Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK, OTCQB: ANKOF) announced that it has completed the first phase of its initial 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 initial portion consisting of three holes totaling 1,099 meters completed in mid-July on the Thmei North target, a one-square-kilometer copper anomaly.
Dennis Ouellette, VP Exploration, noted that two of the three holes encountered good porphyry and skarn mineralization over the 400 meters each was drilled, with portions of skarn especially well mineralized. The third hole contained a run of over 200 meters with continuous pyrite mineralization up to 20%. These results are significant because they confirm the presence of mineralized systems at depth and provide valuable data for further exploration.
The drilling program was staged around Cambodia's seasonal weather patterns. The initial phase was completed before the heaviest rains, and the second phase, consisting of at least 1,700 meters, is planned for early 2027 once fields are dry and crops have been harvested. This approach minimizes crop damage and eases access to targets. The holes were oriented to the east to better intersect mineralized beds, based on 2025 drilling that showed the main structures controlling mineralization are north-northwest striking and steeply west dipping.
The Andong Bor license covers 100.28 square kilometers and straddles Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces. The company's exploration model suggests that 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. By drilling to the east, the company aims to maximize mineralized sedimentary rock interceptions as it drills through alternating lithologies of intrusive and sedimentary rocks.
Core from the 1,099 meters already drilled is being logged, photographed, and sampled, with selected intervals dispatched for assay. The second phase of the Thmei North drill program and activity on Thmei South will continue in 2027. These next steps are crucial for determining the economic viability of the copper-gold target and for advancing the project toward potential resource estimation.
Angkor Resources is a leading resource explorer and developer in Cambodia, working towards mineral and energy solutions across the country. Its mineral subsidiary, Angkor Gold Corp. Co., Ltd., holds two mineral exploration licenses with multiple prospects in copper and gold. The company also has an energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources Co., Ltd., which holds an onshore oil and gas license in Block VIII, covering approximately 4,095 square kilometers. EnerCam has completed 2D-seismic and identified multiple drill targets, with plans to drill Cambodia's first privately financed onshore exploratory oil and gas wells under a Production Sharing Contract.
The success of the initial drilling at Andong Bor could have significant implications for Cambodia's mining sector, potentially attracting further investment and contributing to the country's economic development. The company's ongoing exploration efforts, both in minerals and energy, underscore its commitment to unlocking Cambodia's resource potential.
