Angkor Resources Corp. has announced the completion of the initial phase of its diamond drilling program at the Andong Bor copper-gold target in Cambodia. The company planned a total of 2,800 meters of drilling, with the first 1,099 meters completed in mid-July on the Thmei North target, a one-square-kilometer copper anomaly. The program was staged around Cambodia's seasons, with the remaining balance to be drilled in early 2027 once fields are dry and crops harvested.
Dennis Ouellette, VP Exploration, commented: "Two of the three holes drilled this year encountered good porphyry and skarn mineralization over the 400 meters each was drilled. Portions of skarn were especially well mineralized. The third hole contained a run of over 200 meters with continuous pyrite mineralization up to 20%." This initial success underscores the potential of the Andong Bor license, which spans 100.28 square kilometers across Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
The drilling program is designed to intersect mineralized beds effectively. Based on 2025 drilling, the main structures controlling mineralization strike north-northwest and dip steeply west. Consequently, holes at Thmei North are drilled to the east to better intersect the mineralized beds. In this modified copper porphyry model, the best mineralization is found within potassic-altered sediments adjacent to feldspar porphyry diorite dikes, which vary in width from a few meters to tens of meters. Drilling east maximizes intersections with mineralized sedimentary rocks as the drill passes through alternating lithologies.
The core from the initial 1,099 meters is being logged, photographed, and sampled, with selected intervals dispatched for assay. The second phase, consisting of at least 1,700 meters, will follow the same pattern and is scheduled for early 2027. This phase will also include activity on Thmei South. The company is committed to minimizing crop damage and easing access to targets by timing drilling around agricultural cycles.
The implications of this drilling program are significant for Angkor Resources and Cambodia's mining sector. The presence of porphyry and skarn mineralization, along with continuous pyrite mineralization, suggests a potentially large copper-gold system. The company's systematic approach, informed by geological models, aims to define a resource that could attract further investment. For Cambodia, successful exploration could bolster the country's emerging mining industry, providing economic benefits and establishing it as a viable destination for mineral development.
Angkor Resources is a leading resource explorer and developer in Cambodia, holding two mineral exploration licenses with multiple copper and gold prospects. The company is also advancing oil and gas exploration under a Production Sharing Contract, with plans to drill Cambodia's first privately financed onshore exploratory wells. However, the focus remains on the Andong Bor copper-gold target, where the initial results are promising. As the company processes core samples and awaits assay results, the sector will be watching closely for further indications of a significant discovery.
The company's qualified person, Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc., P.Geo., has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure. The program is being conducted under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101, ensuring rigorous standards. As drilling resumes in 2027, the results will be pivotal in determining the next steps for the project, potentially leading to resource estimation and feasibility studies.
For more information, visit angkorresources.com.
