Aurum Resources has announced significant advancements in its gold exploration efforts at the Boundiali project located in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. The company has reported promising results from its ongoing diamond drilling program, which encompasses a total of 100,000 metres. The latest assays from 30 holes, totaling 7,208 metres of drilling, are pivotal as they complete the final data batch for the upcoming mineral resource estimate (MRE) update, expected later this month.
At the BDT3 target, situated in the central-west area of Aurum’s BD tenement, the latest drilling has extended the existing mineralization an impressive 600 metres north of the previous resource model limits, which hold an estimated 130,000 ounces of gold. Among the standout findings, one drill hole reported 9 metres grading 8.15 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from a depth of 207 metres, with a remarkable 2-metre section yielding more than one ounce of gold per tonne. Another hole in the same area revealed 9 metres at 8 g/t gold from 223 metres, which included a core interval running an astonishing 70.37 g/t gold.
These results clearly indicate that high-grade potential exists far beyond Aurum’s previous expectations, setting the stage for substantial resource growth through further drilling efforts.
The BST1 target, located approximately 19 kilometres south of BDT3, has also yielded promising results. Extensional drilling has added an average of 130 metres in vertical depth below the existing 360,000-ounce mineral resources. Notable intercepts include 10 metres at 2.51 g/t gold from 170 metres, featuring a 5-metre segment grading 4.74 g/t, as well as 18.4 metres grading 1.04 g/t gold from 240 metres. The mineralization remains open, both along strike and at depth.
Gold at Boundiali is found within sedimentary structures characterized by pyrite, quartz veining, and alteration. The materials are free-milling and structurally controlled, with true widths ranging between 60 and 85 percent of the reported intercept lengths.
Dr. Caigen Wang, Managing Director of Aurum Resources, commented on the findings, stating, “These new results continue to demonstrate that the Boundiali system remains underexplored, showcasing a scale of gold endowment well above our current Mineral Resources.”
As of the end of last year, Aurum reported an unaudited cash balance of approximately $40 million, providing sufficient funding for its ambitious 130,000-metre drill program planned for this year, supported by a fleet of a dozen drill rigs.
Looking ahead, the company anticipates a Boundiali mineral resource update in the current quarter, alongside another update for its Napié gold project, located 90 kilometres southeast of Boundiali. Additionally, Aurum is on track to complete its Boundiali pre-feasibility study this quarter, paving the way for a definitive study later in the year.
The Boundiali deposits remain open and show considerable promise for discovering additional mineralized deposits throughout the known corridor. The latest drilling results not only provide compelling evidence of extensions but also further de-risk the BDT3 and BST1 prospects, enhancing confidence in the overall Boundiali project.
With feasibility studies and more drilling results on the horizon, investors are likely to maintain a keen interest in the developments surrounding Aurum’s flagship project in West Africa.
