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Corporate Update and Latest Results from Bibemi

In brief · summary, not quotable

Bibemi Phase 5 drilling delivers additional intersections; Mbe maiden programme underway with results expected Q1.

  • Bibemi Phase 5 - BZ1-NE intersection 5.30m at 1.68g/t Au
  • Bibemi Phase 5 - BZ1-SW intersection 1.20m at 13.60g/t Au
  • Bibemi existing MRE 375,000 oz contained gold at 2.30g/t Au
  • Mbe maiden drilling completed 990.50m in first three holes
  • BCM exploration funding commitment US$8 million
  • Oriole interest in Bibemi and Mbe 90% (post-restructuring)
Full announcement

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Oriole Resources PLC (AIM: ORR), the AIM-quoted gold exploration company focussed on West and Central Africa, is pleased to provide an update on its activities and investments, including the Bibemi and Mbe gold projects in Cameroon (together 'the Projects'), where BCM International ('BCM') is spending a total of US$8 million on exploration.

Highlights

Bibemi Gold Project, Cameroon

  • Further results from the ongoing Phase 5 diamond drilling programme at Bibemi have delivered intersections including 5.30 metres ('m') at 1.68 grammes per tonne ('g/t') gold ('Au') and 1.20m at 13.60g/t Au from the BZ1-NE and BZ1-SW targets.
  • Results for a further seven drilled holes at BZ1-SW are awaited and the programme is expected to complete later this quarter.
  • Restructuring work to formalise the Company's 90% interest in Bibemi is now complete.

Mbe Gold Project, Cameroon

  • The 6,590m maiden diamond drilling programme at Mbe, the most advanced licence in the Central Licence Package ('CLP'), commenced in Q4 and to date, a total of 990.50m has been completed in the first three holes at the MB01-S prospect.
  • Samples for the first two Mbe scissor drill holes have been dispatched to the assay laboratory and results are expected later in Q1.
  • Restructuring to formalise the Company's 90% interest in Mbe is progressing well.

Senala Gold Project, Senegal

  • At Senala in Senegal, the drafting of a joint-venture agreement to cover continued exploration has begun, and the exact earn-in percentage split is being finalised with the Company's joint-venture partner, Managem.
  • A reconnaissance field visit to the Faré and Madina Bafé targets at Senala has been completed and grab sampling within artisanal pits at Faré has delivered up to 43.60g/t Au. Managem is currently designing a work programme for joint partner review.

Muratdere Copper Project, Turkey

  • At legacy asset Muratdere in Turkey, an environmental impact assessment study ('EIA') has been approved, and a forestry permit is now awaited. A buyer for the Company's 1.2% Net Smelter Return ('NSR') royalty is being sought.

Chief Executive Officer of Oriole Resources, Martin Rosser, said: "We start the new year with the Oriole team working hard progressing our exploration projects in Cameroon. Drilling results are eagerly awaited for the first Mbe holes and for the conclusion of the Bibemi Phase 5 programme. At Senala in Senegal, we expect that our partner Managem will be re-focussed on advancing the project now that it has achieved significant progress with its more advanced, core assets. We look forward to reporting on the next steps in due course."

The Bibemi and Mbe earn-in agreements are progressing well, with BCM having acquired an initial 10% interest in both Projects and with expenditure against the combined US$8 million funding being used to advance the Company's Phase 5 and maiden diamond drilling programmes respectively. Oriole has now completed the restructuring process to confirm its 90% interest in Bibemi and work is ongoing to formalise its 90% interest in Mbe (announcement dated 17 October 2024).

Bibemi

At Bibemi, a total of 5,856.60m has been drilled in 49 holes at the Bakassi Zone 1 prospect ('Bakassi Zone 1' or 'BZ1'). Results to date from the programme have delivered intersections including (based on a 0.20g/t Au lower cut-off grade) 4.10m at 7.99g/t Au (BBDD059), 2.70m at 14.67g/t Au (BBDD058), 2.00m at 12.50g/t Au (BBDD061), 2.15m at 9.95g/t Au (BBDD063)1, 2.00m at 8.57g/t Au (BBDD075) and 1.00m at 25.54g/t Au (BBDD068) from the main BZ1-mineral resource estimate ('MRE') zone (announcements dated 12 September 2024, 14 October 2024 and 28 November 2024).

Results for a further nine drill holes have returned intersections including 5.30m at 1.68g/t Au (BBDD092) and 1.20m at 13.60g/t Au (BBDD095) from the BZ1-NE and BZ1-SW zones respectively, being satellite targets to the BZ1-MRE zone and therefore offering further upside at the project (Figure 1).

Table 1. Calculated intersections from Phase 5 holes BBDD087-95 using a 0.20g/t Au lower cut-off grade. Results greater than 1 g/t Au are in bold.

From (m)To (m)Grade (g/t Au)Intersection
BZ1-NE
BBDD087No significant intersections
BBDD088No significant intersections
BBDD0896.007.000.201.00m at 0.20g/t Au
and30.8031.800.641.00m at 0.64g/t Au
BBDD0905.606.600.201.00m at 0.20g/t Au
and35.2036.200.441.00m at 0.44g/t Au
and77.9079.000.241.10m at 0.24g/t Au
BBDD091No significant intersections
BBDD09232.0037.301.685.30m at 1.68g/t Au
including33.0035.103.852.10m at 3.85g/t Au
BBDD09325.3026.301.721.00m at 1.72g/t Au
BBDD094No significant intersections
BZ1-SW
BBDD09538.5039.7013.601.20m at 13.60g/t Au

* Intervals greater than 1.00m, calculated using a 0.20g/t Au lower cut-off grade and no more than 19% internal dilution. True widths are variable due to changes in vein orientation but are typically 77% of the reported downhole interval.

Results for a further seven drill holes at BZ1-SW are awaited, and the remainder of the programme will be completed at the BZ1-MRE zone, where the Company has previously reported an MRE of 375,000 ounces ('oz') contained gold at an average grade of 2.30g/t Au. These new holes will focus on upgrading the existing Inferred resource to the Australasian Joint Ore Reserve Committee ('JORC') Code Measured and/or Indicated categories.

Detailed metallurgical test work is also underway, alongside various other technical studies, to help support the Company's ongoing exploitation application process.

Figure 1. Selected best results to date from Phase 5 drilling at Bibemi. NB. results still awaited for seven Phase 5 drill holes completed at BZ1-SW.

Mbe

At Mbe, within the broader Eastern CLP district, the maiden 6,950m drilling programme (in 24 holes) is progressi

ng well, with a total of 990.50m completed to date in holes MBDD001-03. Samples for the first two holes have been dispatched to the assay lab and results are expected later in Q1. Following the promising rock-chip, soil- and trench-sampling results to date at Mbe, the Company is continuing to review other anomalies identified in the wider Central Licence Package.

Figure 2. Left: BCM team handing core barrel at hole MBDD0002. Right: Oriole team inspecting the core at the drill site.

SENEGAL

Senala

In February last year, Managem Group ('Managem') completed its earn-in to Senala and confirmed that it had spent approximately US$5.8 million on exploration, giving it an approximate 59% interest in the Senala licence. An audit of that expenditure is nearing completion and it is anticipated that Oriole's 85% owned subsidiary, Stratex EMC SA, will retain a 40% interest in the licence, giving Oriole an effective 34% beneficial ownership. We expect to agree a new joint venture partnership agreement with Managem, and an update on this will be provided in due course.

In the meantime, a reconnaissance field visit to the Faré and Madina Bafé targets has been completed and grab sampling within artisanal pits at Faré has delivered up to 43.60g/t Au from 50 samples. Managem is currently designing a work programme for review.

INVESTMENTS

The Company has been advised that the Environmental Impact Assessment ('EIA') study for the Muratdere copper-gold project in Turkey has been approved by Environmental and City Planning Office, and that an appeal to overturn that decision has not been upheld. The operator of the project, Lodos Maden Yatırım Sanayii ve Ticaret A.Ş. ('Lodos'), a wholly owned mining investment company of Istanbul-quoted investment company Pragma Finansal Danışmanlık Ticaret A.Ş. ('Pragma'), is awaiting the forestry permit which is the last step before moving to construction.

The mine plan includes 16 million tonnes of ore Reserves with an average ore grade of 0.52% copper ('Cu'), 0.0125% molybdenum ('Mo'), 0.11g/t Au and 2.40g/t silver ('Ag'). Oriole has a 1.2% NSR royalty and the team is continuing to engage with interested parties with regards to a possible sale.

Oriole Resources PlcTel: +44 (0)20 7830 9650
Martin Rosser / Bob Smeeton / Claire Bay
BlytheRay (PR Contact)Tel: +44 (0)20 7138 3204
Tim Blythe / Megan Ray
Grant Thornton UK LLPTel: +44 (0)20 7383 5100
Samantha Harrison / Ciara Donnelly / Elliot Peters
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Ewan LeggatTel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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