Aruma Resources has completed its acquisition of the high-grade Tillex Copper Project in Ontario and kicked off a maiden diamond drilling campaign following an EM survey that extended the known mineralised footprint. Meanwhile, exploration at Wilan and Saltwater projects confirms promising mineral assemblages and expanded gold-polymetallic anomalies.
- Tillex acquisition completed in Tier-1 Timmins district
- Historic drilling shows wide, high-grade copper-silver intersections
- EM survey extends mineralisation strike to 600m and depth beyond 400m
- Maiden diamond drilling campaign underway with first assays due soon
- Wilan and Saltwater projects confirm valuable mineral assemblages and priority targets
Tillex Acquisition Unlocks High-Grade Copper Potential in Timmins
Aruma Resources (ASX:AAJ) has secured an 85–100% stake in the Tillex Copper Project, nestled in Ontario’s renowned Timmins mining district. This acquisition brings under Aruma’s control a well-defined copper-silver sulphide asset with a substantial history of drilling, over 10,000 metres of diamond core, that consistently returned broad, shallow intersections of high-grade copper and silver. Highlights include intervals such as 110 metres at 1.69% copper with 7.05 g/t silver from just 34 metres depth, featuring even richer sub-intervals exceeding 2.5% copper and 12 g/t silver. The project’s location on patented claims means Aruma holds full mineral rights without landowner hurdles, supported by a First Nations agreement on the Metals Creek Resources portion of the tenure.
These historic results underscore Tillex’s potential as a significant copper-silver deposit in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. The project was originally discovered in 1973 and has seen intermittent drilling, but until now lacked a focused, well-funded operator to advance it. Aruma’s acquisition follows a binding agreement with Metals Creek Resources and private claim owners, finalised this quarter with share and cash consideration.
EM Survey Reveals Extended Mineralised Footprint to 600m Strike and 400m Depth
Building on the strong drilling legacy, Aruma conducted an extensive ground-based electromagnetic (EM) survey that identified two major conductors indicative of copper mineralisation. The Main Conductor, enveloping the known deposit, extends strike length by approximately 180 metres to around 600 metres and reaches depths beyond 400 metres, significantly deeper than previous drilling. The East Conductor, located immediately east and deeper than the Main, presents a separate high-conductivity target with a strike length of about 200 metres at 120 metres depth. These conductors provide compelling drill targets well beyond the historic footprint, enhancing the project’s exploration upside.
This geophysical success sets the stage for Aruma’s maiden diamond drilling campaign, which commenced shortly after quarter-end. The initial 1,500-metre phase aims to test extensions along strike and at depth, including holes planned to reach 350 metres guided by the EM survey’s depth extent. The campaign also includes downhole EM surveys to refine targeting below the 400-metre depth of the surface EM results. First assay results from this drilling are expected imminently in the current quarter, potentially confirming the scale and grade of the mineralisation and facilitating a future Mineral Resource Estimation.
The drilling campaign is a critical step in transforming Tillex from a historic exploration project into a delineated resource, with the potential to attract development interest in a globally strategic copper district. The maiden drilling launch was covered in detail in Aruma’s recent update on the diamond drilling program, highlighting the company’s confidence in the project’s scale and quality maiden diamond drilling campaign and the EM survey’s role in shaping drill targets EM survey extends mineralised footprint.
Wilan and Saltwater Projects Show Encouraging Mineral Assemblages and Expanded Anomalies
Beyond Tillex, Aruma’s Australian projects continue to deliver promising exploration results. At the Wilan Project in South Australia’s Eromanga Basin, a heavy mineral sands (HMS) sampling program confirmed high-value assemblages of zircon, rutile, and ilmenite. Eleven of 31 sampled sites showed visible HMS concentrations, with X-ray diffraction analyses highlighting significant proportions of these sought-after minerals. Wilan’s proximity to BHP’s Olympic Dam and adjacency to Altitude Minerals’ Peake Project positions it well within a prolific mineral province.
Meanwhile, the Saltwater Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region saw an extensive soil sampling campaign expand the known gold and polymetallic footprints at Saltwater Dome and Tunnel Creek. Notably, gold assays reached up to 845 ppb at the Oracle Prospect, accompanied by coincident copper, lead, and zinc anomalies. The Luke Prospect at Tunnel Creek emerged as a priority target with a multi-element anomaly spanning 1.65 square kilometres, indicative of orogenic or intrusion-related gold systems. These findings reinforce the polymetallic potential of Saltwater and warrant further detailed exploration activities in 2026, including infill sampling and geophysical surveys expanded mineralised footprint and priority targets.
Corporate Moves and Financial Position Support Aggressive Exploration
On the corporate front, Aruma completed the divestment of its non-core Melrose Gold Project in Western Australia, aligning its portfolio towards copper and gold assets with higher strategic priority. The company also settled the second tranche of a $3.515 million placement, receiving approximately $2.778 million in fresh capital to fund ongoing exploration programs across its core projects. As of 31 March 2026, Aruma held $1.896 million in cash with no debt, positioning it to sustain its aggressive exploration agenda.
Exploration expenditure for the quarter was $508,000, reflecting active fieldwork and technical programs. The company’s focus remains on advancing the Tillex project through its maiden drilling and resource definition phase, while continuing to mature its Australian assets. Investors will be watching closely for the upcoming assay results from Tillex’s initial drilling phase, which will be pivotal in validating the project’s scale and grade.
Bottom Line?
Aruma’s maiden drilling at Tillex, supported by robust EM survey extensions, could redefine the project’s scale; first assay results will be key to confirming its resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will initial Tillex drilling assays confirm the projected high-grade copper-silver mineralisation?
- Can the EM conductors at depth and along strike translate into economically viable extensions?
- How will exploration progress at Wilan and Saltwater influence Aruma’s strategic focus and capital allocation?