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Rome Resources Assesses Multi-Commodity Potential at Bisie North Project as Drilling Continues

Rome Resources delays maiden resource estimate to September 2025 to assess multi-commodity potential including tin, copper, and zinc at Bisie North.

  • Rome Resources holds its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) from June 2025 to September 2025 to include recent drilling results showing promising tin, copper, and zinc mineralisation at the Bisie North Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • The company expects to complete its current drilling programme by end-July 2025, with helicopter operations temporarily suspended for mandatory maintenance, concentrating efforts on specific drill holes.
  • Initial XRF analysis from completed drill holes revealed significant mineralisation, with tin grades up to 4% over 40cm and copper intersections up to 4.5%, plus impressive zinc zones reaching 13% over 12 metres.
  • Management is shifting strategy from a tin-focused MRE to a comprehensive multi-commodity assessment that could establish multiple value streams from tin, copper, zinc, and potentially germanium recovery operations.
  • The revised timeline allows for metallurgical analysis in Canada and further assessment of commercial viability for combined operations, potentially positioning Bisie North as a strategic multi-commodity asset in a region of growing global interest.

Rome Resources is a DRC-focused tin and copper explorer developing the Bisie North Project in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The company is advancing exploration activities across multiple commodities including tin, copper, and zinc, with a focus on establishing commercial-scale mineralisation through systematic drilling programmes and resource estimation work.

Thw company decided to delay its maiden resource estimate reflects both the complexity of multi-commodity assessments and the potential for a more comprehensive value proposition than initially anticipated.

Multi-Commodity Assessment

Rome Resources has made significant adjustments to its operational timeline and strategic priorities at the Bisie North Project. The company announced that helicopter transportation support is currently unavailable due to technical issues, leading to concentrated operations at specific drill sites.

Chief Executive Officer Paul Barrett commented on the current progress: "We continue to make good progress at the Bisie North Project. The scale and quality of mineralisation across tin, copper, and zinc is becoming increasingly apparent - and we are only just beginning to test the deeper parts of the system as well as the new tin zone previously reported."

The company has strategically decided to release its contracted helicopter for mandatory maintenance in Uganda rather than interrupt later operations. Management anticipates completing work on drill holes MADD030A, MADD031, and additional drill hole MADD032 before the helicopter departs for servicing.

This operational adjustment reflects Rome's pragmatic approach to resource allocation, prioritising continuous drilling operations over the short-term convenience of helicopter support.

Mineralisation Results and Technical Findings

Recent drilling results have provided encouraging indications of multi-commodity potential at Bisie North. XRF analysis conducted on drill holes MADD027 and MADD028 revealed substantial mineralisation across multiple commodities:

  • MADD027 demonstrated tin mineralisation over 42 metres, with the highest tin grade reaching approximately 4% over 40cm within a broader 6-metre zone of approximately 1% tin. The drill hole also revealed a 13-metre zone of approximately 8% zinc within a broader 42-metre wide zinc zone.
  • MADD028 showed tin mineralisation over 54 metres, with a maximum of approximately 2% tin over 50cm. More significantly, this drill hole reported an impressive 12-metre zone of approximately 13% zinc within a broader 61-metre zone.

Copper mineralisation has shown particular promise to the northwest, with narrow zones reaching up to 4.5% copper reported from both holes. A highly significant copper intersection was observed over 48 metres in MADD029, drilled northwest of the other holes.

The company noted that these results support their geological model, where tin grades are expected to increase at depth and to the northwest. The new mineralisation zones are considered highly significant as tin was reported from surface over more than 30 metres.

Operational Developments and Timeline Adjustments

Rome Resources has fundamentally altered its approach to resource estimation, moving from a tin-focused assessment to a comprehensive multi-commodity evaluation. This strategic pivot reflects the substantial potential identified across multiple commodities.

In a company announcement, Barrett explained the rationale for this shift:

"The decision to include both the more recent core assays in the maiden MRE and assess the commercial potential of the other commodities present, will give Rome a comprehensive maiden MRE on or around September 2025 rather than a partial picture. The Bisie North Project is shaping up to be a highly strategic, multi-commodity asset in a region of growing global interest."

The current planned maiden MRE assessment had been restricted to drill holes with official assays up to and including MADD026. Management recognised that finalising the assessment at this stage would exclude promising values in subsequent drill holes for tin, copper, and zinc, potentially leading to an underestimate of resource potential.

MSA, the consulting firm conducting the resource estimation work, has been undertaking additional assessment of copper and zinc mineralisation potential. The Kalayi tin work is near completion, but Mont Agoma findings require additional time due to highly significant copper tonnage in shallow sections.

Metallurgical Analysis

Rome Resources is advancing metallurgical analysis to support multi-commodity processing capabilities. Metallurgical samples are en route to Canada for testing to assist in evaluating a multi-commodity value stream at Bisie North.

The company is developing a polymetallic processing flowsheet designed to recover tin, copper, and zinc from Mont Agoma. This comprehensive approach could establish multiple revenue streams from a single operation, potentially improving project economics.

Additionally, samples from holes MADD016 and MADD017 will be assayed for germanium, a high-value commodity associated with sphalerite (zinc mineral). Given the high grades of zinc identified, there is potential for germanium association with sphalerite, which could add a fourth value stream to the project.

Conclusion for Investors

Rome Resources' decision to delay its maiden resource estimate demonstrates management's commitment to presenting a comprehensive assessment rather than rushing to market with incomplete data. While this delay may disappoint investors seeking immediate resource confirmation, it potentially positions the company for a more substantial resource declaration.

The multi-commodity approach could provide Rome Resources with enhanced project economics through diversified revenue streams. The presence of tin, copper, zinc, and potentially germanium in commercially viable quantities would significantly differentiate Bisie North from single-commodity projects.

Forward Planning

The revised timeline positions Rome Resources to deliver a more comprehensive assessment of Bisie North's potential. The company anticipates completing the current drilling campaign by end-July 2025, with sample preparation and laboratory analysis completed by end-August 2025.

MSA is expected to deliver a maiden MRE report based on all available drill data around mid-September 2025, providing a complete picture of the project's multi-commodity potential. This approach reflects management's confidence in the project's broader potential beyond tin mineralisation, focused on drilling deeper and northeast into newly identified zones will deliver critical additional information for more accurate resource assessment at Mont Agoma.

Regional Stability and Peace Agreement Developments

Rome Resources has noted positive developments in regional stability following the announcement of a planned peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The definitive peace agreement, including joint security guarantees, is scheduled for signing next week and has been brokered by Qatar and the United States.

In a company announcement, the company views this as a significant positive development for the regional business environment, particularly in eastern DRC where Rome operates. Enhanced political stability and security arrangements could improve operational confidence and potentially attract increased investment interest in the region's mining sector.

Key Takeaway

Rome Resources' strategic pivot toward multi-commodity assessment at Bisie North represents a significant evolution in the project's potential value proposition. While the delayed timeline may test investor patience, the comprehensive approach could deliver a more substantial and economically robust resource estimate.

The company's systematic approach to resource definition, combined with encouraging initial results across multiple commodities, positions Rome Resources as a potentially significant player in the critical minerals sector. The September 2025 maiden resource estimate will be crucial in determining whether the project can deliver on its multi-commodity promise and establish Rome Resources as a serious contender in the DRC mining landscape.

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