Critical Mineral Resources Plc - Drilling Results
Gold discovery and more shallow copper mineralisation
Drill results
Excellent near surface copper intercepts continue:
o BHR09:10.0m at 1.1% Cu and 20g/t Ag and 0.12g/t Au from surface o BHR05: 1.0m at 1.44% Cu from 10.0m o BHF01: 2.0m at 0.95% Cu from 29.0m o BHR10: 3.0m at 0.82% Cu and 12g/t Ag from 3.0m o BH46: 4.0m at 1.1% Cu and 4g/t Ag from 16.4m o BH50: 3.0m at 0.80% Cu and 4g/t Ag from 31.0m o BH51: 3.0m at 1.1% Cu from 32m o BH52: 1.0m at 1.69% Cu and 4g/t Ag from 16.8m
New near surface gold intercepts of:
-- BHR07: 1.0m at 2.5g/t Au from 5.0m
-- BHR04: 1.0m at 0.6g/t Au from 13.6m
-- BHR13: 1.0m at 1.05g/t Au from 11.0m
-- BHR20: 0.8m at 1.67g/t Au from 21.2m
-- Approximately 1% of the project area has now been drilled with further
results expected in late January to early February, including the first
assays from the Company’s drill rig.
-- Shallow copper mineralisation, amenable to open pit mining, now
confirmed at both Zone 1 and Zone 2.
-- Assay results to date remain consistent with CMR’s Exploration Target
and geological model of shallow copper mineralisation with potential for
low capital intensity and attractive operating costs.
-- The new gold discovery and Rhyolite Target add significant upside
potential to the original limestone / sedimentary hosted copper
mineralisation model.
-- The company is still on track to break ground on the Initial Mine
Development in 2027, with a maiden JORC resource expected as early as H1
2026.
Fig.1 Zoomed in map showing location of gold intercepts
Source: Company
“Agadir Melloul is shaping up as a copper, silver and gold project, three of the most compelling metals of the current cycle. Our drilling continues to define shallow copper mineralisation, and we now have the extremely exciting addition of a gold discovery, also in a shallow setting.
In the latest results, we intercepted another 10m of nicely mineralised rhyolite, adding further support for more than one mineralised system and expanding the opportunity beyond the initial model. There are also two copper-silver mineralised quartz veins within the project which will be mapped and drilled in due course. These are expected to add higher grade tonnage to the resource for blending with lower grade material.
So our targets now include sedimentary copper in carbonates, copper mineralised rhyolite, a gold system, and the copper vein structures we have not yet drilled.
Our strong belief is that, over time, drilling will delineate multiple zones of potentially economic shallow copper mineralisation, within broader envelopes of lower grade material. In our view, it is only a matter of time and drill metres before we define sufficient resources to push the button on construction of a starter operation, what we’ve named the Initial Mine. We expect that decision to be made in early 2027”
Outlook
CMR remains firmly on track to deliver a shallow, open pittable, maiden resource by late Q2 to early Q3 2026, sufficient in scale to underpin the Initial Mine development. CMR’s longer term Initial Exploration Target of 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of contained copper is based on a shallow, semi-continuous tabular resource with a 2.0m average thickness and an average grade of 1.2% copper equivalent.
Following publication of the resource estimate in H1 2026, CMR will immediately commence the Agadir-Melloul feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment for the processing plant, targeting construction of the Initial Mine during 2027. With the Company’s own, new rig now operational, we expect drilling to be maintained at a steady rate with fewer breakdowns.
The project is emerging as one of the most compelling new copper discoveries, combining shallow geometry, good grades, attractive scale potential, and multi system upside, a combination rarely seen at this early stage of exploration.
Competent Person Statement
The technical exploration and mining information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
ENDS
__________________________________________________________ |Critical Mineral Resources PLC | | | |info@cmrplc.com | |Charles Long, Chief Executive Officer| | |_____________________________________|____________________| |AlbR Capital | | | |+44 (0) 20 7399 9425| |Jon Belliss | | |_____________________________________|____________________|
Notes To Editors
CMR is building a diversified portfolio of high-quality metals exploration and development projects in
The Company is listed on the
