London-listed Blencowe Resources has reported further assay results from 12 shallow drill holes at its Iyan deposit, part of the Orom-Cross graphite project, in Uganda, confirming consistent, near-surface graphite mineralisation.

These results form the second batch from the Stage 7 drilling programme and reinforce the deposit’s potential as a bulk blending operation capable of supporting long-life, low-cost production.

Iyan is positioned as the western extension of the Northern Syncline graphite system and is being developed to provide steady, high-tonnage graphite feed.

While bulk graphite deposits are generally associated with moderate grades, Blencowe said on February 6 that the results continue to show repeated higher-grade zones within the mineralisation, offering flexibility in mine planning and the potential for optimised blending strategies.

The latest holes were drilled to about 30 m depth and were selected to define near-surface, mineable material rather than to test the limits of the deposit. Mineralisation was intersected from surface in most holes, and several ended in mineralisation, indicating the potential for continuity below current drilling depths.

The company noted that deeper drilling, to about 100 m, at both Iyan and the nearby Beehive deposit has already shown that mineralisation persists at depth, supporting the possibility of future depth extensions and enhanced resource estimates.

Selected results from the shallow drilling include NSDD-L705 with 31.20 m at 6.84% total graphitic carbon (TGC), including 12.16 m at 10.89% TGC; NSDD-L707 with 30.20 m at 7.55% TGC, including 5 m at 11.74% TGC; and NSDD-L1003 with 30.27 m at 6.27% TGC, including 6 m at 8.59% TGC and 8 m at 8.29% TGC.

Other holes ended in mineralisation, underscoring the thickness and continuity of the deposit.

Blencowe said the results support near-term resource growth and scale expansion, feeding into an updated Joint Ore Reserves Committee resource estimate expected in the first quarter. The company said this will provide clarity on the scale and life of the deposit as funding and downstream offtake discussions advance.

Assay results from the Beehive deposit, where more than 100 shallow holes were drilled to about 30 m, remain pending. Earlier deep drilling at Beehive demonstrated strong graphite grades at depths of about 100 m. Blencowe said results from the completed shallow drilling programme at Beehive will be reported progressively in batches.

“Iyan continues to deliver exactly what we are looking for at this stage, with consistency, scale and quality at shallow depth. Even as a bulk blending deposit, we continue to see higher-grade zones within thick intersections, which is a very attractive characteristic for mine planning and long-life production.

“With many holes again ending in mineralisation, and deeper drilling at both Iyan and Beehive already demonstrating continuity to about 100 m, we see clear scope to evaluate depth extensions in due course,” Blencowe executive chairperson Cameron Pearce said.

He notes that these results align with increasing Western focus on securing long-term supplies of critical minerals outside China.

“Continued drilling success strengthens the resource base that underpins longer-life development scenarios and supports larger-scale, longer mine life, and will assist with funding discussions and offtake discussions under way.

“We will look to get out all remaining Iyan and Beehive drill results in February and build toward the next Orom-Cross resource update thereafter,” Pearce said.