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Rome Resources Drilling Resumes, Intersecting Copper and Zinc at Mont Agoma

Rome Resources' latest drilling results at Mont Agoma confirm a substantial polymetallic system with 176m mineralization envelope, validating their model where copper and zinc transition to deeper tin, similar to established mines in Peru and UK.

  • Rome Resources has announced substantial copper and zinc intersections from drill holes MADD024 and MADD026 at its Mont Agoma prospect, with a 176m mineralized envelope in hole MADD024.
  • The latest assay results confirm the company's exploration model of a polymetallic system that transitions into deeper tin mineralization, similar to established projects like San Rafael in Peru and South Crofty in the UK.
  • Drilling has defined polymetallic mineralization over a 500m strike length and a width exceeding 200m, with the system remaining open at depth and along strike.
  • Both drill holes reported visible cassiterite (tin mineral), strengthening the company's zonation model where shallower copper and zinc transition into tin at deeper levels.
  • A new 3,000m drilling program is underway, primarily focused on deeper tin targets and step-out drilling to expand the polymetallic footprint.

Rome Resources Plc (AIM:RMR), the Democratic Republic of Congo-focused tin and base metals explorer, has announced significant assay results from its Mont Agoma prospect, highlighting its potential as a substantial polymetallic system. The company, which trades on London's AIM market, is advancing exploration at its DRC projects with a focus on tin, copper, and zinc mineralization.

The latest assay results from drill holes MADD024 and MADD026 have delivered broad copper and zinc intersections, continuing the trend of near-surface and high-grade polymetallic mineralization at the site. These findings support Rome's exploration model that the system transitions from copper and zinc at shallower levels to tin mineralization at depth.

Key Assay Highlights Show Significant Mineralization

The company reported substantial mineralization in both drill holes, with MADD024 delivering multiple copper zones including:

  • 14.8m @ 0.67% Cu from 59.1m, including 0.7m @ 2.32% Cu from 62.4m
  • 13.4m @ 1.26% Cu from 109m, including 2.83m @ 2.13% Cu from 119.6m
  • 14.5m @ 1.57% Cu from 174m, including 5.13m @ 3.00% Cu from 180.4m

This mineralization occurred within a broader 176m mineralized envelope, reinforcing the scale of the copper system at Mont Agoma.

Meanwhile, drill hole MADD026 showed similarly encouraging results:

  • 54m @ 3.41% Zn from 113m, including 21m @ 5.96% Zn from 126m
  • 20m @ 1.23% Cu from 193m, including 5.10m @ 3.12% Cu from 193.9m

Importantly, both holes reported visible cassiterite (tin mineral) over intervals of 28m and 15m respectively, which the company sees as validation of its zonation model.

Source: Rome Resources PLC - Mont Agoma Resumes Drilling, Strikes Copper & Zinc

Transition Zone Model Supported by Drilling Results

The company's exploration thesis is built around a model where mineralization transitions from copper and zinc near the surface to tin at depth. This pattern is similar to well-established tin mines like San Rafael in Peru and South Crofty in the UK, both of which began as copper mines before transitioning to tin production as mining progressed deeper.

Paul Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of Rome Resources Plc, commented on the findings:

"The exploration at Mont Agoma continues with the recent resumption of drilling. A number of key tin targets are planned to be drilled, which will allow us to fine tune the geological model and improve our understanding of how the three key commodities - copper, zinc, and tin - are distributed within the mineralized system. The results to date are highly encouraging, confirming consistent copper and zinc near surface with tin strengthening at depth - exactly the zonation profile we anticipated."

The drilling results show that mineralization plunges to the northwest, bringing the tin zone closer to the surface in the southeast portion of the prospect. This pattern is guiding the company's exploration strategy, with the southeastern area and deeper sections identified as high-priority targets.

Expanding Footprint and Scale

One of the most promising aspects of the Mont Agoma prospect is its growing scale. Drilling has now defined polymetallic mineralization over a strike length of 500 meters and a width exceeding 200 meters, with the system remaining open both at depth and along strike.

The company reports that copper mineralization has been identified over significant widths in the northern area of drilling. Hole MADD018 previously reported copper mineralization within a broader 148m envelope, supported by a copper-in-soil anomaly that continues for approximately 1,000m to the northwest.

Similarly, zinc mineralization has been substantial, with MADD026 intercepting 54m at 3.41% Zn from 113m, including 21m at 5.96% Zn from 126m. Both drill holes were stopped before reaching the continuation of a broader zinc zone (approximately 100m wide) that was intersected in earlier holes MADD001 and MADD002.

The best tin grades to date were reported in hole MADD009, drilled in the southeast, which returned 6.65m @ 0.53% Sn from 45.35m, including 2m @ 1.33% Sn. This underscores the company's focus on southeastern and deeper drilling targets.

New Drilling Campaign for Deeper Tin

Rome Resources has launched a new 3,000-meter drilling program at Mont Agoma, employing three diamond core drill rigs. The campaign is primarily focused on testing the grade and width of tin mineralization at pierce points shown on the company's long section, targeting much deeper levels than previously drilled.

"This short 3,000 metre campaign is focused on targeting deeper tin mineralization, and regular updates are anticipated in the coming months as results are received, along with the company's inferred mineral resource estimate for both Mont Agoma and the nearby Kalayi tin prospect. These steps mark important progress in demonstrating the scale and value of this emerging polymetallic system," added Barrett.

The program includes a drill hole designed to test the continuation of tin mineralization to the south of a possible fault, as well as provisions for additional drill holes once the tin zone has been located. The company notes that the best tin intercepts to date have been located in the southern area of drilling.

Implication for Investors

For investors looking at Rome Resources, these latest drilling results provide several important insights:

  1. Resource Potential: The scale of mineralization (500m strike length, >200m width) and the consistent nature of copper, zinc, and tin intercepts suggest significant resource potential at Mont Agoma.
  2. Multiple Commodities: The polymetallic nature of the deposit (tin, copper, zinc, and silver) offers potential diversification and flexibility in terms of future development options.
  3. Exploration Model Validation: Each new set of results has further validated the company's zonation model, increasing confidence in the geological understanding of the system.
  4. Near-Term Catalysts: Investors can expect several near-term catalysts, including results from the ongoing drilling program and the publication of maiden resource estimates for both Mont Agoma and Kalayi.
  5. Development Pathway: The company is methodically advancing on multiple fronts, including drilling, metallurgical studies, and resource estimation, suggesting a clear pathway toward potential development.

Rome Resources appears to be making steady progress at its Mont Agoma prospect in the DRC, with drilling results consistently supporting its geological model of a substantial polymetallic system. The identification of a 176m mineralized envelope with significant copper grades, alongside broad zinc mineralization and increasing tin potential at depth, suggests a system of meaningful scale.

Paul Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of Rome Resources Plc, commented:

"We are very pleased to be back to drilling and look forward to completing the programme in a timely manner. Assaysfrom the last three holes are now in-house and the Company will advise the market of their results along with a detailedtechnical update on the strategy for the current drill programme in the coming days."

For investors interested in the junior mining sector, particularly those focused on base and strategic metals, Rome Resources offers exposure to tin, copper, and zinc exploration in a proven geological setting. The upcoming resource estimates and continued drilling results will provide important data points for evaluating the company's long-term potential.

While all exploration-stage companies carry significant risks, Rome's methodical approach to exploring and defining its resources, coupled with the consistent nature of results to date, may offer a more balanced risk profile than many of its peers. As always, investors should consider their own risk tolerance and investment goals when evaluating opportunities in the junior mining sector.

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