Aurum Resources Ltd has received further high-grade gold intercepts from exploration diamond drilling at the BDT3 prospect within its 1.59-million-ounce Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire.
The latest results indicate significant mineralisation beyond the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE) area, underscoring the potential for further resource expansion.
Location of Aurum’s projects in Côte d'Ivoire.
This drilling program, which targeted BDT3 on the BD tenement, comprised four diamond holes for a total of 677.6 metres.
The first hole, DSDD136, returned 12 metres at 22.02 g/t gold from 145 metres, including 2 metres at 35.59 g/t and 7 metres at 27.50 g/t including 1 metre at 47.12 g/t.
BDT3 gold prospect is just over 3 kilometres long and on the western side of a 13-kilometre by 3-kilometre gold mineralised corridor which to date has only seen limited wide-spaced exploration drilling and trenching.
Assays are still pending for additional sections of this hole as well as results from three other diamond drill holes but encouragingly gold mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth on all prospects.
Aurum has planned to drill 100,000 metres at Boundiali in 2025 and is planning further work to follow up these initial results.
Results include:
- 73 metres (m) at 2.15 g/t gold from 172m, including 4m at 18.63 g/t (DSDD0012);
- 90m at 1.16 g/t from 143m, including 51m at 1.04 g/t and 35m at 1.47 g/t (DSDD0050);
- 59m at 1.42 g/t from 68m, including 13m at 3.92 g/t (DSDD0010);
- 36m at 2.53 g/t from 104m, including 16m at 5.03 g/t (DSDD0011);
- 4m at 22.35 g/t from 226m (173m below surface) (DSDD0004);
- 12.22m at 14.56 g/t from 275m, including 1m at 163.42 g/t (DSDD0051);
- 69m at 1.05 g/t from 195m, including 12m at 2.28 g/t (DSDD0060A); and
- 40m at 1.03 g/t from 136m, including 5m at 1.70 g/t (DSDD0076).
BD tenement plan view showing new significant drilling results (yellow) at BD Target 3.
“Drilling at our Boundiali (BD) tenement continues to deliver exceptional results, with hole DSDD136 at the BDT3 prospect intersecting 12 metres at 22.02 g/t gold from 145 metres, including shallow high-grade zones of 2 metres at 35.59 g/t gold and 7 metres at 27.50 g/t gold,” Aurum’s managing director Dr Caigen Wang said.
“These results, located outside the current 1.59-million-ounce Boundiali mineral resource estimate, underscore the substantial exploration potential of the 3km-long BDT3 prospect within the broader 13km x 3km gold mineralised corridor. We are eagerly awaiting assays from three additional holes in this ongoing program.”
Aurum advances 100,000m drill program
Aurum's extensive 100,000-metre diamond drilling program in 2025 aims to expand and enhance resource confidence at BST, BD and BM with 40,000 metres allocated to infill drilling.
A further 30,000 metres will advance known prospects for inclusion in two planned mineral resource estimate (MRE) updates during the year. The remaining 30,000 metres will target new prospects identified through soil anomalies and geological mapping, supporting continued resource growth into 2026.
The company has deployed its eight self-owned diamond drill rigs to complete the targeted 100,000-metre drilling campaign this year.
Aurum’s Boundiali Gold Project.
“Our targeted drilling, informed by detailed review of historical data and field mapping of artisanal workings, is proving highly effective," Wang said.
Despite achieving a 1.59Moz MRE in just over 12 months, we see significant potential for further resource expansion at Boundiali. We are planning approximately 100,000m of diamond drilling at Boundiali in 2025 to pursue new targets and grow existing resources with two MRE updates planned for CY2025.
“Aurum's utilisation of its own drill rigs ensures cost-effective and accelerated exploration, supporting our goal of significant resource growth at Boundiali and the delivery of a pre-feasibility study by year-end 2025.
“At our Napié project, we are planning a 30,000m diamond drilling program in 2025, contingent on exploration licence renewal, to expand the current 0.87 Moz MRE. We anticipate an updated Napié MRE by year-end.
“With a combined 2.5Moz gold resource across Boundiali and Napié, and extensive drilling programs planned, Aurum is strongly positioned for substantial resource growth and value creation in 2025."
Emerging potential
The company has scheduled two MRE updates in 2025 as it seeks to expand the initial 1.59Moz resource.
Additionally, a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Boundiali is underway, with completion expected by the end of 2025.
In parallel, Aurum is preparing for a 30,000-metre drill program at the recently acquired Napié deposit, where it aims to increase the existing 870,000-ounce MRE.
With approximately A$23 million in cash reserves, Aurum is well-funded to sustain its aggressive exploration and resource growth strategy across its Côte d'Ivoire assets.