24th Sep 2026 17:01
(Alliance News) - Oriole Resources PLC on Thursday announced geochemical results from its maiden diamond drilling programme at its limestone project in Wapouze, north-eastern Cameroon.
The West and Central Africa-focused gold exploration company said the results from 1,053.80 metres of drilling in 21 holes encountered marble units in every hole, with most returning "high-quality" carbonate material.
The programme tested three zones across an approximately 1.2 kilometre cumulative strike length of outcropping metamorphosed limestone, with the marble extending to depths of up to 47.5 metres from surface.
Oriole said the marble was relatively consistent across the three zones, with most holes returning high-quality material over more than half their drilled length. The company said the results confirmed the continuity and quality of the limestone identified through earlier surface exploration.
Chief Executive Officer Martin Rosser said the results "show significant intersected widths of marble at CaO and MgO grades acceptable for a potential quarrying operation supplying product for use in the cement manufacturing industry."
Oriole said some of the purest limestone identified could also be suitable for chemical lime production, a higher-value application used in the mining and chemical industries.
The company said it would use the results to prepare a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate and/or exploration target, scheduled for publication in early fourth quarter.
It also confirmed that an environmental and social impact assessment was underway to support the submission of an Exploitation Licence Application in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Wapouze could potentially supply Cameroon's cement industry and neighbouring Chad, where demand for cement remains significant, Oriole said. The company is continuing discussions with potential industry partners to explore developing a commercial quarry operation.
Oriole ultimately expects the project to generate royalty-based income, which it said could provide additional funding for its gold exploration activities in Cameroon.
Oriole shares were up 0.8% at 0.30 pence late on Thursday afternoon in London.
By Niall Holden, Alliance News reporter
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