
October 15, 2024
Aurum Resources Limited (ASX: AUE) (“Aurum”) and Mako Gold Limited (ASX: MKG) (“Mako”) refer to today's announcement "Recommended Takeover of Mako Gold by Aurum Resources" and enclose a copy of bid recommendation agreement.
This joint announcement was authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of Directors of each of Aurum Resources and Mako Gold Limited.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Aurum Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
AUE:AU
Sign up to get your FREE
Aurum Resources Investor Kit
and hear about exciting investment opportunities.
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects
GET YOUR FREE INVESTOR KIT
The Conversation (0)
20 February
Aurum Resources
Investor Insights
Aurum Resources offers a compelling value proposition through its highly prospective gold asset in Côte d'Ivoire, a fast-emerging gold region in West Africa. Its cost-effective exploration strategy of drill rig ownership also distinguishes it from its peers.
Overview
Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on gold through its flagship Boundiali gold project located in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
Côte d'Ivoire's gold mining sector is experiencing significant growth and development, with several key projects contributing to the country's economic expansion. The overall gold mining sector in Côte d'Ivoire is supported by substantial investments in infrastructure and exploration.
Geopolitically, Côte d'Ivoire outperforms most developing countries in the world in political, legal, tax and operational risk metrics. Additionally, Côte d'Ivoire continues to make notable strides in its political stability and Absence of Violence and Terrorism Index.
Boundiali Gold Project – BD Target 1 Artisanal Working
Aurum has entered into a Bid Implementation Agreement with Mako Gold for Aurum to acquire 100 percent of the issued shares in Mako. This proposed merger will allow both Aurum and Mako security holders to benefit from the combination of Aurum’s strong balance sheet and exceptional drilling efficiencies with AU$23 million in cash at the end of December 2024 to support work programs targeted at further resource definition across Aurum and Mako’s assets in northern Côte d'Ivoire. Aurum is currently in its final phase of compulsory acquisition of remaining Mako shares after it received over 90% acceptance of MKG shares in late January 2025.
The merger is backed by a highly experienced board and management team with extensive gold experience from grassroots discovery, through to resource drill-out, feasibility studies, project finance, and production.
Company Highlights
- Aurum Resources is a precious metals company with exploration prospects in the same greenstone belt as the Syama (11.5 Moz), Sissingué (1.0 Moz), Tongon (5.0 Moz) and Kone Gold (4.5 Moz) deposits of West Africa.
- Aurum has announced a maiden independent JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 1.59 Moz gold for its 1,037sq. km Boundiali Gold Project.
- Aurum operates its own drill rigs, allowing the company to significantly reduce its exploration costs relative to peers.
- Management has a track record of creating value for shareholders from exploration through to project development, mine construction and gold production.
- Strong leverage to increasing gold prices that will benefit from a declining interest rate environment and rising global geopolitical risk factors.
- Well-funded for more than 12 months and over 100,000 metres of diamond drilling programs and metallurgical study
- Aurum’s acquisition of 100 percent of Mako Gold’s issued shares (ASX:MKG) is in its final stage of compulsory acquisition of the remaining MKG shares after Aurum received over 90 percent acceptance in late January 2025.
Key Project
Boundali Gold Project
The Boundiali gold project in Cote d’Ivoire is located within the Boundiali Greenstone Belt, which hosts Resolute’s Syama gold operation (11.5 Moz) and the Tabakoroni deposit (1 Moz) in Mali. Neighbouring assets also include Barrick’s Tongon mine (5 Moz) and Montage Gold’s Kone project (4.5 Moz).
The Boundiali project area covers the underexplored southern extension of the Boundiali belt, where a highly deformed synclinal greenstone horizon traverses finer-grained basin sediments, and to the west, Tarkwaian clastic rocks lie in contact with a granitic margin. The project benefits from year-round road access and excellent infrastructure.
The first stage of drilling at Boundiali occurred from late October 2023 to end of November 2024 for both the BM and BD tenements (BM1 and BM2; BD1, BD2 and BD3 targets) and was designed to test below-gold-in-soil anomalies oriented along NE trending structures, define new gold prospects and define maiden JORC resources. With over 63,000m diamond holes drilled during this period, Maiden JORC gold resources estimate was delivered in late December 2024.
Drilling costs are estimated at US$45 per metre, as Aurum owns all of its eight drilling rigs and employs its operators, representing a significant value proposition relative to peers who use commercial drilling companies that charge upwards of $200 per meter. The company believes there is potential for multi-million ounce gold resources to be defined with hundreds thousands meters of drilling over years within the Boundiali Gold Project’s land holding areas.
The Boundiali gold project comprises four contiguous granted licenses: PR0808 (80 percent interest), PR0893 (80 percent and earning to 88 percent interest), PR414 (100 percent interest), and PR283 (earning to 70 percent interest). Historic exploration at PR0893 includes 93 AC drill holes and four RC holes. Airborne geophysical surveying, geological mapping and extensive soil sampling have also been performed at PR0893, while PR0808 has had 91 RC holes drilled for 6,229 metres along with geochemical analysis and modeling. Detailed geochemical sampling and drilling at PR414 revealed three strong gold anomalies and returned impressive high-grade results.
Following the renewal of its Boundali South (BST) exploration licence in September 2024, drilling at the Nyangboue deposit is planned for H1 2025 and H2 2025. Previous exploration at BST has returned impressive results, including 20 m at 10.45 g/t gold from 38 meters, and 30 m at 8.30 g/t gold from 39 m.
In May 2024, Aurum entered a strategic partnership agreement to earn up to a 70 percent interest in exploration tenement PR283, to be renamed Boundiali North (BN). Aurum, through subsidiary Plusor Global Pty Ltd, has partnered with Ivorian company Geb & Nut Resources Sarl and related party (GNRR) to explore and develop the Boundiali North (BN) tenement which covers 208.87sq km immediately north of Aurum’s BD tenement. Further to this agreement,
Aurum announced it has earned 80 percent project interest after completing more than 20,000 m of diamond core drilling.
Boundiali Project JORC Mineral Resource Estimate
Aurum has announced a maiden independent JORC mineral resource estimate of 1.59 Moz gold for its 1,037 sq. km. The Boundiali Gold Project comprises the BST, BDT1 & BDT2, BMT1 and BMT3 deposits. Drilling is ongoing on these deposits, and Aurum has identified other prospects at Boundiali which have yet to be drilled. Since October 2023, the company has completed an extensive 63,927-metre diamond drilling program. This aggressive exploration campaign has rapidly defined a significant gold resource of 50.9 Mt @ 1.0 g/t gold for 1.6 million ounces.
A 100,000 m of drilling is planned and being carried out at Boundiali using eight self-owned diamond rigs to drive resource growth with two JORC resources updates in 2025.
In 2025, Aurum plans to launch a mining exploitation licence application and complete a PFS and environment study for the Boundiali Gold Project.
Management Team
Troy Flannery – Non-Executive Chairman
Troy Flannery has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, including nine years in corporate and 17 years in senior mining engineering and project development roles. He has a degree in mining engineering, masters in finance, and first class mine managers certificate of competency. Flannery has performed non-executive director roles with numerous ASX listed companies and was the CEO of Abra Mining until October 2021. He has worked at numerous mining companies, mining consultancy and contractors, including BHP, Newcrest, Xstrata, St Barbara Mines and AMC Consultants.
Dr. Caigen Wang – Managing Director
Dr. Caigen Wang founded Tietto Minerals (ASX:TIE), where he led the company as managing director for 13 years through private exploration, ASX listing, gold resource definition, project study and mine building to become one of Africa’s newest gold producers at its Abujar gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a bachelor, masters and PhD in mining engineering. He is a fellow of AusIMM and a chartered professional engineer of Institution of Engineer, Australia. Wang has 13 years of mining academic experience in China University of Mining and Technology, Western Australia School of Mine and University of Alberta, and over 20 years of practical experience in mining engineering and mineral exploration in Australia, China and Africa. Other professional experience includes senior technical and management roles in mining houses, including St. Barbara, Sons of Gwalia, BHP Billiton, China Goldmines PLC and others.
Mark Strizek – Executive Director
Mark Strizek has nearly 30 years’ experience in the resource industry, having worked as a geologist on various gold, base metal and technology metal projects. He brings invaluable geological, technical and development expertise to Aurum, most recently as an executive director at Tietto Minerals’, which progressed from an IPO to gold production at the Abujar gold project in West Africa. Strizek has worked as an executive with management and board responsibilities in exploration, feasibility, finance and development-ready assets across Australia, West Africa, Asia and Europe.
Keep reading...Show less
Game-changing gold exploration at prolific Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
3h
Aurum to raise $35.6 million from strategic investment
29 April
Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report
16 April
AUE hits 89m @ 2.42 g/t gold at 1.59Moz Boundiali Project
08 April
AUE to start diamond drilling at Boundiali South tenement
3h
IP Study Generates High Conviction Target at Ashes
3h
Group MRE Increases to 1.76Moz - Inclusion of Spargoville
6h
Joe Cavatoni: Gold's Record Run No Surprise, Here's What's Driving Demand
Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist, Americas, at the World Gold Council, discusses the organization's latest report on gold demand trends, highlight key data points from Q1.
He also shares his thoughts on gold's record-setting rise, saying fundamentals remain strong.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
6h
5 Biggest ASX Gold Mining Companies in 2025
Australia is the third largest gold producer worldwide, and it's home to some of the largest gold miners.
Gold is often a suggested safe investment for any portfolio, and there are a number of ways to invest. While you can invest in gold with physical gold metal, gold exchange-traded funds and gold stocks are also good options.
When it comes to investing in Australian gold mining companies, it's often a good idea to start with the biggest players in the sector, as these established entities have track records and tend to be less volatile than junior mining stocks.
With that in mind, the Investing News Network has listed the top ASX gold stocks by market cap below, including information on their operations and dividends. Data was gathered on April 24, 2025, using Trading View’s stock screener.
1. Newmont (ASX:NEM)
Market cap: AU$94.2 billion
Share price: AU$85.20
Newmont is one of the world's largest miners of gold, copper, silver and zinc, with operations in the Americas, the Caribbean, Asia Pacific and Africa.
The company's diverse portfolio includes three significant gold operations in Australia: Boddington, Cadia and Tanami. Together, the three produced 1.46 million ounces of gold in 2024 at an average all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,206.
The Boddington mine in Western Australia is one of the country's largest gold-producing mines. Although production at Boddington declined in 2024 due to lower-grade ore, Newmont expects production to increase in 2026 as it completes upgrades to the north and south pits.
At Cadia, which also ranks high on the list of biggest gold mines in Australia, Newmont produces gold doré bars from a gravity circuit and gold-rich copper concentrates from a flotation circuit. While not as prolific as Boddington and Cadia, Tanami is still one of the top five largest gold mines in Australia. The ongoing Tanamai Expansion 2 project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027 and extend the mine's life through to 2040.
Newmont will pay a semi-annual dividend of AU$0.274 on June 20, 2025.
2. Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST)
Market cap: AU$23.81 billion
Share price: AU$20.84
Northern Star Resources is an Australian gold company with mines in its Kalgoorlie and Yandal production centres in Western Australia and at its Pogo production centre in Alaska, US.
Northern Star's latest annual report for its fiscal 2024 ended June 30 shows that it sold 1.62 million ounces of gold during the period, in line with its guidance, at an AISC of AU$1,853 per ounce. The company's production guidance for its 2025 fiscal year is set at 1.65 million to 1.8 million ounces of gold.
The company also raised its semiannual dividends from AU$0.15 to AU$0.25 per share. Its most recent payment took place on March 27, 2025.
In April 2025, Northern Star passed the final legal hurdle to complete its acquisition of De Grey Mining, another major player in Australia's gold mining sector, and its large-scale, near-surface Hemi gold project in the Pilbara region.
3. Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN)
Market cap: AU$15.72 billion
Share price: AU$7.99
Evolution Mining, based in New South Wales, is a leading Australian gold and copper mining company operating five mines across the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, as well as the Red Lake gold mine in Ontario, Canada.
In its quarterly report ending March 31, 2025, Evolution reported total production of 179,778 ounces of gold at an AISC of AU$1,616 per ounce, which it says is one of the lowest in the sector. The company's guidance for its 2025 fiscal year ending June 30 is 710,000 to 780,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of about AU$1,475 to AU$1,575 per ounce.
In July, Evolution Mining is planning to begin work on an expansion that will extend the mine life of its Cowal gold mine in New South Wales to 2042. The project will cost a total of AU$430 million over the next seven years, and the company states it will have a 34 percent rate of return based on a AU$3,300 per ounce gold price.
Evolution Mining paid out its semi-annual dividend of AU$0.07 per share on April 4, 2025.
4. Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU)
Market cap: AU$4.49 billion
Share price: AU$3.32
Perseus Mining operates three gold mines: Edikan in Ghana, and Sissingué and Yaouré in Côte d'Ivoire.
In the company's 2024 December quarter report, it reported that the mines' combined production for the 2024 calendar year was 502,109 ounces of gold at a weighted average AISC of US$1,147 per ounce.
Aside from its three mines, Perseus' portfolio includes a 70 percent interest in the Meyas Sand gold project in Sudan, and a 31.4 percent stake in the Koné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire.
Perseus Mining paid its semi-annual dividend of AU$0.025 on April 8.
In January 2025, Perseus Mining made a final investment decision on the CMA underground project to extend the mine life at Yaouré to 2035. The work is slated to begin in mid-2025.
5. Genesis Minerals (ASX:GMD)
Market cap: AU$4.42 billion
Share price: AU$3.89
Genesis Minerals is a gold exploration and mine development company focused on its flagship Leonora district-scale gold operations in Western Australia. The project hosts the Admiral open-pit mine, the Orient Well and Puzzle deposits, the Gwalia and Ulysses underground mines and the 3 million tonnes per annum Leonora mill.
Genesis also has its Laverton operations, which include the Hub open pit mine and Laverton mill.
In its March 2025 quarterly report, Genesis Minerals recorded total gold production of 59,767 ounces for the period at an AISC of AU$2,323 per ounce. The company states its on track to meet fiscal year 2025 guidance of 190,0000 ounces to 210,000 ounces at AISC of AU$2,200 to AU$2,400 per ounce.
In April 2025, Genesis Minerals shared that it had increased its total ore reserves to 3.7 million ounces.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
Latest News
Sign up to get your FREE
Aurum Resources Investor Kit
and hear about exciting investment opportunities.
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects
GET YOUR FREE INVESTOR KIT
Latest Press Releases
Related News
TOP STOCKS
American Battery4.030.24
Aion Therapeutic0.10-0.01
Cybin Corp2.140.00
Investing News Network websites or approved third-party tools use cookies. Please refer to the cookie policy for collected data, privacy and GDPR compliance. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our use of cookies.