UK-based mineral exploration and development company Blencowe Resources has revealed that the first assay from one of six deep holes at the Orom-Cross project confirmed significant high-grade graphite mineralisation during the stage 7 drilling programme.
The Orom-Cross graphite project is located in the Orom District of northern Uganda, covering a total area of around 520,000 hectares (ha) within its tenements.
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The results indicate near-continuous graphite from close to surface down approximately 100m at the newly identified Iyan deposit.
The Iyan deposit, situated adjacent to the Northern Syncline, is a newly discovered mineralised zone that is not part of the current Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Resource reported last month.
According to the company, the continuity and grades from the first deep hole suggest potential for a significant increase in resources in future JORC updates.
The hole is said to remain open at depth, indicating the mineralised system extends beyond the current drilling limits.
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By GlobalDataThe Iyan result is the first of three deep holes drilled in the area.
Assay results for the remaining Iyan holes, and three deep holes drilled at the Beehive deposit, are still pending.
Blencowe Resources executive chairman Cameron Pearce said: “These preliminary results from our first deep hole at Iyan have exceeded expectations, both in the exceptionally long intersections and the consistently higher grades returned. The picture emerging at Iyan is of a continuous ore body extending from surface to around 100m, and we were still in graphite when drilling stopped so its full depth is yet to be defined.
“Iyan is a newly identified deposit named in recognition of local communities, and it represents a significant addition to our resource potential. Together with the Beehive deposit, these two new zones sit alongside Northern Syncline and Camp Lode within our 21-year mining licence and close to the proposed plant site.”
At the same time, assays are also outstanding from an additional 186 holes completed across extensions, step-outs and shallow targets within the broader stage 7 programme.
This includes the first deep hole at Iyan (L909B), which encountered continuous graphite mineralisation from 4m below surface all the way to the end of the hole at around 100m.
The results included 18.85m grading 7.01% total graphite content from 4m to 32.7m.
This was followed by 29.47m at 5.34% total graphite content from 32.7m to 62.2m.
An additional 10.88m averaged 5.10% total graphite content from 62.2m to 73.1m.
Blencowe expects these datasets to support an additional resource upgrade in early 2026.
Pearce added: “External geological estimates of two–three billion tonnes for Orom-Cross are further supported by these deep-hole results and reinforce the long-term scale of the project as we move toward first production. Over half of the stage 7 programme comprises shallow holes at Iyan and Beehive and as those results are returned in the coming weeks we expect substantial further news flow.
“These new deposits have the potential to materially expand our resource base and may justify another JORC Resource upgrade in 1Q 2026.
“Orom-Cross is rapidly emerging as one of the most significant graphite deposits globally, and these results further strengthen our discussions with strategic parties seeking secure, multi-decade supply.”
In April this year, Blencowe entered into a new non-binding offtake agreement with Qingdao TaiDa Carbon, a China-based graphite company, for the sale of natural fine flake graphite concentrate from its Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.
