The latest assay results from two diamond core drill holes at Aim-listed tin exploration company Rome Resources' Kalayi tin prospect, in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have confirmed the presence of high-grade tin mineralisation across multiple sub-parallel ore shoots.

The discovery validates the company's geological model and reinforces the potential for tin as Rome Resources' drilling campaign moves closer to the interpreted granitic source, the company said on February 25.

Rome Resources said it remained focused on defining a maiden inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) at Kalayi on its Bisie North project, with drilling covering only 30% of the identified 2 000 m tin-in-soil anomaly.

Mineralisation has been confirmed from surface, remaining open at depths beyond 250 m, with visible cassiterite observed in the deepest hole to date, about 220 m below surface.

One of the drill holes, designated as KBDD015, intersected a mineralised section measuring 3.3 m at a grade of 1.77% tin from a depth of 96.85 m. Another mineralised section in the same hole measured 5.7 m at 1.35% tin from a depth of 147.9 m, including a sub-section of 2.85 m at 1.98% tin.

In the second drill hole, designated as KBDD016, the company reported an intersection of 9.5 m at 0.6% tin from a depth of 126.45 m, including a sub-section of 1.7 m at 1.61% tin.

A key takeaway for the company was that the assay results confirmed a pinch-and-swell system, with tin mineralisation remaining open beyond 250 m depth.

Rome Resources said two additional shallower holes will complete the current drill programme. The company added that assay results from the southernmost hole, and the deepest drilled to date at Kalayi, are expected to show continuity of mineralisation on strike and at depth.

Rome Resources stated that the system continued to show characteristics similar to Alphamin's Mpama South deposit, with potential for deeper high-grade mineralised zones.

The company reported that tin mineralisation intercepted 80 m below the two latest drill holes was expected to materially enhance the resource potential, significantly expanding the known mineralised system.

With tin prices nearing about $34 000/t, these intercepts demonstrate the potential for economic mineralisation, particularly as drilling extends deeper.

"With tin trading at near-record levels . . . our latest results further reinforce Kalayi's economic potential. These new results build on our confidence in the project's growing scale and the continuity of high-grade tin mineralisation at depth.

“We now have clear evidence of a strong system extending across multiple zones, improving widths and grades as we drill deeper towards the granite source," Rome Resources CEO Paul Barrett said.

The drill rig at Kalayi was mobilised to Mont Agoma to improve productivity where adverse drilling conditions have resulted in delays to completing the initial Mont Agoma programme, Rome Resources said.

The company said the rig would be returned to Kalayi in due course to complete the remaining holes, ensuring the partial extent of the tin system was captured in the upcoming maiden inferred resource estimate.

Rome Resources said it remained fully funded for its current programme following its £4.2-million strategic investment from Stanvic Mining, enabling an accelerated exploration programme this year.

Assay results from a drill hole at Mont Agoma, which intersected more than 100 m of visible copper mineralisation, are expected to be available shortly. The company said this would be a critical test for the potential scale of copper mineralisation associated with the 2 000 m copper-in-soil anomaly.

Rome Resources reported that drilling would continue at both Kalayi and Mont Agoma, with a focus on extending high-grade tin zones and advancing towards a maiden inferred MRE. The company stated that ongoing deeper drilling is testing the mineralisation zonation model, seen in world-class tin mines such as Alphamin's Mpama deposits and San Rafael in Peru, where grades have strengthened significantly at depth.

Rome Resources added that drill results at Kalayi confirm economic-grade tin mineralisation and support the potential for openpit development, with mineralisation now confirmed across multiple zones.

The company stated that operations remain unaffected by unrest in Goma and Bukavu. Rome Resources has proactively relocated its logistical base to Kisangani, ensuring full operational capacity and continuity of exploration. The company added that the remote proximity of its projects, as well as the limited infrastructure surrounding the projects reduces its exposure to regional unrest.

"With over 4 135 m drilled to date, we are moving rapidly towards defining our maiden inferred MRE, which will be a major step in demonstrating the full potential of this emerging tin asset.

“The combination of high tin grades, growing scale, and Rome's strategic positioning within one of the world's most prospective tin belts places us in a strong position to unlock further shareholder value,” Barrett said.

The company stated that one of the deeper drill holes, designated as KBDD018, which targeted the mineralised zone 80 m below KBDD016, has confirmed the continuation of tin mineralisation at depths exceeding 250 m below surface. The company said this was a significant finding, as the bulk of the resource at the neighbouring Mpama South deposit is below these levels.

Rome Resources added that grades and widths at Kalayi may strengthen as drilling advances toward the interpreted underlying granitic source.

The company said that the confirmation of tin mineralisation 80 m below the two latest drill holes significantly expanded the known mineralised system at Kalayi. This depth extension was expected to materially enhance the resource potential, reinforcing the geological model and supporting further growth as drilling continues.

Rome Resources reported that both drill holes recorded narrow, high-grade intercepts exceeding 3% tin within the broader zone of mineralisation, reinforcing the potential for a nearby significant mineralised system at Kalayi. The company stated that the system remained open for further drilling, with additional results expected to provide greater insight into the deposit's full scale.

The company added that samples from the remaining drill holes would be sent from Kisangani to Lubumbashi for sample preparation prior to onward transportation to Johannesburg.

It added that results for the bulk of the Kalayi drilling programme were expected in the first quarter, contributing to the proposed maiden inferred MRE.