Aurum Extends BDT2 Gold Beyond Current Resource With High-Grade Hits at Depth
Aurum extends BDT2 gold system with high-grade hits beyond current resource
Aurum Resources has announced the final batch of results from its step-out drilling programme at the BDT2 deposit, part of its 3.22Moz Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire. The drilling campaign comprises 10 diamond holes totalling 3,565.05m on 100m line spacing, designed to test strike and depth extensions beyond the current Mineral Resource Estimate boundaries.
The programme has successfully intersected gold mineralisation outside the existing MRE footprint, confirming that the system remains open at depth and along strike. Standout intercepts include 0.61m @ 47.60 g/t Au from 189.39m, 4.46m @ 4.23 g/t Au from 90.00m (incl. 0.50m @ 35.19 g/t Au), and 39m @ 0.79 g/t Au from 372.00m (incl. 3m @ 5.76 g/t Au). Aurum’s combined group resources now stand at 4.4Moz across its flagship Boundiali and 1.16Moz Napié projects.
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What the drilling results show
These represent the final holes from the current BDT2 drilling campaign, drilled on 100m line spacing to define strike and depth limits. The programme’s key significance lies in confirming gold mineralisation beyond current MRE boundaries, signalling resource growth potential ahead of the next major update targeted for end Q3 CY2026.
True widths for these gold intercepts are estimated at approximately 60% to 85% of reported downhole lengths, based on the interpreted geometry of the mineralised zones.
| Hole ID | Intercept | Grade (g/t Au) | From (m) | Notable Inclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSDD0461 | 39m | 0.79 | 372.00 | incl. 3m @ 5.76 g/t |
| DSDD0477 | 0.61m | 47.60 | 189.39 | — |
| DSDD0471 | 4.46m | 4.23 | 90.00 | incl. 0.50m @ 35.19 g/t |
| DSDD0483 | 3m | 4.02 | 124.00 | incl. 2.30m @ 5.16 g/t |
| DSDD0486 | 15m | 0.73 | 116.00 | incl. 1m @ 4.20 g/t |
| DSDD0477 | 1m | 9.93 | 367.00 | — |
| DSDD0477 | 11.50m | 0.69 | 382.00 | incl. 1m @ 5.47 g/t |
| DSDD0481 | 12.63m | 0.65 | 357.37 | incl. 1m @ 3.12 g/t |
| DSDD0477 | 18m | 0.43 | 198.00 | incl. 1m @ 1.81 g/t |
How these compare to earlier BDT2 drilling
The latest results build on a strong track record of significant intercepts from previous campaigns at BDT2. Earlier drilling returned standout intervals including:
- 74m @ 1.00 g/t Au from 167m (incl. 1m @ 24.73 g/t Au)
- 18m @ 3.93 g/t Au from 198m (incl. 5m @ 11.07 g/t Au)
- 40.60m @ 1.06 g/t Au from 299.40m (incl. 6m @ 2.77 g/t Au)
- 28m @ 1.54 g/t Au from 82m (incl. 4m @ 7.51 g/t Au)
These results confirm BDT2 as an established, growing deposit with a well-defined geological framework. The latest programme extends that footprint rather than defining it for the first time.
Why extensional drilling matters for gold investors
Extensional drilling refers to drill holes designed to test ground beyond the boundaries of a known resource. In simple terms, it seeks to prove that mineralisation continues outside the area already quantified in a resource estimate. When a company reports results from extensional drilling, it is signalling the potential to add ounces to the next resource update.
In Aurum’s case, the BDT2 programme has done exactly that. By intersecting gold mineralisation outside the current MRE envelope, the company has demonstrated that the deposit has not been closed off. The phrase “open at depth and along strike” means that drilling has not yet encountered the edges of the system, leaving room for further expansion through follow-up work.
Three reasons extensional hits matter to the investment case:
- Resource growth potential: Mineralisation beyond the MRE footprint feeds directly into the next resource update, potentially increasing the total ounce count.
- De-risking deposit scale: Proving continuity at depth and along strike demonstrates that the deposit is not isolated or thinning prematurely.
- Free milling gold and high recoveries: BDT2 sits within a 13km x 3km mineralised corridor of free milling gold, previously reported to achieve >95% recoveries in metallurgical testing. Expanding a deposit with these characteristics enhances economic viability.
A strong balance sheet funding an aggressive drill programme
Aurum’s exploration momentum is underpinned by a robust financial position and a self-owned drilling fleet, positioning the company to explore faster and more cost-effectively than peers reliant on contractor rigs.
Key funding and drilling metrics:
- $54.7M cash (30 June 2026, unaudited)
- 16 Aurum-owned diamond drill rigs now operating across the Boundiali tenements
- 130,000m total drilling planned for CY2026, split between Boundiali (100,000m) and Napié (30,000m)
- Rigs have now moved from BDT2 to neighbouring BST and BM tenements to test strike extensions and blind targets
Dr Caigen Wang, Managing Director
“With 16 diamond rigs owned by Aurum now active across Boundiali, we are executing one of the most aggressive and efficient drilling programmes in the region. Aurum has grown the Boundiali resource to 3.22Moz in a remarkably short timeframe, and these new results will feed directly into a major resource update targeted for the end of Q3 CY2026.”
The ownership model eliminates contractor mobilisation costs and scheduling constraints, enabling Aurum to pivot quickly between target areas and maintain a continuous drilling cadence throughout the year.
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What’s next for Boundiali and Napié
Aurum has entered a phase of parallel development and exploration, with multiple near-term catalysts across both flagship projects and regional exploration activities.
Next Boundiali MRE update: Targeted for end Q3 CY2026, incorporating results from the current 100,000m programme across BD, BM, and BST tenements.
Boundiali DFS: Expected late CY2026, building on the Pre-Feasibility Study and Maiden Ore Reserve delivered in June 2026.
Napié resource expansion: A 30,000m diamond drilling programme is under way to grow the 1.16Moz resource. An exploration camp is being built near the deposits to reduce operating costs and improve access efficiency.
Regional exploration and discovery: Scout drilling is planned across the BD, BM, and BST tenements to test new targets identified via soil geochemistry and geological mapping. Aurum is also advancing its Encore JV and Major Star Plus partnership projects to identify new gold systems in the region.
Aurum is rapidly converting an aggressive, well-funded drilling strategy into resource scale, with a defined pathway from exploration toward development. The latest BDT2 results underscore the company’s ability to extend mineralisation at depth and along strike, feeding directly into a major resource update due in Q3 CY2026. With $54.7M in cash, 16 self-owned rigs, and multiple near-term catalysts across Boundiali and Napié, the company has positioned itself to deliver a steady flow of newsflow through the remainder of 2026.
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