Blencowe Resources (BRES ) has released assay results from shallow drilling at the Beehive deposit, one of the two exciting new deposits recently delineated at the company's Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.
As part of the Stage 7 drilling programme, the company completed 110 shallow drill holes at Beehive, designed to test the continuity, thickness and near-surface extent of graphite mineralisation across the deposit. Assay results have now been received from 35 holes, many of which returned intercepts of greater than 30 metres.
This indicates that Beehive is likely to support near-surface bulk mining. Fifteen holes averaged grades greater than 6% total graphitic carbon, and 18 holes averaged over 5%.
Among the highlights were returns of 30.09 metres at 10.78% total TGC from surface, and 31.4 metres at 9.46% TGC from surface.
Further Beehive assay batches are now with the company's independent geological consultants, Minrom, for validation and quality assurance. As batches are cleared additional results are expected in quick succession.
Beehive represents the next key growth lever for Orom-Cross, which already has an established resource, as development planning and strategic/funding discussions progress in parallel
These initial results support the interpretation that Beehive is a substantial new deposit with a thick graphite system at shallow depths. Previously reported deep drilling has demonstrated that mineralisation can continue to over 100 metres depth. The shallow holes are therefore helping define near-surface tonnage, with deeper drilling indicating clear vertical upside.
Orom-Cross is a vast bulk-tonnage system that continues to demonstrate multiple higher-grade zones within its broader mineralised envelope, providing flexibility for mine planning, blending and value optimisation as the development plan is refined. This combination of scale, consistency and grade-profile is increasingly relevant to downstream processing pathways and longer-term offtake discussions, particularly as Western markets continue to prioritise secure, diversified non-China supply chains.
"Beehive is delivering strong early validation, including 30.09 metres at 10.78% TGC from surface, and multiple +30 metre intercepts from surface across the initial dataset. These results reinforce the potential for meaningful near-surface tonnage within the broader Orom-Cross system,” said Blencowe’s executive chairman, Cameron Pearce.
“Following our recent maiden Iyan JORC mineral resource of 16.9 million tonnes, which increased total Orom-Cross JORC mineral resources by 66% to 43 million tonnes, the strategic importance of adding further tonnes here at Beehive is clear: constantly strengthening Orom-Cross as a scalable, multi-deposit graphite system capable of supporting several downstream pathways. With access to renewable hydropower and a growing resource base, Orom-Cross is being positioned as an integral part of the West's drive for secure, non-China critical mineral supply. Further Beehive assay batches are now with Minrom for validation, and as batches are cleared we expect additional results to be reported in quick succession, progressing towards a maiden Beehive JORC mineral resource in due course, and a further update to the overall Orom-Cross JORC mineral resource. We continue to advance strategic and funding discussions in parallel as development planning progresses."
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The shallow Beehive drilling was deliberately designed to define near-surface, bulk mineable graphite mineralisation, with holes drilled to a planned depth of approximately 30 metres. Multiple holes delivering more than 30 metres of continuous graphite mineralisation from near surface with many holes ending in mineralisation, highlighting clear potential for continuation below the current drilling depth. These results build on previously reported deeper drilling at Beehive, which demonstrated graphite mineralisation continuing to around 100 metres depth.