Oriole Resources plc (LON:ORR), the AIM quoted exploration and development company focused on Central and West Africa, has announced results for the maiden diamond drilling programme at its 85%-owned Wapouzé limestone project in north-eastern Cameroon. Furthermore, a local-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessment is currently underway at the Project to support the submission of an Exploitation Licence Application in Q4-2026.
Highlights
· Oriole has received full geochemical results for the 1,053.80m (in 21 holes) Programme at Wapouzé, which targeted three main zones in the northeast of the licence, over an approximate 1.2km cumulative strike length of outcropping metamorphosed limestone (or “marble”), and up to a 47.50m vertical depth from surface.
· Marble units were encountered within every hole of the Programme with the majority of holes returning high-quality carbonate material (high CaO, >50wt%, and low MgO, <2wt%). Notable intersections include:
o 53.50m at an average of 53.88wt% CaO and 0.88wt% MgO from 1.30m depth in WPDD012
o 37.15m at an average of 53.42wt% CaO and 0.82wt% MgO from 10.95m depth in WPDD014
o 23.00m at an average of 53.90wt% CaO and 0.64wt% MgO from 1.30m depth in WPDD001
o 20.05m at an average of 51.10wt% CaO and 1.16wt% MgO from 29.00m depth in WPDD015
The data will be used by the Company’s Independent resource consultant to prepare a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) and/or Exploration Target that is scheduled for publication in early Q4-2026.
· In addition, a local level ESIA is currently underway to support the submission of an ELA in Q4-2026.
Chief Executive Officer of Oriole Resources, Martin Rosser, said: “The sampling results from the maiden drilling programme over the three targeted zones at Wapouzé 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.
“Of particular note is the absence of dolomite throughout the exploration programme, and the very pure >54wt% CaO intervals that we believe should qualify for use as chemical lime, which is a relatively valuable commodity and used in gold ore processing, but also in many chemical industry processes.
“We eagerly await the outcome of our geological consultant’s maiden MRE and/or Exploration Target, scheduled for publication in early Q4-2026, as this will considerably enhance our efforts to bring in a cement industry partner and potentially to achieve royalty-based income and valuable in-country revenue that could be used as additional funding for Oriole’s gold-focused exploration work in Cameroon.”
Figure 1. Wapouzé Programme drill plan showing the average chemistry from notable marble intervals. Plotted on MAXAR satellite image, and showing rock-chip sampling results with MgO values of less than 5wt% and more than 50wt% CaO shown in yellow. Samples with >50wt% CaO and <2wt% MgO are considered to have carbonate content suitable for use in the cement industry
Further Details
The Wapouzé Project is in north-eastern Cameroon, approximately 100km NE of Garoua and 20km north of the Company’s Bibemi gold project. Wapouzé was initially an early-stage gold exploration project; however, the Project was deemed less prospective for gold than Bibemi but the Company noted the presence of large quantities of carbonate rock (predominantly marble) and applied for a change in commodity to marble, granted in 2022.
Since the change in commodity, a number of surface exploration programmes have focused on the potential high-grade marble (typically >50% CaO with low magnesium and silica) material that would make it potentially suitable for use in the cement industry (see announcement dated 21 April 2026).
Oriole Resources today reports results from its maiden diamond drilling programme that was completed for 1,053.80m in 21 holes. Samples were analysed for major element chemistry via x-ray fluorescence (XRF) at SGS South Africa and the QAQC was considered good throughout.
Intersections have been calculated based on lithological continuity and where all individual intervals recorded CaO >42wt%, which is the lower limit required for clinker, while noting that the majority of individual intervals often exceeded 50wt% CaO (Table 1). It should be noted that within these intersections, there can be thin lenses (typically 0.10-0.50m) of non-limestone material (such as schists, quartzites and meta-volcanic intrusions), but their chemistry has not reduced the overall average CaO within the respective intervals. They have also not raised the average MgO content above acceptable levels (i.e. >5wt%). ˚These non-carbonate beds could readily be blended into an Ordinary Portland Cement (“OPC”) raw mix composition bringing valuable silica and alumina without pushing overall MgO above the 2% OPC raw mix threshold.
Certain intervals in the boreholes show CaO content above 54%. This very pure limestone should satisfy criteria for high grade chemical lime manufacture, a valuable commodity in both the chemical and mining industries, particularly gold ore leaching.
Of material falling within the main limestone package (therefore not including clearly defined hangingwall and footwall zones or an intrusion at depth in WPDD020), the proportion of non-limestone materials not sampled or assayed equates to 11.5% of the total Programme. The material has been retained to enable future analysis should it be required.
Table 1. Downhole intersections of logged marble units from the Programme. Reported grades are length-weighted averages of all assayed samples within each interval, where individual samples are >42 wt% CaO. Intervals <42wt% CaO and unsampled intervals are excluded, and composites do not bridge low CaO (<42wt%) or unsampled gaps. Reported widths are downhole lengths; true widths are estimated to be ~93% of reported intervals, based on an average inclination of ~70˚˚°.
| Hole ID | From | To | Interval (m) | Average CaO (wt%) | Average MgO (wt%) |
| WPDD001 | 1.30 | 24.30 | 23.00 | 53.90 | 0.64 |
| and | 28.30 | 33.30 | 5.00 | 53.96 | 0.66 |
| and | 34.30 | 38.30 | 4.00 | 50.43 | 1.13 |
| and | 40.30 | 43.30 | 3.00 | 48.73 | 1.13 |
| and | 44.30 | 48.40 | 4.10 | 46.90 | 1.39 |
| and | 49.50 | 50.60 | 1.10 | 47.90 | 1.50 |
| and | 51.70 | 55.00 | 3.30 | 50.60 | 1.00 |
| WPDD002 | 0.40 | 14.60 | 14.20 | 53.08 | 0.70 |
| and | 15.70 | 24.90 | 9.20 | 48.54 | 1.39 |
| and | 25.90 | 28.90 | 3.00 | 45.40 | 2.07 |
| and | 29.90 | 31.90 | 2.00 | 52.65 | 0.85 |
| and | 33.00 | 39.00 | 6.00 | 49.27 | 1.35 |
| WPDD003 | 1.70 | 5.50 | 3.80 | 53.37 | 0.78 |
| and | 6.25 | 7.20 | 0.95 | 43.40 | 1.40 |
| and | 9.10 | 12.15 | 3.05 | 54.20 | 0.73 |
| and | 13.65 | 15.25 | 1.60 | 48.10 | 1.10 |
| and | 19.40 | 20.30 | 0.90 | 53.40 | 1.30 |
| and | 21.00 | 26.10 | 5.10 | 51.55 | 1.36 |
| and | 26.90 | 29.20 | 2.30 | 51.50 | 1.00 |
| and | 32.95 | 37.35 | 4.40 | 51.03 | 1.20 |
| and | 41.10 | 45.50 | 4.40 | 46.80 | 0.95 |
| WPDD004 | 0.10 | 9.00 | 8.90 | 52.56 | 0.81 |
| and | 10.00 | 12.75 | 2.75 | 49.31 | 1.41 |
| and | 13.95 | 19.00 | 5.05 | 51.09 | 1.00 |
| and | 20.00 | 27.00 | 7.00 | 50.09 | 1.09 |
| and | 28.00 | 30.00 | 2.00 | 48.85 | 1.00 |
| and | 32.00 | 33.00 | 1.00 | 43.30 | 1.30 |
| and | 35.00 | 44.10 | 9.10 | 50.97 | 1.01 |
| and | 47.30 | 55.00 | 7.70 | 55.46 | 0.60 |
| WPDD005 | 0.60 | 5.60 | 5.00 | 53.06 | 0.58 |
| and | 6.40 | 14.50 | 8.10 | 51.71 | 0.83 |
| and | 16.50 | 36.00 | 19.50 | 53.59 | 0.78 |
| and | 37.00 | 41.20 | 4.20 | 53.82 | 0.70 |
| WPDD006 | 1.55 | 11.00 | 9.45 | 50.84 | 0.87 |
| and | 12.00 | 16.00 | 4.00 | 51.65 | 1.10 |
| and | 17.00 | 19.00 | 2.00 | 49.75 | 1.35 |
| WPDD007 | 0.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 51.73 | 0.53 |
| and | 7.20 | 11.20 | 4.00 | 46.15 | 1.05 |
| and | 16.20 | 17.20 | 1.00 | 44.20 | 0.90 |
| and | 29.20 | 32.20 | 3.00 | 52.03 | 1.77 |
| and | 38.10 | 50.00 | 11.90 | 52.16 | 1.12 |
| WPDD008 | 1.40 | 16.40 | 15.00 | 52.76 | 1.01 |
| and | 17.50 | 28.50 | 11.00 | 50.47 | 1.51 |
| and | 30.35 | 33.50 | 3.15 | 51.84 | 1.16 |
| and | 35.15 | 41.20 | 6.05 | 51.50 | 1.23 |
| and | 42.05 | 43.30 | 1.25 | 54.60 | 0.60 |
| and | 44.10 | 47.10 | 3.00 | 50.43 | 1.03 |
| and | 48.10 | 49.10 | 1.00 | 44.70 | 1.60 |
| and | 52.00 | 55.00 | 3.00 | 48.80 | 1.30 |
| WPDD009 | 0.00 | 19.00 | 19.00 | 54.13 | 0.77 |
| and | 20.00 | 22.00 | 2.00 | 52.60 | 0.85 |
| and | 28.05 | 32.75 | 4.70 | 53.06 | 0.91 |
| and | 33.50 | 48.50 | 15.00 | 52.89 | 0.91 |
| WPDD010 | 0.00 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 54.90 | 0.70 |
| and | 4.20 | 5.20 | 1.00 | 42.70 | 2.50 |
| and | 6.20 | 8.20 | 2.00 | 52.00 | 1.00 |
| and | 9.20 | 14.20 | 5.00 | 54.68 | 0.78 |
| and | 15.20 | 32.50 | 17.30 | 53.06 | 0.85 |
| and | 33.60 | 35.95 | 2.35 | 53.18 | 0.99 |
| and | 40.65 | 46.90 | 6.25 | 51.42 | 0.88 |
| and | 48.00 | 51.30 | 3.30 | 48.33 | 1.07 |
| and | 52.05 | 54.40 | 2.35 | 55.40 | 0.60 |
| and | 54.90 | 58.20 | 3.30 | 54.70 | 0.70 |
| WPDD011 | 0.00 | 14.70 | 14.70 | 53.85 | 0.69 |
| WPDD012 | 1.30 | 54.80 | 53.50 | 53.88 | 0.88 |
| WPDD013 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 54.60 | 0.50 |
| and | 2.00 | 18.25 | 16.25 | 53.21 | 0.95 |
| and | 18.65 | 19.70 | 1.05 | 54.64 | 0.75 |
| and | 24.00 | 43.90 | 19.90 | 51.98 | 0.99 |
| WPDD014 | 7.50 | 9.55 | 2.05 | 49.68 | 1.50 |
| and | 10.95 | 48.10 | 37.15 | 53.42 | 0.82 |
| and | 49.10 | 50.00 | 0.90 | 53.70 | 0.70 |
| WPDD015 | 0.20 | 8.00 | 7.80 | 54.11 | 0.98 |
| and | 8.55 | 10.10 | 1.55 | 52.16 | 0.59 |
| and | 14.50 | 16.50 | 2.00 | 49.25 | 0.90 |
| and | 17.50 | 23.20 | 5.70 | 54.04 | 0.52 |
| and | 26.00 | 28.00 | 2.00 | 47.80 | 1.95 |
| and | 29.00 | 49.05 | 20.05 | 51.10 | 1.16 |
| and | 49.90 | 60.00 | 10.10 | 51.03 | 0.90 |
| WPDD016 | 4.10 | 13.30 | 9.20 | 49.18 | 1.03 |
| and | 14.45 | 15.60 | 1.15 | 52.70 | 0.90 |
| and | 18.65 | 21.70 | 3.05 | 46.79 | 1.39 |
| and | 23.80 | 25.80 | 2.00 | 54.00 | 1.05 |
| and | 27.90 | 32.00 | 4.10 | 53.54 | 1.48 |
| and | 33.00 | 36.00 | 3.00 | 55.60 | 0.80 |
| WPDD017 | 12.80 | 25.00 | 12.20 | 53.57 | 0.63 |
| and | 28.00 | 37.00 | 9.00 | 51.32 | 0.88 |
| and | 40.00 | 44.00 | 4.00 | 47.60 | 1.45 |
| and | 45.10 | 48.30 | 3.20 | 49.07 | 1.39 |
| and | 49.00 | 52.80 | 3.80 | 47.82 | 0.98 |
| WPDD018 | 7.40 | 8.40 | 1.00 | 48.40 | 0.70 |
| and | 9.50 | 14.00 | 4.50 | 48.21 | 1.98 |
| and | 18.50 | 22.50 | 4.00 | 52.35 | 0.65 |
| and | 24.05 | 26.05 | 2.00 | 50.25 | 0.95 |
| and | 27.35 | 28.35 | 1.00 | 43.80 | 1.30 |
| and | 32.40 | 33.55 | 1.15 | 46.80 | 1.40 |
| and | 40.90 | 43.55 | 2.65 | 52.29 | 1.07 |
| WPDD019 | 0.00 | 12.05 | 12.05 | 50.23 | 0.89 |
| and | 13.30 | 14.40 | 1.10 | 49.20 | 1.00 |
| and | 15.50 | 24.30 | 8.80 | 49.36 | 0.95 |
| and | 25.40 | 27.40 | 2.00 | 50.60 | 0.95 |
| and | 28.50 | 30.50 | 2.00 | 47.60 | 1.00 |
| and | 31.50 | 34.50 | 3.00 | 47.30 | 1.23 |
| WPDD020 | 1.65 | 3.40 | 1.75 | 45.54 | 0.94 |
| and | 5.50 | 7.20 | 1.70 | 51.29 | 0.92 |
| and | 7.95 | 8.95 | 1.00 | 52.40 | 0.60 |
| and | 9.65 | 14.50 | 4.85 | 52.83 | 0.60 |
| and | 14.80 | 27.30 | 12.50 | 51.76 | 0.78 |
| WPDD021 | 1.38 | 5.25 | 3.87 | 48.57 | 1.06 |
| and | 13.62 | 14.70 | 1.08 | 51.80 | 2.30 |
| and | 15.24 | 16.70 | 1.46 | 49.10 | 2.70 |
| and | 17.57 | 25.25 | 7.68 | 49.21 | 1.23 |
| and | 27.77 | 29.00 | 1.23 | 44.90 | 2.70 |
| and | 30.74 | 36.20 | 5.46 | 48.29 | 1.32 |
| and | 41.00 | 42.10 | 1.10 | 45.00 | 2.30 |
| and | 52.25 | 54.50 | 2.25 | 46.81 | 1.95 |
| and | 55.60 | 58.60 | 3.00 | 52.90 | 0.73 |
Simplified lithological cross sections show the downhole continuity of marble material, and highlight the generally consistent chemistry of high CaO, and low MgO.
Figure 2. Cross section for Zone 1 (South) showing lithological interpretation and downhole geochemistry, with a 50% threshold line for CaO and a 2% threshold line for MgO
Figure 3. Cross section for Zone 1 (North) showing lithological interpretation and downhole geochemistry, with a 50% threshold line for CaO and a 2% threshold line for MgO
While it is noted that lenses of non-limestone material are present within the drilled sequences, sometimes up to ~10m in apparent thickness, the overall chemistry of the marble is relatively consistent throughout the zones. Cumulative thicknesses and average chemistry of the high CaO grading marble are presented in Table 2. The majority of holes returned high-quality marble (>50wt% CaO and <2% MgO) over more than 50% of their length. With such high overall CaO content, the chlorite schist and quartzite could be mined simultaneously, incorporated into a raw mix whilst maintaining a lime saturation coefficient well over 1.
Table 2. Cumulative downhole length of logged marble units in each drill hole, together with length-weighted average CaO and MgO grades and the proportion of the total drilled length represented by logged marble.
| Hole ID | Cumulative thickness (m) | Average CaO (wt%) | Average MgO (wt%) | % of marble within hole |
| WPDD001 | 43.50 | 52.17 | 0.84 | 79.09 |
| WPDD002 | 34.40 | 50.51 | 1.13 | 62.55 |
| WPDD003 | 26.50 | 50.80 | 1.06 | 55.79 |
| WPDD004 | 43.50 | 51.58 | 0.94 | 79.09 |
| WPDD005 | 36.80 | 53.13 | 0.75 | 66.91 |
| WPDD006 | 15.45 | 50.91 | 0.99 | 58.30 |
| WPDD007 | 22.90 | 50.69 | 1.11 | 45.80 |
| WPDD008 | 43.45 | 51.37 | 1.20 | 79.00 |
| WPDD009 | 40.70 | 53.47 | 0.84 | 81.40 |
| WPDD010 | 46.45 | 52.53 | 0.90 | 74.68 |
| WPDD011 | 18.20 | 52.53 | 0.80 | 68.68 |
| WPDD012 | 53.50 | 53.88 | 0.88 | 97.63 |
| WPDD013 | 38.20 | 52.64 | 0.95 | 76.40 |
| WPDD014 | 40.10 | 53.24 | 0.85 | 80.20 |
| WPDD015 | 49.20 | 51.73 | 1.01 | 82.00 |
| WPDD016 | 22.50 | 51.11 | 1.13 | 56.25 |
| WPDD017 | 32.20 | 51.07 | 0.92 | 58.55 |
| WPDD018 | 16.30 | 49.78 | 1.22 | 32.60 |
| WPDD019 | 28.95 | 49.47 | 0.96 | 62.26 |
| WPDD020 | 21.80 | 51.49 | 0.76 | 43.60 |
| WPDD021 | 27.13 | 48.87 | 1.46 | 45.22 |
A ground geophysical survey has also recently been completed by the Company’s Cameroon partner Bureau d’Etudes et d’Investigations Géologico-Minières, Géotechniques et Géophysiques (“BEIG3”). This survey, together with the geochemistry presented today and a range of other exploration data (geological mapping and rock chip sampling), has been given to Forge International, the Company’s Independent geological consultant, to enable its estimation of a maiden JORC MRE and/or Exploration Target. The MRE is expected to be reported in early Q4-2026.
Commercially, a significant limestone deposit at Wapouzé could be highly suitable for use within Cameroon’s cement industry, which is believed to be worth several hundred million pounds per year, largely supported by expensive imports of required clinker material. The Company believes that there is a significant demand for cement (for concrete) within Cameroon and neighbouring Chad (with its capital, N’Djamena, approximately 250km NNE of Wapouzé). Furthermore, Cameroon has seen substantial foreign investment made into expanding its cement manufacturing capacity, with neighbouring plants to Wapouzé producing cement from similar material, and the government is keen to see its reliance on imported clinker reduce significantly.
Oriole Resources is continuing its discussions with potential industry partners that could advance Wapouzé towards development and exploitation on an expedited basis. The Company is ultimately looking to achieve royalty-based income from a commercial scale quarrying operation, likely to be based upon the volume of material extracted, which would provide valuable in-country revenue that could be used additional funding for its gold exploration work in Cameroon.
As part of this process, the Company has engaged Jurilex International to complete a local-level ESIA for Wapouzé which, once completed, will form part of an Exploitation Licence application for the Project. This is expected to be for a simple quarry operation for the extraction of the marble. It is anticipated that the ELA will be submitted in Q4-2026.
