AKORA Reports 339m of High-Grade Iron Trenching at Bekisopa Project
AKORA Resources has confirmed significant extensions of high-grade Direct Shipping Ore at its Bekisopa Iron Ore Project in Madagascar, with all eight trenches intersecting iron mineralisation. These results bolster the potential to expand the project's resource footprint ahead of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate.
- 339 metres of trenching completed across eight trenches
- All trenches intersected high-grade Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) iron mineralisation
- Notable intercepts include 36m at 63.8% Fe and 87.4m at 60.5% Fe
- Results validate geological continuity between Southern and Central resource zones
- Plans underway to update Mineral Resource Estimate with new data
Exploration Success at Bekisopa
AKORA Resources Limited (ASX: AKO) has reported encouraging results from its latest trenching campaign at the Bekisopa Iron Ore Project in Madagascar. The company completed 339 metres of trenching across eight trenches, all of which intersected high-grade Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) style iron mineralisation. This campaign targeted the previously underexplored area between the existing Southern and Central resource zones, revealing a continuous and accessible high-grade iron ore system.
High-Grade Intercepts Confirm Resource Upside
The trenching results include standout intercepts such as 36 metres at 63.8% iron and 87.4 metres at 60.5% iron, with several intervals exceeding 64% Fe. These grades are well within the range sought by steelmakers using traditional blast furnace methods and support AKORA's strategy to supply premium DSO material. The consistency of mineralisation across all trenches reinforces the geological model and suggests significant potential to expand the Indicated Resource footprint.
Strategic Implications for Project Development
Managing Director Peter Bird highlighted that the trenching results validate the continuity of high-grade mineralisation between resource zones, which is critical for extending mine life and improving project economics. The discovery of easily accessible surface mineralisation enhances the prospects for a staged development approach, potentially reducing upfront capital intensity and accelerating production timelines.
Exploration Potential Remains Strong
With approximately 50% of the Bekisopa tenement still unexplored, magnetic surveys indicate further significant anomalies along the six-kilometre strike length. The trenching program, a cost-effective exploration method, has successfully targeted these anomalies and visible iron outcrops, setting the stage for future drilling campaigns to delineate additional resources.
Next Steps and Market Outlook
AKORA plans to forward the new exploration data to Wardell Armstrong International for an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, expected to reflect the expanded footprint and potentially upgraded resource classification. This update will be a key milestone as the company advances detailed feasibility studies and continues to position Bekisopa as a competitive supplier of high-grade iron ore in the global market.
Bottom Line?
AKORA’s trenching success at Bekisopa signals promising resource growth, setting the stage for a resource update and advancing project development.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate impact AKORA’s project valuation and financing options?
- What is the timeline for follow-up drilling to confirm and extend these trenching results?
- How might these exploration results influence AKORA’s production targets and market positioning?
