Aurum Resources Hits High-Grade Gold at BMT2 Opening Path to Bigger Resource
Key Takeaways
- Aurum Resources has confirmed gold mineralisation at BMT2, a prospect currently contributing zero ounces to the 3.22Moz Boundiali MRE, with intercepts including 2.38m @ 22.01 g/t Au and 14.20m @ 2.36 g/t Au from a single hole (MBDD404).
- 60 diamond drill holes totalling 12,251.55m have been completed across BMT1 and BMT2 as part of the 100,000m CY2026 Boundiali drilling programme, with BMT1 returning near-surface high-grade hits including 1.35m @ 43.32 g/t Au from 17m.
- The drilling cut-off for the next Boundiali MRE update is end of September 2026, with publication targeted for early Q4 CY2026 — meaning BMT2 ounces could formally enter the resource total within weeks.
- Aurum held A$54.6M in cash as at 30 June 2026 and operates 16 company-owned diamond drill rigs, giving it the balance sheet and operational control to advance drilling, the DFS, and permitting simultaneously.
- The Boundiali DFS is targeted for late CY2026, with construction start subject to funding and licences targeted for early 2027 and first gold targeted for the first half of 2028.
High-grade gold hits outside resource boundary at Boundiali
Aurum Resources (ASX: AUE) has received assay results from 60 diamond drill holes totalling 12,251.55m at the Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, spanning the BMT1 deposit (41 holes, 8,460.65m) and the BMT2 prospect (19 holes, 3,790.90m), both within the BM tenement (80% interest). The headline result for investors: drilling has confirmed gold mineralisation at BMT2, a prospect that currently sits entirely outside the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), signalling direct resource growth potential ahead of the next MRE update.
These holes form part of the ongoing 100,000m CY2026 Boundiali drilling programme. Standout intercepts from both areas include:
BMT1 highlights:
- 1.35m @ 43.32 g/t Au from 17m (MBDD418)
- 1m @ 47.56 g/t Au from 182m (MBDD396)
- 19m @ 1.90 g/t Au from 243m inc 4m @ 5.37 g/t Au (MBDD405)
- 3.67m @ 5.61 g/t Au from 160.63m inc 1.37m @ 14.41 g/t Au (MBDD456)
BMT2 highlights (no current MRE):
- 1.50m @ 41.78 g/t Au from 27m (MBDD372)
- 2.38m @ 22.01 g/t Au from 277m inc 1m @ 51.38 g/t Au (MBDD404)
- 14.20m @ 2.36 g/t Au from 205.80m inc 7.20m @ 2.95 g/t Au (MBDD404)
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
BMT2 results put fresh ounces on the table
Managing Director Dr Caigen Wang
“These 60 holes, which comprise more than 12,250 metres of drilling at the BMT1 deposit and the BMT2 prospect, are part of our 100,000m Boundiali drilling program for 2026. At BMT1, we have intersected high-grade gold close to surface, including 1.35m @ 43.32 g/t Au from 17m (MBDD418), as well as broader zones at depth such as 19m @ 1.90 g/t Au from 243m (MBDD405). BMT2 results are particularly encouraging because it currently sits outside our Mineral Resource. Hole MBDD404 returned two separate zones: 14.20m @ 2.36 g/t Au from 205.80m and 2.38m @ 22.01 g/t Au from 277m. Results from both areas will be assessed for the next Boundiali Mineral Resource update, which is targeted for early in the December quarter. It will then feed into the DFS due late this year…”
BMT2 is a prospect with no Mineral Resource currently defined. The fact that multiple mineralised zones have been intersected downhole, including two separate zones from a single hole (MBDD404), makes these results the clearest signal of resource expansion potential in this release.
Gold mineralisation at both BMT1 and BMT2 is hosted within sandstone rich in quartz veining associated with pyrite. True widths for these intercepts are estimated at approximately 60–85% of reported downhole lengths. The gold system at BM remains open along strike and at depth, and follow-up drilling to test the mineralisation identified outside the current resource is being planned.
Earlier drilling returned 367 g/t gold at BMT3 and BMT1, results that helped anchor the geological confidence now underpinning the Maiden Ore Reserve and informing the current DFS scope.
Understanding Mineral Resource estimates and why resource growth matters
A Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is a formal, independently verified calculation of the quantity of gold contained in a defined area of ground that has reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. It is one of the most important numbers in gold company valuation because it sets the ceiling on what a project can potentially produce.
MREs are classified into three categories based on how confident geologists are in the data:
- Inferred: The lowest confidence category. Based on limited drilling. The general location and grade of mineralisation is understood, but significant uncertainty remains.
- Indicated: Higher confidence. More drilling has been completed at closer spacing, allowing better definition of grade and geometry. Indicated resources can support economic studies.
- Measured: The highest confidence category. Sufficient drilling to confirm continuity with high certainty. Required for the most robust feasibility studies.
Why does drilling outside the current resource boundary matter? Because any gold mineralisation intersected beyond the existing MRE footprint represents potential to add ounces to the resource total. BMT2 currently contributes zero ounces to Aurum’s 3.22Moz Boundiali MRE. If the BMT2 intercepts meet the criteria for inclusion in the next MRE update, that total could grow.
The MRE update process runs roughly as follows:
- Drilling is completed and core samples are sent to an accredited laboratory for assay
- Assay results confirm the grade and width of gold intercepts
- A geological model is built or updated to incorporate the new data
- A Competent Person applies JORC Code classification criteria and publishes the updated MRE
The drilling cut-off for the next Boundiali MRE update is end of September 2026, with publication targeted for early Q4 CY2026. A larger, higher-confidence resource directly supports a stronger Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) outcome — the economic blueprint that will underpin any construction decision.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
Milestones stacking up as Boundiali moves toward development
Near-term catalysts
| Milestone | Detail | Timing | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Boundiali MRE update | Drill cut-off end September 2026 | Early Q4 CY2026 | Will incorporate BMT1 and BMT2 results from this release |
| Boundiali DFS | Full study incorporating 2026 drilling | Late CY2026 | Economic blueprint for development decision |
| Mining licence grant | Applications lodged | Targeted ahead of construction | Prerequisite for development |
| Napié drilling programme | 30,000m programme | Commencing Q4 CY2026 | Targeting growth of 1.16Moz resource |
| Construction start target | Subject to funding and licences | Early 2027 | Path to first gold |
| First gold target | Subject to funding and licences | First half 2028 | Revenue generation milestone |
A funded, self-equipped operator
Aurum held A$54.6M in cash as at 30 June 2026 (unaudited), providing the balance sheet to advance drilling, studies, and permitting concurrently. The company operates 16 Aurum-owned diamond drill rigs across the Boundiali programme, giving it direct control over drilling pace and cost that most exploration companies do not have.
Key milestones already delivered include environmental approvals received in May 2026, and the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and Maiden Ore Reserve in June 2026. The Maiden Ore Reserve totals 1,210koz Probable, spread across BDT1 (323koz @ 1.0 g/t), BDT2 (354koz @ 0.6 g/t), BMT3 (383koz @ 1.4 g/t), and BST (145koz @ 0.8 g/t). Total group resources stand at 4.38Moz, comprising the 3.22Moz Boundiali Gold Project and the 1.16Moz Napié Gold Project.
The pattern of high-grade gold intercepts at Boundiali across multiple tenements and depths has been a consistent feature of the 2026 drilling programme, reinforcing the project’s potential to grow the resource base ahead of the DFS.
The company’s three-pronged next-steps programme:
- Boundiali: 16 rigs drilling across BD, BM, and BST tenements; DFS targeted late 2026
- Napié: 30,000m programme commencing Q4 CY2026; exploration camp under construction to reduce operating costs and improve access
- Regional: Scout drilling planned across the 75km N-S mineralised corridor; Encore JV and Major Star Plus partnership projects advancing to identify new gold systems in the region
Don’t Miss the Next ASX Gold Resource Expansion
Get FREE breaking ASX gold news delivered to your inbox within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis. Join 30,000+ subscribers already staying ahead of the market with Big News Blast. Click the “Free Alerts” button to receive real-time alerts the moment market-moving gold news breaks.