Centaurus Metals Ltd.said July 19 that the maiden drill program at its Mombuca gold project in Brazil is underway.

The program will include 2,500 meters of diamond drilling to test multiple,strong geophysical and geochemical targets to a depth of 300 meters below surface.

Drilling has started at the project's ITZ prospect, a 1.5-kilometer longgold-in-soils geochemical anomaly where multiple induced polarization anomalieshave been previously identified. After ITZ, drilling will move to test the Belaprospect, where Centaurus has identified a large-scale chargeability target coincidentwith a localized magnetic low feature within a broader magnetic high anomaly.

According to the company, the strong correlation between the chargeabilityhigh, the resistivity high and the magnetic low in both prospects represents "excellent"drill targets and is a strong indicator of magnetite depletion by sulfide-rich fluids.

Centaurus is also pursuingpotash projects in Australia and Southeast Asia through its recently formed 50/50strategic joint venture with Tavarua International Inc.