Aim-listed Oriole Resources has reported that full channel sampling results from Phase 2 infill trenching at the MB01 prospect at its 80%-owned Mbe gold project, in Cameroon’s Adamawa region, covering the MB01-N and MB01-S targets, have returned further wide zones of mineralisation.

Mining contractor BCM International holds a 10% interest in the project and is currently funding up to $4-million for exploration to increase its stake by a further 40%.

The Mbe licence is one of five within Oriole’s Eastern CLP package of contiguous exploration licences, covering 2 266 km² of land prospective for gold deposits.

The company confirmed in an Mbe exploration update on November 12 that trench MBT015 in the MB01-S target returned 79 m at 0.43 g/t gold, including 2 m at 1.6 g/t gold and 2 m at 1.14 g/t gold.

In the MB01-N target, trench MBT012 yielded 122 m at 0.34 g/t gold, with segments showing 2 m at 1.17 g/t gold, 6 m at 1.03 g/t gold, 2 m at 1.03 g/t gold, and 2 m at 1 g/t gold.

The company reported that its Phase 2 intersections aligned well with Phase 1 data, outlining a north-south to north-northeast (NNE) south-southwest- (SSW-) trending-, 500-m-long mineralised corridor at MB01-S, and a north-northwest (NNW) south-southeast- (SSE-) trending-, 450-m-long corridor at MB01-N.

Re-assayed results from trench MBT004 yielded quality-assured values, with a key intersection of 4 m at 2 g/t gold, marking the completion of both Phase 1 and 2 trenching data reporting at Mbe.

An independent structural review of the MB01 system by Ghanaian exploration company SEMS Exploration highlighted two conjugate fault and fracture sets influencing the distribution of mineralisation.

Preparations for a fully funded maiden drilling programme, expected to start in the fourth quarter, are under way with drilling equipment currently being mobilised.

“We are pleased to have now reported the final highly encouraging trenching results from Mbe. They are consistent and correlate well with those from Phase 1 and are over significant gold mineralised widths. We are now making all necessary arrangements for the eagerly awaited start, in this current quarter, of the maiden drilling programme,” Oriole CEO Martin Rosser said.

Following an October 17 restructuring announcement, Oriole’s stake in the Mbe project will increase to 90%. Covering a 312 km² licence area, Mbe forms part of the broader 2 266 km² Eastern CLP exploration area.

Since 2022, Oriole’s systematic exploration identified a 3-km MB01 prospect within a 12.5-km gold-anomalous zone, where structural intersections led to enhanced gold deposits at MB01-N and MB01-S. These targets feature high-grade, sulphide-rich quartz veins and veinlets in an intensely altered mineralised felsic unit, forming wide envelopes of pervasive, lower-grade mineralisation.

Results from 4 537 infill soil samples, including quality-assured values, reached up to 8 174 ppb (8.17 g/t) gold, identifying three major gold mineralisation zones. The largest, at MB01-S, spans 1.15 km long by 750 m wide with gold values above 100 ppb.

Following the soil survey, two trenching phases for 7 055 m targeted MB01-N and MB01-S, with a 5 338-m Phase 1 programme over nine trenches (MBT001 to MBT009) spaced at about 200 m, and a 1 717-m Phase 2 programme over seven trenches (MBT010 to MBT016), reducing spacing to 100 m in key anomaly zones.

Oriole said that the Phase 1 trenching returned substantial mineralisation, including 50 m at 1.11 g/t gold at MBT003, 68 m at 0.77 g/t gold including 24 m at 1.18 g/t gold at MBT003, 51 m at 1.02 g/t gold, and 32 m at 1.32 g/t gold at MBT007, as well as 88 m at 0.71 g/t gold, with segments showing 30 m at 1.18 g/t gold and 47.75 m at 1.23 g/t gold at MBT008.

Results for 1 812 samples from Phase 2 infill trenching and 44 re-assayed samples from Phase 1 in MBT004 were analysed for gold at Bureau Veritas in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, through fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry finish, with all data meeting acceptable quality assurance standards.

Sampling occurred as a continuous channel from the trench wall and was collected from weathered in-situ material to avoid contamination. Samples were typically composited over 2 m intervals or 1 m in visibly mineralised material.

Significant intersections calculated with a 0.2 g/t gold lower cut-off and up to 35% internal dilution included 79 m at 0.43 g/t gold in MBT015 at MB01-S and 122 m at 0.34 g/t gold in MBT012 at MB01-N.

A structural review by SEMS confirmed mineralisation associated with faulting and fracturing, particularly in a dominant NNE-SSW and NNW-SSE set.

Oriole said the best intersection in Phase 2 infill sampling was 79 m at 0.43 g/t gold in MBT015 at MB01-S. About 60 m of this trench remains inaccessible owing to artisanal activity but is expected to yield high-grade results when drilled in fresh rock. At MB01-N, 122 m at 0.34 g/t gold, including 6 m at 1.03 g/t gold in MBT012, aligned well with previous data from Phase 1.

With both trenching phases completed, Oriole has outlined a 500-m mineralised corridor at MB01-S trending north to south to NNE-SSW, and a 450-m corridor at MB01-N trending NNW-SSE.

A maiden diamond drilling programme is now scheduled to start late in the fourth quarter, fully funded by BCM, with mobilisation already in progress.