Oriole Resources PLC (AIM: ORR) announced that soil sampling at the Mbe gold project in Cameroon’s Adamawa region has pinpointed three zones for more focused exploration.
A trenching program has commenced, covering 5,500 meters to gather three-dimensional data through rock mapping and sampling of these soil anomalies.
Results, expected next quarter, will aid in defining drilling targets for the 2024/25 field season.
Highlights
· Infill soil sampling (100 metres (‘m’) x 25m spacing) at the MB01 prospect (‘MB01’ or the ‘Prospect’) has significantly improved the definition of previous regional gold-in-soil anomalism, with results from 4,537 samples (including quality assurance and quality control (‘QAQC’) samples), delivering up to 8,174 parts per billion (‘ppb’) gold (‘Au’);
· The increased data resolution delivered by this infill programme has identified three key zones, including the previously defined northern target (‘MB01-N’) and southern target (‘MB01-S’), for more targeted follow-up:
o A greater than (‘>’) 100 ppb Au soil anomaly extends over 1.15 kilometre (‘km’) by up to 0.75km at MB01-S, marking a significant zone of pervasive gold deposition. The core of this anomaly is over 500 ppb Au;
o A second >50 ppb Au soil anomaly (0.95km by up to 0.75km) has been defined at MB01-N, with results highlighting the importance of intersecting structural controls;
o A third, more diffuse, zone has been outlined along strike of MB01-N, to the northeast, extending over an area of 0.50km by up to 0.50km;
· A trenching programme has commenced for a planned 5,500m, which will provide three-dimensional data by mapping and sampling the rocks underpinning these soil anomalies. The results, which are anticipated in Q3 2024, will help to define drilling targets for the 2024/25 field season;
· A second infill soil sampling programme (100m x 50m spacing) is nearing completion over the broader regional soil anomalism, which also covers two ground geophysical targets (MB_Target A and MB_Target B). Results are anticipated in Q3 2024;
· Additional pit sampling has delivered best results of 260.03 grammes per tonne (‘g/t’) Au from 556 samples (including QAQC), with 160 samples (31.18%) grading over 0.5 g/t Au;
· Results from initial metallurgical analysis of 18 representative pit samples suggests that the near-surface, oxidised material, is non-refractory and should be amenable to conventional leaching extraction methods.
BCM International is currently investing up to US$4 million in exploration at Mbe.
Claire Bay, Oriole’s exploration director, stated: “These latest findings have significantly enhanced our understanding of the potential scale of the gold-bearing system at Mbe, with three substantial targets identified for follow-up on the MB01 trend.
“MB01-S, in particular, appears extremely promising, with consistently anomalous grades over an area of more than 0.75 km² and a higher-grade core exceeding 500 ppb Au.
“It’s very encouraging to see pit sampling yielding grades of up to 260g/t Au outside previously tested areas.
“Initial metallurgical test work results are also highly encouraging, and with a second soil sampling program nearing completion over the wider license area, there is potential for further target identification.”
