Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE: BRES) is pleased to announce the first batch of assay results from its Stage 7 drilling programme at its Orom-Cross graphite project in Northern Uganda. This campaign, the largest in the Company’s history, included geotechnical holes, infill drilling and exploration drilling across both the Camp Lode and Northern Syncline deposits, as well step-out and deep drilling at the newly identified Beehive deposit.
Assays are being processed in batches for each component of the programme and will be reported regularly as results are returned. The first results, from the eight geotechnical holes drilled primarily to support pit design, have returned strong graphite grades.
These results confirm extensions to mineralisation and highlight high-grade zones within the existing deposits, further underscoring Orom-Cross’s unique combination of high grade, shallow ore and large-scale potential.
Highlights:
Camp Lode
- Hole CLGT03: 27.54m @ 8.68% TGC, including 1.3m @ 18.98% TGC and 1.3m @ 13.46%TGC
- → Confirms high-grade extensions to the orebody to the south-east.
- Hole CLGT02: 3.96m @ 9.08% TGC at depth.
- Shallow intersections in CLGT01 and CLGT04 confirm near-surface mineralisation and potential to extend the pit to the north.
Significance: Adds higher-grade tonnes to the Camp Lode resource and optimises mine scheduling for early production phases.
Northern Syncline
- Hole NSGT02: 27.98m @ 4.61% TGC, including 5.57m @ 8.10% TGC (majority <30m depth).
- Hole NSGT04: 12.37m @ 6.09% TGC.
Significance: Confirms shallow, high-grade mineralisation continuity in infill zones which are critical for low-cost, open-pitable production.
Drilling Programme Integration
- All results will be incorporated into the JORC Resource upgrade, which is expected to deliver a material increase in Reserves to support large-scale mining over life of mine.
- Additional assays from infill, step-out and deep drilling (Beehive deposit) programmes are expected shortly.
Construction of a Permanent Camp
Work is now underway on building a permanent camp at Orom-Cross which is expected to support further exploration in 2026 and provide facilities for contractors during the construction of the mine. This permanent camp represents the first tangible permanent structures on site which underlines the progress being made. With the DFS expected to be completed in Q4 2025 the next steps thereafter will be project funding and then construction of the mine.
Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:
‘The results confirm high-grade extensions to both Camp Lode and Northern Syncline, while reinforcing the advantage of shallow, easily mined ore that underpins our low-cost production profile.
All this data will be fed directly into both our JORC Resource upgrade and the Definitive Feasibility Study, which is due for completion in Q4 2025. Increasing ore reserves at higher grades is a critical step and we expect this to not only enhance the mine plan but also translate into a considerable uplift to project economics and NPV.
Orom-Cross already benefits from a unique combination of attributes, including abundant low cost national-grid hydropower, established roads and infrastructure, and independent test work from both Wuhan University and American Energy Technologies confirming some of the highest SPG purities recorded (up to 99.99% GC). This underscores the exceptional quality of Orom-Cross graphite and its suitability for premium battery-grade markets. Together, these factors give Orom-Cross a rare blend of scale, quality and deliverability that make it a truly bankable graphite opportunity.
With assays now beginning to come through and more results to follow we look forward to a steady flow of updates, including the JORC upgrade and the DFS. These milestones will showcase Orom-Cross as a standout global graphite project, provide the platform to move directly into financing discussions, and ultimately set the stage for a major value re-rating as we continue to de-risk.’
Preliminary drill results Camp Lode
Preliminary drill results Northern Syncline
Further Drilling Detail
The Company drilled four geotechnical holes in each of the Northern Syncline and Camp Lode deposits. While primarily designed for geotechnical assessment to inform pit wall design, all holes were sampled for assays and incorporated into resource database.
At Camp Lode, these holes have indicated a possible extension to the orebody in the south-east, with hole CLGT03 intersecting 27.54m @ 8.68%GC including 2 separate intersections of 1.3M with grades of 18.98%GC and 13.46%GC respectively. These represent very high grades of graphite in comparison to the overall Orom-Cross resource. An additional intersection from hole CLGT02 of 3.96m @ 9.08%GC at depth and intersections near surface in holes CLGT01 and CLGT04 indicate potential to extend the pit to the north.
Similarly, at Northern Syncline hole NSGT02 intersected 27.98m @ 4.61%GC (including 5.57m @ 8.10%GC) and NSGT04 with 12.37m @ 6.09%GC. The intersection from NSGT02 occurs within the area of the completed infill drilling with the majority of the intersection occurring within 30 meters of the surface. The ability to mine substantial volume of graphite from shallow depths contributes to Orom-Cross having operating costs sitting within the lowest percentile of graphite projects worldwide, and this is considered a major advantage as Blencowe drives towards first production.
The results from all eight holes will be included within the resource model updates. The assay labs are continuing to prioritise the Orom-Cross samples and the Company expects further results of the infill program shortly.
For further information please contact:
|
Blencowe Resources Plc Sam Quinn |
www.blencoweresourcesplc.com Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250 info@blencoweresourcesplc.com |
|
Investor Relations Sasha Sethi |
Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441 sasha@flowcomms.com |
|
Tavira Financial Jonathan Evans |
Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733 jonathan.evans@tavira.group |
Twitter https://twitter.com/BlencoweRes
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/72382491/admin/
Background
Orom-Cross Graphite Project
Orom-Cross is a potential world class graphite project both by size and end-product quality, with a high component of more valuable larger flakes within the deposit.
A 21-year Mining Licence for the project was issued by the Ugandan Government in 2019 following extensive historical work on the deposit and Blencowe is finalising the Definitive Feasibility Study phase as it drives towards first production.
Orom-Cross presents as a large, shallow open-pitable deposit, with a maiden JORC Indicated & Inferred Mineral Resource deposit of 24.5Mt @ 6.0% Total Graphite Content. Development of the resource is expected to benefit from a low strip ratio and free dig operations, thereby ensuring lower operating and capital costs.
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