Aurum Resources Ltd (ASX:AUE) has marked a milestone quarter of growth in Côte d’Ivoire, with its flagship Boundiali Gold Project lifting total mineral resources by roughly 50% to 2.41 million ounces and drilling ramping up towards a major update in early 2026.
The company’s combined group resource base — including the 0.87-million-ounce Napié Project — now stands at 3.28 million ounces across West Africa’s prolific Birimian greenstone belts.
Resource growth and high-grade intercepts
Two mineral resource estimate (MRE) upgrades during the September quarter added 820,000 ounces at Boundiali, lifting total resources to 2.41 million ounces. Indicated resources rose 53% to 26 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t gold for 920,000 ounces, while inferred resources stand at 51 million tonnes at 0.9 g/t gold for 1.51 million ounces.
A higher-grade component of 1.32 million ounces at 1.7 g/t Au (at 1.0 g/t cut-off) highlights potential for selective mining options.
Eight company-owned diamond rigs drilled continuously through the quarter, increasing to 10 rigs in late October as part of a 100,000-metre program designed to underpin another MRE in the first calendar quarter of 2026.
Standout assays included:
- 4.2 metres at 80.64 g/t gold from 107 metres, including 2.9 metres at 116.66 g/t gold and 1.43 metres at 234.35 g/t gold, at BMT3 (MBDD216);
- 1 metre at 152.35 g/t gold from 96 metres (MBDD260);
- 6 metres at 30.68 g/t gold from 410 metres, including 1 metre at 181.20 g/t gold, at BDT1 (DSDD0203); and
- 2.34 metres at 67.21 g/t gold from 189 metres at BDT1 (DSDD0102).
The pre-feasibility study for Boundiali is progressing in parallel, with completion targeted for Q1 CY2026.
Expanding Napié footprint and resource drilling
At the 0.87-million-ounce Napié Project, Aurum continued a 30,000-metre diamond program focused on depth extensions at the Tchaga deposit, which currently hosts 0.54 million ounces at 1.16 g/t Au.
Initial step-back holes returned high-grade intercepts such as 17 metres at 9.38 g/t gold from 236 metres (including 1 metre at 143.58 g/t gold) and 4 metres at 11.82 g/t gold from 362 metres.
Drilling continues with two dedicated rigs and further assays pending ahead of a resource update planned for early 2026.
Aurum also expanded its Côte d’Ivoire landholding through an agreement with local company Major Star Plus Sarl (MSP), allowing it to earn up to 87% interest in three new permits adjacent to Boundiali and Napié.
$35.6 million strategic placement strengthens balance sheet
During the quarter, Aurum completed a $35.6 million strategic placement, adding $23.9 million in cash and 2.9 million shares in TSX-listed Montage Gold Corp (valued at $21.5 million).
The company closed the quarter with $45.2 million in total funds — $23.7 million cash plus the Montage shareholding — providing strong support for its accelerated exploration schedule.
Aurum’s strong progress earned it inclusion in the ASX All Ordinaries Index from 22 September 2025, reflecting its rising market capitalisation and liquidity among Australia’s top 500 listed companies.
The company also finalised an agreement to take a 35% equity stake in Major Star Plus Sarl and increase exposure to additional Côte d’Ivoire gold ground.
Aurum said it remains focused on building a pipeline of discoveries and increasing resource confidence as it positions for long-term development across its West African portfolio.