London-listed Blencowe Resources says further assay results from shallow drilling at the company’s new Beehive deposit, in Uganda, reinforce continuity.

Both the Beehive and Iyan deposits are considerable new exploration finds within the most recent 2025 drill programme, and both are expected to contribute significantly to the size and scale of the company’s Orom-Cross graphite project.

As part of the Stage 7 drilling programme, Blencowe completed 110 shallow drill holes at Beehive, designed to test the continuity, thickness and near-surface extent of graphite mineralisation.

The shallow programme was designed to define near-surface, bulk mineable graphite mineralisation, with holes drilled to a planned depth of about 30 m.

The majority of reported holes intersected graphite mineralisation from near surface to end-of-hole, with many holes ending in mineralisation, highlighting potential for continuation below the current shallow drilling depth.

This is consistent with previously reported deeper drilling at Beehive, which demonstrated graphite mineralisation continuing to about 100 m, Blencowe points out.

While the drilling was intended to close out the northern extent of the deposit, results also indicate potential for additional extensions of up to about 400 m – particularly toward the northern and western end of the deposit – within the broader target area.

The results show that multiple holes delivered about 30 m to 32 m of mineralisation from surface, supporting depth continuity and bulk mining potential.

There are strong bulk grades across the batch, with 12 holes averaging greater than 5% total graphite carbon (TGC) and eight holes averaging greater than 6% TGC over the drilled intervals, highlighting strong in situ grades within Beehive.

They also reveal high-grade frequency, with all holes mineralised and grades consistently higher than overall average grades for other deposits within Orom-Cross.

These additional shallow results continue to support a thick graphite system at shallow depths, while previously reported deeper drilling has demonstrated mineralisation continuing to about 100 m depth.

Together, this work is building the dataset required to define the near-surface component and progress modelling toward a maiden Beehive Joint Ore Resource Committee- (Jorc-) compliant mineral resource scheduled for the second quarter.

Further Beehive assay batches are being passed directly to the company’s independent geological consultants Minrom for validation and quality assurance.

Results will be reported progressively as batches are cleared and, subject to modelling, are intended to support a future Beehive mineral resource update and provide further clarity on overall scale and development readiness as Blencowe continues to progress strategic and funding discussions in parallel.

Beehive has been defined over about 1 200 m of strike and 480 m of width to date, with scope for extensions beyond the current drill lines.

Blencowe executive chairperson Cameron Pearce says Beehive continues to build momentum, with this further batch reinforcing continuity at shallow depths, with multiple plus-30-m intercepts from surface.

“Following the recent maiden Iyan Jorc mineral resource of 16.9-million tonnes, which increased total Orom-Cross mineral resources by 66% to 43-million tonnes, Beehive remains the next clear growth lever as we progress toward a maiden Beehive mineral resource update this quarter.

“We would expect the continuity and thickness being demonstrated at Beehive to translate into a material increase in overall tonnage, subject to completion of assay flow, modelling and Jorc reporting,” he highlights.

“With access to renewable hydroelectric power and an expanding resource base, Orom-Cross continues to be positioned as an integral part of the Western markets’ drive for secure, non-China critical mineral supply chains, supporting downstream pathways and longer-term offtake discussions,” Pearce avers.