Aurum clears 4M ounces after West African gold resource surge

Aurum Resources has delivered a major milestone at its satellite Napié gold project in Côte d’Ivoire, announcing a 34 per cent jump in its latest mineral resource estimate. 

The leap has come from the inclusion of Napié’s first indicated resource of 0.35 million ounces at 1.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. 

The upgrade adds a new level of confidence in the geology and economics of Napié, which now hosts an estimated total mineral resource of 30.04 million tonnes at 1.2 g/t gold, for 1.16 million ounces of gold.

When Napié’s new total resource is combined with the 3.03 million ounces lying at Aurum’s nearby flagship Boundiali project, the company’s total group resource has ballooned to a whopping 4.2 million ounces. 

More remarkably, only 13 per cent of the 30-kilometre-long Napié shear zone has been systematically drilled. 

With the Napié project’s Tchaga and Gogbala deposits both sitting on the shear zone and separated by a largely untested 4.4-kilometre-long gap, the company sees strong potential for further resource growth between and along strike from the two deposits and at depth.

Aurum’s 30,000-metre diamond drilling program at Napié is ongoing, targeting depth extensions and untested portions of the shear. Early metallurgical testwork on Tchaga samples shows gold recoveries averaging 94.7 per cent for primary mineralisation and 94.3 per cent for oxide material, hinting at robust project economics.

Aurum Resources managing director Dr Caigen Wang said: This MRE update (delivered within 12 months of completing the Mako Gold acquisition) represents a significant milestone for the Napié gold project and for Aurum as a whole. The resource growth at Tchaga and Gogbala — including the classification of an Indicated Resource at Napié - demonstrates the quality and continuity of mineralisation along the Napié Shear and the strong potential for further growth.

Napié sits in central Côte d’Ivoire, within the vast and prolifically gold-prospective Birimian greenstone terrain, which is globally renowned for hosting major orogenic gold deposits. The project’s permit area encloses 236.3 square kilometres and is accessible year-round, with local infrastructure supporting ongoing exploration.

No commercial-scale mining has been undertaken within the permit area previously, although extensive historical artisanal workings confirm the presence of widespread near-surface gold mineralisation. 

With its strong cash position - A$61 million as of March 2026 - Aurum has plenty of firepower to maintain its aggressive exploration and resource growth at the project, while also pressing on with resource growth at its flagship Boundiali project, 100km to the northwest.

Barely 12 months after snapping up Mako Gold - Napié’s previous owner -Aurum has already delivered a major resource upgrade at the project – a result that looks to have well and truly vindicated the acquisition. The resource remains open at depth and the next phase of drilling looks likely to unlock further potential and extend mineralisation along strike.

In parallel with its ongoing Napié exploration, the company’s primary gold project at Boundiali continues to charge along, with a 100,000-metre drilling program underway and further resource updates planned for the year. 

However, today’s spotlight is firmly on Napié, which is shaping up as an important satellite asset in Côte d’Ivoire and one that Aurum’s believers would do well to become familiar with.

The company’s latest resource boost at Napié is more than just numbers in a resource inventory spreadsheet - it’s perhaps better viewed as a sign that the company’s Côte d’Ivoire gold story is only beginning to come on song.

With plenty of cash in the bank and more than a dozen drill rigs boring into its gold-rich West African ground on two conveniently adjacent projects, Aurum’s next chapter looks set to shine.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au