REG - Oriole Resources PLC - Bibemi Project Exploration and Technical Update

Oriole ResourcesAnnouncement

17/07/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 6596W  Oriole Resources PLC  17 July 2024

Oriole Resources PLC

('Oriole Resources' or 'the Company' or 'the Group')

 

Exploration and Technical Update: Bibemi Gold Project, Cameroon

 

Oriole Resources PLC (AIM: ORR), the AIM-quoted gold exploration company
focussed on West and Central Africa, is pleased to announce an update for its
82.2%-owned Bibemi orogenic gold project ('Bibemi' or the 'Project') in
Cameroon, where BCM International Limited ('BCM') is currently funding up
to US$4 million in exploration expenditure in return for up to a 50%
interest in the Project.

 

Highlights

 

·    A fully funded Phase 5 drilling programme of 7,060 metres ('m') in 62
holes is ongoing at the Bakassi Zone 1 prospect ('Bakassi Zone 1' or 'BZ1');

·    To date, a total of 10 vertical holes have been completed for
approximately 1,244m at the main BZ1 Mineral Resource Estimate ('MRE') area
('BZ1-MRE');

·    Samples from these holes are being prepared in-country and initial
results from the programme are anticipated in Q3-2024;

·    Multiple shallow-dipping (less than ('<') 45˚ from horizontal)
and steeply dipping quartz and quartz-tourmaline veins (up to 2.40m wide) have
been intersected, which is encouraging for additional near-surface
mineralisation within the existing open pit design limits;

·    A further 23 inclined and four vertical holes have been planned at
BZ1-MRE, focussed on expanding and upgrading the existing JORC Inferred MRE;

·    25 holes are also planned at two along-strike target areas, BZ1-NE
and BZ1-SW, where exploration to date has generated coincident geochemical and
geophysical targets;

·    SGS South Africa has been engaged to undertake the next phase of
mineralogical and metallurgical test work on representative mineralised
material from Bibemi;

·    The Company has submitted to the Cameroon Mines Ministry (the
'Ministry') an exploitation licence application ('ELA'). The ELA is required
to secure the tenure of the licence as exploration and development activities
continue.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Oriole Resources, Martin Rosser, said: "The
drilling at Bibemi is making good progress and we continue to investigate
opportunities to accelerate the programme. The drill cores from the initial
vertical holes look promising and we are looking forward to reporting the
results in due course. These results will feed into our ongoing technical and
economic studies as part of the ELA process with the government."

 

Figure 1. 2.40m wide quartz tourmaline vein within tonalite host rock in hole
BBDD058. Pyrite mineralisation throughout and with strong local brecciation.

 

Figure 2. Multiple flat-lying quartz veins (<10cm) over a 4m interval in
hole BBDD059, with pervasive sericite and pyrite in the vein haloes. The veins
are perpendicular to the foliated tonalite host rock which itself is
mineralised with pyrite.

Figure 3. 1m zone of quartz tourmaline veining in hole BBDD059, with
silicification of the host rock extending for a further metre downhole.

 

Further Details

At the Bibemi orogenic gold project (177 square kilometres ('km(2)') in area)
in the North region of Cameroon, the Company's exploration to date has
identified shear-hosted gold mineralisation at four main prospects - Bakassi
Zone 1, Bakassi Zone 2, Lawa West and Lawa East - within a circa 12
kilometres ('km') long mineralised hydrothermal system at surface. Since
Q1-2021, the Company has completed four phases of diamond drilling at the
Project for a total of 6,685.40m in 54 holes, with gold mineralisation hosted
in both steeply dipping and flatter lying quartz and quartz-tourmaline veins.

 

The majority of the drilling to date has been focussed on a circa 1km section
at the southern end of Bakassi Zone 1 and has delivered best
intersections of 14.80m grading 4.27 grammes per tonne ('g/t') gold ('Au')
and 7.70m grading 2.7 4g/t Au (hole BBDD050), 6.50m grading 3.92 g/t Au (hole
BBDD034), 5.20m grading 1.97 g/t Au (hole BBDD031), and 9.20m grading 1.31
g/t Au (hole BBDD042) (announcements dated 20 December 2021, 9 February
2022 and 15 September 2022). In January 2024, the Company reported an
updated MRE for the Bakassi Zone 1 of 5.1 million tonnes grading 2.30 g/t Au
for approximately 375,000 troy ounces ('oz') Au in the JORC Inferred Resources
category, based on a 0.45 g/t Au cut-off grade and within a US$2,000/oz gold
price pit shell (announcement dated 15 January 2024).

 

A fully funded Phase 5 drilling programme commenced at Bakassi Zone 1 last
month for a planned 7,060m in 62 holes. The Company today reports that a total
of 10 vertical holes (BBDD055 to BBDD064) have been completed for 1,244.20m at
the main BZ1-MRE area. The holes have intersected multiple shallow-dipping
(<45˚ from horizontal) and steeply dipping quartz and quartz-tourmaline
veins (up to 2.40m wide) that the Company anticipates will deliver additional
near-surface mineralisation within the existing pit limits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Drill plans for Bakassi Zone 1 showing completed and planned
drilling at the prospect as an overview (left) and at BZ1-MRE only (right).

 

Samples are being prepared in-country and initial results from the programme
are anticipated in Q3-2024.

A further 23 inclined and four vertical holes have been planned at BZ1-MRE,
focused on infill and extensional drilling to expand and upgrade the existing
MRE, and 25 holes are also planned at two along-strike target areas, BZ1-NE
and BZ1-SW, where exploration to date has confirmed coincident geochemical and
geophysical targets (Figure 4). See announcement dated 25 March 2024 for
further details.

The Company also reports that it has submitted an ELA for Bibemi, ahead of the
existing exploration licence reaching its maximum tenure later this year. The
submission of an ELA was required to secure the tenure of the licence and the
Company has been advised that the Cameroon Mines Ministry of Mines will review
the ELA, a process that is expected to take several weeks, before providing a
formal acknowledgement of receipt. The ELA submission is supported by various
technical studies, including an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and
preliminary economic studies. It marks the start of an iterative negotiation
period to define and formalise a Mining Convention for the Project.

Various inputs to the Mining Convention will change as a result of the
Company's ongoing exploration and development programmes, including the
current Phase 5 drilling programme, aimed at expanding and upgrading the
existing MRE, mineralogical and metallurgical test work on representative
mineralised material, and other technical studies relating to mine design. The
objective of the latter test work is to determine the mineralogical
constituents of the sample and the metallurgical response when subjected to
leaching. This scouting work will determine the next steps for a more detailed
phase.

As previously reported, mapping and rock-chip sampling is also ongoing within
the wider Bibemi licence area. Anything significant that comes from these
programmes will be reported.

For further information on the Bibemi project, including a JORC Table 1,
please see the following page of the Company's website
https://orioleresources.com/projects/bibemi/
(https://orioleresources.com/projects/bibemi/) .

 

Competent Persons Statement

 

The information in this announcement that relates to the Mineral Resource is
based on data compiled by Mr. Robert Davies, EurGeol, CGeol, an independent
consultant to Oriole. Mr Davies is a Director of Forge International Limited.
Mr Davies has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity
being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012
Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results,
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Davies consents to the inclusion in
the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in
which it appears. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new
information or data that materially affects the Mineral Resource Estimate, and
that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the MRE
continue to apply.

 

The technical information in this release that relates to Exploration Results
and the planned exploration programme has been compiled by Claire Bay
(Executive Director, Exploration and Business Development). Claire Bay (MGeol,
CGeol) is a Competent Person as defined in the JORC code and takes
responsibility for the release of this information. Claire has reviewed the
information in this announcement and confirms that she is not aware of any new
information or data that materially affects the information reproduced here.

 

** ENDS **

 

 

 

For further information please visit www.orioleresources.com
(http://www.orioleresources.com) ,  @OrioleResources on X,

or contact:

 Oriole Resources Plc                      Tel: +44 (0)20 7830 9650
 Martin Rosser / Bob Smeeton / Claire Bay

 BlytheRay (IR/PR Contact)                 Tel: +44 (0)20 7138 3204
 Tim Blythe / Megan Ray

 Grant Thornton UK LLP                     Tel: +44 (0)20 7383 5100
 Samantha Harrison / Ciara Donnelly / Elliot Peters
 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP            Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470

 Ewan Leggat / Kasia Brzozowska

Notes to Editors:

Oriole Resources PLC is an AIM-listed gold exploration company, with projects
in West and Central Africa. It is focussed on early-stage exploration in
Cameroon, where the Company has reported a Resource of 375,000 oz Au at
2.30g/t in the JORC Inferred category at its 82.2%-owned Bibemi project and
has identified multi-kilometre gold and lithium anomalies within the
district-scale Central Licence Package project. BCM International is currently
earning up to a 50% interest in the Bibemi and Mbe projects in return for a
combined investment of US$1.5 million in signature payments, up to US$8
million in exploration expenditure, as well as JORC resource-based success
payments.

 

At the Senala gold project in Senegal, AGEM Senegal Exploration Suarl
('AGEM'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Managem Group, has recently completed a
six-year earn-in to acquire an estimated 59% beneficial interest in the Senala
Exploration Licence by spending US$5.8 million. A review of expenditure and
discussions on the formation of a joint-venture company are currently
underway. The Company also has several interests and royalties in companies
operating in East Africa and Turkey that could deliver future cash flow.

 

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