Blencowe Resources (BRES ) has released its final assay results from an extensive round of shallow drilling at the Beehive deposit, one of two substantial new deposits rcently delineated at the company's Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.
As part of the Stage 7 drilling programme, Blencowe completed 110 shallow drill holes at Beehive, to test the continuity, thickness and near-surface extent of graphite mineralisation.
The final batch comprises 40 holes, positioned predominately to the south of the target area, completing the shallow assay dataset for Stage 7 ahead of the company's next major resource milestones.
These will include a maiden JORC resource for Beehive and an updated JORC resource for the wider Orom-Cross system.
The shallow Beehive programme was designed to define near-surface, bulk minable graphite mineralisation, with holes drilled to a planned depth of approximately 30 metres.
The majority of reported holes intersected graphite mineralisation from near surface to end-of-hole, with many holes ending in mineralisation, supporting potential for continuation below the current shallow drilling depth.
Multiple holes delivered long intervals from surface within the near-surface envelope. The average grades are consistent with assumptions made in the DFS, with multiple higher-grade zones within bulk mineralisation.
Among the highlights were 22.23 metres true width grading 7.73% total graphitic carbon (TGC),
20.85 metres grading 7.67% TGC, 22.64 metres grading 6.3% TGC, and 18.88 metres at 6.67% TGC.
Results also continue to support potential extensions within the broader target area, particularly toward the western end of the deposit.
With assaying now complete, the company's independent geological consultants have progressed a preliminary mineralisation model highlighting potential extents of the deposit in the hinge area at Beehive.
These results continue to support the interpretation of a thick graphite system at shallow depths, even as previously reported deeper drilling demonstrates mineralisation continuing to approximately 100 metres depth.
Together, the shallow and the deeper datasets provide the basis to define the near-surface component and the wider vertical growth runway at Beehive.
Beehive has been defined over approximately 1,200 metres of strike and 480 metres of width to date and remains open for step-out extensions to the north and west, and to the south. This is in addition to depth continuity below the current shallow 30 metre drilling horizon.
"Beehive continues to deliver thick mineralisation from surface with strong continuity and higher-grade zones within the broader envelope,” said Blencowe Resources executive chairman, Cameron Pearce.
“Through extensive metallurgical testing via experts worldwide we have already proven the high quality of Orom-Cross graphite as both concentrates and purified products. Scale and quality together are very valuable. With mineralisation previously demonstrated to around 100 metres depth and the deposit open for step-outs to the north and west and to the south, we believe Beehive has the potential to be a material addition to Orom-Cross, subject to JORC reporting. Modelling is now well advanced and we expect to issue a maiden Beehive JORC mineral resource shortly, which will also provide an updated Orom-Cross JORC resource. We continue to progress strategic and funding discussions in parallel, with offtake interest remaining strong."
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Based on the thickness, continuity and grade profile demonstrated across the programme, together with the defined footprint of the deposit to date, Blencowe reckons Beehive has the potential to deliver a material addition to the Orom-Cross resource inventory. That’s certainly something to look forward to, even as it progresses with a funding package for the development of the wider Orom-Cross project. It’s already been a busy year for Blencowe, and the pace is unlikely to let up.