Aurum Resources Hits Thick High-Grade Gold Zones at Boundiali BDT2 Deposit

Robust Gold Intersections Expand Boundiali’s Resource Potential

Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) has delivered a fresh tranche of impressive drilling results from its flagship Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire, with 40 diamond drill holes at the BDT2 deposit revealing multiple thick zones of gold mineralisation. Highlights include a standout 36 metres grading 1.99 grams per tonne gold from 280 metres depth, featuring an exceptional 1.85 metres at 27.97 g/t Au. These results reinforce the gold system’s continuity beyond the existing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) boundaries and confirm the deposit remains open at depth.

The BDT2 deposit lies within a sizeable 13km by 3km mineralised corridor, where gold occurs in a thick sandstone unit associated with disseminated pyrite and a characteristic alteration assemblage. Aurum’s drilling strategy is focused on upgrading inferred resources to indicated status and testing the limits of known mineralisation, a tactic that appears to be paying dividends given the scale and grade of intercepts reported.

Accelerated Drilling Program Aims to Drive Resource Growth

With 14 diamond drill rigs currently active, Aurum is pressing ahead with an ambitious 100,000-metre drilling campaign at Boundiali, complemented by a 30,000-metre program at its nearby Napié Gold Project. The company plans to sustain this momentum through 2026 with a total of 130,000 metres drilled, targeting resource expansion and conversion to support upcoming development milestones.

These drilling efforts dovetail with Aurum’s timeline for delivering a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on the Boundiali project by May 2026, followed by a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) expected in late 2026. The PFS will assess the economics of an open-pit mining operation, while the DFS will integrate the latest drilling data to refine project parameters.

Aurum’s Managing Director Dr Caigen Wang emphasised the company’s drilling efficiency and resource growth potential, noting that the new results “demonstrate the scale potential on offer at Boundiali” and the “gold system remains open at depth.” This drilling success is underpinned by Aurum’s in-house drill fleet, enabling rapid and cost-effective exploration compared to peers.

Strong Resource Base and Financial Position

The company’s combined group gold resources now total 4.2 million ounces, including 3.03 million ounces at Boundiali and 1.16 million ounces at Napié. This follows recent announcements confirming resource growth at both projects, such as the 34% increase at Napié that lifted the total to 1.16Moz. Aurum’s strong $61 million cash position as of 31 March 2026 provides ample runway to fund its drilling programs and advance feasibility studies.

These developments come shortly after Aurum confirmed a significant 220-metre depth extension of gold mineralisation at Boundiali’s BST1 deposit, further bolstering the project’s resource profile and development prospects. The company’s strategy to build a central processing hub and secure environmental approvals is progressing in tandem with exploration activities, positioning Aurum to capitalise on Côte d'Ivoire’s prolific gold belt.

Exploration Upside and Development Pathways

Despite the impressive resource base, Aurum’s exploration remains at an early stage in several respects. Drilling to date has targeted primarily outcropping anomalies, leaving ample room for blind discoveries and extensions along strike and at depth. The company’s regional exploration pipeline, including the Encore JV and Major Star Plus partnership projects, aims to identify new gold systems that could further enhance its portfolio.

As Aurum advances towards development, key upcoming catalysts include the May 2026 PFS release and the incorporation of 2026 drilling results into the DFS. These milestones will provide clearer insight into the project’s economic viability and potential production profiles, critical factors for investors assessing the company’s value proposition.

Given the scale of thick, high-grade intersections and the open nature of the gold system, Aurum’s Boundiali project remains a compelling exploration and development story in West Africa’s gold sector, with the company’s operational control of drilling a notable competitive advantage.