Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) has reported assay results from 60 diamond drill holes totalling 10,649.85m across three deposits at its 3.22-million-ounce (Moz) Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The company received results from infill, step-out, and extensional drilling. The work covered the BMT1 deposit (28 holes for 4,981.4m), BMT2 prospect (11 holes for 1,908.15m), and BMT3 deposit (21 holes for 3,760.3m). All three sit on the BM tenement, in which Aurum holds an 80% interest.
Key intercepts include 29m @ 2.08 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 167m, including 20.24m @ 2.82g/t Au, at BMT1; 5.85m @ 8.77g/t Au from 335.15m, including 3.85m @ 13.02g/t Au, at BMT3; and 7.46m @ 1.34g/t Au from 84m, including 2.46m @ 3.40g/t Au, at BMT2.
Intercepts are reported at a 0.2g/t Au cut-off with up to 3m internal dilution and no top cut. True widths are estimated at 60–85% of reported downhole lengths.
BMT1 hosts 8.8 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1.1g/t Au for 320,000 ounces. Meanwhile, BMT3 hosts 18.6Mt @ 1.3g/t Au for 750,000 ounces. BMT2 has no resources currently defined.
Drilling intersected gold mineralisation outside the current mineral resource, with most holes returning multiple mineralised zones.
The holes form part of an expanded 150,000m program at Boundiali for 2026, up 50%, using the company’s fleet of 16 diamond drill rigs. Results will be assessed for inclusion in the next Boundiali mineral resource estimate (MRE). The MRE has a target completion of early Q4 2026, with a drill collar cut-off of 30 September 2026.
Pathway to first gold in 2028
Managing Director Dr Caigen Wang says the results feed directly into the project’s development timeline.
“The results will be assessed for inclusion in the updated MRE, targeted for early Q4 CY2026, which in turn feeds the Boundiali DFS due late CY2026,” Wang states.
“Our focus now is grant of the mining licences and completion of the DFS [Definitive Feasibility Study], with the goal of finalising funding and starting construction in early CY2027, targeting first gold in H1 CY2028.”
Gold mineralisation at BMT3 is hosted in diorite between volcanic and sedimentary rocks, with disseminated pyrite, quartz veinlets, and occasional visible gold.
At BMT1 and BMT2, mineralisation is hosted in quartz-veined sandstone associated with pyrite.
Aurum holds a cash balance of more than $95 million following its recent placement and received environmental approval in May 2026.
Separately, the company delivered its Prefeasibility Study and maiden ore reserve in June 2026.
Aurum holds combined gold resources of 4.4Moz across its flagship 3.22Moz Boundiali Gold Project and 1.16Moz Napié Gold Project. A 30,000m drilling program at Napié is planned to commence this quarter.
Aurum Resources is an Australian gold explorer and developer advancing a portfolio of projects in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Aurum Resources
