Aurum builds scale at depth at Côte d’Ivoire gold project

Aurum Resources has continued to tighten its grip on Côte d’Ivoire’s Boundiali gold district, delivering a new batch of high-grade drill results that confirm both depth persistence and strike growth across its flagship project.

The results came from Aurum’s ongoing 100,000m diamond drilling program, which is focused on expanding the resource footprint and upgrading confidence ahead of a scheduled resource update later this quarter. Drilling has targeted the BDT3, BDT2 and BDT1 deposits, with each zone returning results that point to a much larger and more robust gold system.

At BDT3, standout results included 12 metres at an impressive 7.52 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 394m, including 3m at a blistering 18.51g/t gold. Other hits from the same drillhole featured 9.8m running 2.53g/t gold from 106.2m and 23.8m at 0.88g/t gold from 437m, further reinforcing the continuity of mineralisation across the deposit.

Notably, the hole intersected high-grade mineralisation about 200m below a previously reported high-grade intercept and 135m below the current resource model, confirming that the system remains open at depth in fresh rock.

At BDT2, infill and step-back drilling have delivered the final dataset required for the upcoming resource update. Significant gold intercepts included a  2.90-metre interval running 5.36g/t gold and a high-grade 0.60-metre section at a stellar 17.38g/t gold.

Beyond the immediate resource footprint, Aurum also confirmed significant upside potential at BDT1, where reconnaissance drilling hit gold mineralisation about 700m north-northwest of the existing deposit limits. While these results will not be included in the imminent resource update, they did confirm that the gold system remains open along strike, providing a clear pathway for further resource growth during the 2026 drilling campaign.

Aurum Resources managing director Dr Caigen Wang said: “These results continue to demonstrate the significant scale and continuity of the Boundiali system. The confirmation that the BDT1 system remains open to the north provides a clear pathway for continued resource growth throughout the 2026 drilling campaign.” 

Mineralisation at the project is hosted within a well-defined shear system, with gold occurring in quartz-carbonate veins and associated sulphide zones developed within altered diorite host rocks. Fortunately, the gold is associated with pyrite and is free milling, meaning processing will be a breeze. 

The latest drilling has provided Aurum with confirmation of significant growth avenues.  Gold mineralisation appears to persist in fresh rock at depth, with strong structural control and consistent alteration assemblages offering solid drill targets. Notably, the continuity of mineralogy and alteration down dip supports Aurum’s view that the system is robust and laterally extensive.

Aurum looks well set to fund its 2026 exploration program with a cash position of about $40.1 million as at the end of December. As well as a 130,000-metre drilling blitz, the company plans to deliver an updated resource estimate at both Boundiali and the nearby Napié project, alongside completion of a pre-feasibility study at Boundiali.

As gold prices continue to rise, and with multiple deposits growing, a self-owned drill fleet turning and a steady flow of results expected, these latest deep hits add extra weight to Aurum’s push to turn its growing Ivory Coast gold system into a development-ready asset.

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