:

On 27 October 2026, Australian mining company Zeus Resources announced plans to begin a maiden 1,200-metre diamond drilling program at its Diaguili copper-gold project in southern Mauritania, following the signing of a drilling contract. 

The company has secured a 51% stake in the local project vehicle, Sab Metals Mauritania SARL, and holds an option to acquire up to 100% of the project. Located in the prospective Mauritanides belt near the operating Guelb Moghrein mine, Diaguili contains a 1.7-kilometre priority drilling target identified through historical high-grade copper-gold intersections and reprocessed geophysical data. 

Zeus has also raised A$2 million to finance its exploration activities and reported A$2.84 million in cash at the end of September. 

Outlook: 

The development reflects continued foreign interest in Mauritania’s largely underexplored mineral resources, particularly as demand for copper supports investment in new exploration areas. Further discoveries could help diversify the country’s mining sector beyond its established iron ore and gold production, while attracting additional international operators to the Mauritanides belt. 

However, translating exploration interest into broader economic gains will depend not only on the commercial viability of new discoveries and sustained investment, but also on security conditions in the region and the country’s wider political stability. 

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