Aurum Resources Confirms High-Grade Gold to Depth at BST1 Boundiali
Key Takeaways
- Aurum Resources has confirmed gold mineralisation at 343m depth at BST1 — outside the current MRE boundary — directly supporting a larger Indicated Resource in the Q4 CY2026 update.
- The standout intercept of 5.63m @ 31.79 g/t Au from 32m (BSDD0097), including 2.63m @ 67.60 g/t Au, demonstrates high-grade shallow mineralisation alongside the deeper extensions.
- BST1's current Indicated Resource of only 190koz sits well below the 570koz total — the conversion of Inferred to Indicated ounces is the critical task before the DFS can be finalised.
- Aurum holds A$54.6M in cash as at 30 June 2026 and operates 16 self-owned diamond rigs, giving it the financial and operational runway to hit the end-September 2026 drilling cut-off without relying on third-party contractors.
- First gold production at Boundiali is targeted for H1 2028, with the DFS, Mining Licence applications, and Napié's 30,000m drill program all running in parallel through late 2026.
High-grade gold confirmed at depth as Boundiali’s BST1 deposit grows
Aurum Resources has announced assay results from 22 diamond drill holes at the BST1 deposit within its 3.22Moz Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, confirming gold mineralisation down dip outside the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) boundary. The 5,774.15m of drilling forms part of the ongoing 100,000m CY2026 Boundiali program, with 16 Aurum-owned diamond rigs active on site and the BST tenement held at 100% interest.
The results directly feed into the next major Boundiali MRE update, targeted for early Q4 CY2026 (drilling cut-off end September 2026), followed by a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) expected in late CY2026. Against this backdrop, Aurum holds A$54.6M in cash as at 30 June 2026 (unaudited), supporting parallel execution of drilling, studies, and permitting. The company’s combined group gold resources stand at 4.4Moz, comprising the 3.22Moz Boundiali Gold Project and the 1.16Moz Napié Gold Project. BST1’s current resource stands at 22Mt @ 0.8 g/t Au for 570koz.
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Standout drill results from BST1
The latest batch of assay results delivered numerous high-grade intersections across BST1, with most holes reporting multiple zones of gold mineralisation downhole. That pattern underscores the thick, wide character of the system rather than isolated high-grade shoots.
High-grade gold intercepts at Boundiali have been a consistent feature across multiple drilling rounds in 2026, with earlier batches establishing the grade tenor that the BST1 results reported here are now extending at depth.
All intercepts are reported as downhole lengths. True widths are estimated at approximately 60–85% of reported downhole lengths.
Best intercepts from the latest round of drilling
- 5.63m @ 31.79 g/t Au from 32m, inc. 2.63m @ 67.60 g/t Au (BSDD0097)
- 3.07m @ 17.20 g/t Au from 201.93m, inc. 0.50m @ 104.13 g/t Au (BSDD0104)
- 2m @ 18.71 g/t Au from 149m (BSDD0108)
- 4.50m @ 6.65 g/t Au from 222m, inc. 3.50m @ 8.42 g/t Au (BSDD0119)
- 30m @ 0.96 g/t Au from 174m, inc. 6m @ 2.05 g/t Au (BSDD0119)
- 10m @ 2.42 g/t Au from 185m, inc. 5.10m @ 4.33 g/t Au (BSDD0116)
- 20m @ 1.16 g/t Au from 169m, inc. 2m @ 6.80 g/t Au (BSDD0113)
- 9.50m @ 2.25 g/t Au from 211m, inc. 2m @ 7.35 g/t Au (BSDD0116)
- 6.88m @ 3.05 g/t Au from 0m, inc. 1.50m @ 13.05 g/t Au (BSDD0104)
- 17m @ 1.20 g/t Au from 343m, inc. 4m @ 3.41 g/t Au (BSDD0114)
The intercept at 343m depth is particularly significant. It confirms the gold system remains open at depth, outside the current MRE boundary, which directly supports the potential for a materially larger Indicated Resource in the upcoming update.
Managing Director Dr Caigen Wang
“…These holes have intersected shallow, high-grade mineralisation, including 5.63m @ 31.79 g/t Au from 32m (BSDD0097). The shear-hosted gold mineralisation at BST1 shows thick, wide zones with multiple intersections downhole, and as demonstrated in our PFS, this style of mineralisation is amenable to open pit mining…”
What is a mineral resource estimate — and why does this drilling matter?
A Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is a JORC-compliant calculation of how much gold exists in a deposit, expressed in tonnes and grade (grams of gold per tonne of rock). Resources are categorised by confidence level — Inferred, Indicated, and Measured — with Inferred representing the lowest confidence and Measured the highest.
The distinction between Inferred and Indicated matters enormously for project advancement. Indicated resources carry sufficient geological confidence to be converted into Ore Reserves, which are the foundation for feasibility studies and mine financing. You cannot build a bankable DFS on Inferred ounces alone.
That context explains why this drilling round is material. BST1’s current Indicated Resource is only 6.9Mt @ 0.9 g/t Au for 190koz — a relatively small portion of the 570koz total BST1 resource. The majority sits in the lower-confidence Inferred category. The stated aim of the current program is to materially upgrade Inferred ounces to Indicated status ahead of the DFS.
Drilling cut-off timing matters for the same reason. Only results received by end September 2026 will feed into the next MRE update. The fleet of 16 self-owned rigs running now is designed to maximise the conversion window before that deadline closes.
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Milestones ahead — from resource update to first gold in 2028
Aurum’s forward agenda is structured across three parallel workstreams, each with defined timing targets.
Boundiali — advancing to development
- Resource update: Next major MRE update targeted early Q4 CY2026 (drilling cut-off end September 2026).
- DFS delivery: Results from 2026 drilling expected to be incorporated in a DFS targeted for late CY2026.
- Mining Licences: The company is targeting grant of Mining Licences in parallel with DFS completion.
- First production: Targeted for H1 2028, aiming for a large-scale open pit gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire.
Napié — scaling the second project
- A 30,000m diamond drilling program is planned to grow the 1.16Moz gold resource, with drilling targeted to begin Q4 CY2026.
- Aurum is establishing an exploration camp near the Napié deposits to reduce operating costs and improve access efficiency.
Group financial position
- A$54.6M cash (30 June 2026, unaudited) supports parallel execution of drilling, DFS, and permitting across both projects.
- 16 self-owned diamond rigs eliminate the need to contract external drilling, delivering a structural cost and speed advantage relative to companies reliant on third-party drill contractors.
| Milestone | Project | Target Timing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRE Update | Boundiali | Early Q4 CY2026 | Drilling cut-off end September 2026 |
| DFS Delivery | Boundiali | Late CY2026 | In progress |
| Napié Drilling (30,000m) | Napié | Q4 CY2026 start | Camp being established |
| Mining Licence Grant | Boundiali | 2026/2027 | Applications in progress |
| First Gold Production | Boundiali | H1 2028 | Targeted |
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