Oriole Resources, the AIM-quoted exploration company focused on Central and West Africa, has launched maiden diamond drilling at its 85%-owned Wapouzé limestone project in north-eastern Cameroon, targeting a resource capable of supplying the country's cement sector.
The programme spans 19 holes across three outcropping zones with a combined strike length of 1.2 kilometres, testing steeply dipping metamorphosed limestone units to vertical depths of up to 40 metres.
The first hole, WPDD001, reached its planned depth of 55 metres and intersected marble units from 1.30 metres downhole to the end of the hole, suggesting the package continues to the northwest, though its full width remains unknown.
Portable X-ray fluorescence pre-screening of the core indicates carbonate content exceeding 50% calcium oxide with low magnesium and silica, the threshold considered suitable for cement production; the core has been sent for formal laboratory analysis.
Oriole is also planning a geophysical resistivity survey alongside the drilling programme, and expects both workstreams to underpin a maiden mineral resource estimate and/or a JORC Exploration Target for Wapouzé in the second half of 2026.
Chief Executive Martin Rosser said the initial signs are "encouraging for the delineation of a limestone resource with commercial potential for use in cement manufacturing."
Discussions with industrial partners for potential development of the asset are ongoing.
