Aurum Resources Ltd (ASX:AUE) has lifted the total mineral resource at its flagship Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire to more than three million ounces (Moz), following a substantial 49% increase in higher-confidence Indicated resources.
The updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) takes Boundiali to 3.03Moz at 1.0 g/t gold, up 26% on the previous estimate, with Indicated resources rising by 450,000 ounces to 1.37Moz. The growth provides a stronger foundation for the project’s upcoming pre-feasibility study (PFS), expected by the end of the March quarter.
On a group basis, Aurum Resources’ total gold inventory now stands at 3.90Moz, including 0.87Moz at its Napié Gold Project, where an updated MRE is also due this quarter.
Aurum Mineral Resource growth timeline.
Higher-confidence ounces underpin development push
The latest update reflects results from aggressive infill drilling across the BST1, BDT2, BDT3 and BMT3 deposits. Indicated resources now total 40.8 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.0 g/t for 1.37Moz, while inferred resources stand at 58.8Mt at 0.9 g/t for 1.66Moz.
Within the broader resource, Aurum has defined a higher-grade component of 1.61Moz at 1.7 g/t gold using a 1.0 g/t cut-off.
Managing director Dr Caigen Wang described the upgrade as a “significant milestone”, noting that the infill program had successfully converted a large portion of the inventory into the indicated category ahead of economic studies.
“This growth is a direct testament to our unique operational model; by owning and operating our own fleet of 12 diamond rigs, we have grown Boundiali from a greenfield discovery to a 3.03Moz gold asset in just 26 months,” Wang said.
Since taking over management in late 2023, Aurum has drilled more than 180,000 metres at the project.
Aurum’s Boundiali Gold Project.
100,000m drilling campaign underway
Exploration momentum is set to continue, with a 100,000-metre diamond drilling program already under way for calendar 2026. Gold mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth across all defined deposits and prospects.
A further major Boundiali MRE update is planned for early in the September quarter, incorporating results from ongoing drilling.
At Napié, the company expects to deliver its first resource update this quarter, with management targeting a group inventory exceeding 4Moz in the near term.
Backed by $40.2 million in cash as of December 31, 2025 (unaudited), Aurum says it is fully funded to execute its exploration and development plans.
Location of Aurum’s Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire.
PFS to assess large-scale open pit potential
The strengthened Indicated resource base is expected to feed directly into engineering work for a large-scale, integrated open-pit development at Boundiali.
The PFS, due by late Q1 2026, will evaluate the project’s economics and technical parameters and mark a key transition point from resource growth to development planning.
Boundiali is located in northern Côte d’Ivoire within the West African Craton, a highly prospective geological terrane that hosts several multi-million-ounce gold operations. The project lies within the same greenstone belt as major producing mines in the region and benefits from established infrastructure, including proximity to sealed roads, grid power and regional centres.
Location of Aurum’s Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire.
Mineral resources at Boundiali are currently declared across three tenements — BM, BD and BST — with the latest update incorporating revised estimates at four deposits. There were no changes to resources at BDT1 and BMT1 in this round of reporting.
Independent consultancy SLR completed the resource estimate in accordance with the JORC Code (2012) and conducted site visits and data reviews, concluding that the geological and digital data underpinning the estimate was appropriately collected and validated.
“The year ahead represents a pivotal transition for Aurum with our aggressive 100,000m diamond drilling program for 2026 already under way at Boundiali,” Wang said. “We remain focused on testing numerous high-priority targets that have yet to see a drill bit, as well as testing depth and strike extensions where all deposits remain open.
“Having grown our Indicated Resources across our BST, BD, and BM tenements, we continue to aggressively advance our development strategy.”