Aim-listed Phoenix Copper has appointed consultancy Hardrock Consulting, metallurgist Deepak Molhatra and Valley Science and Engineering to update the Empire prefeasibility study (PFS), as well as its openpit mineral resources and reserves. The updated PFS, which Phoenix expects by the end of the year, will provide a framework for future workstreams, including final feasibility engineering and an updated plan of operations.

Aim-listed Bezant Resources has completed the successful first blast at the Hope openpit site at its 90%-owned Hope and Gorob copper/gold project, in Namibia. The company reports that a 20 000 t blast to liberate about 2 000 t of commercially viable mineralisation has been completed.

TSX-V-listed Awalé Resources reports that first assay results from deeper drilling at the BBM gold/copper deposit at the Odienné project, in Côte d’Ivoire, confirm that BBM’s high-grade core continues below the current openpit mineral resource and point to an emerging underground component of the deposit. The two holes reported are the first of a 12-hole programme drilled below and beyond the openpit mineral resource.

The results of a prefeasibility study (PFS) on ASX-listed Turaco Gold’s Afema gold project, in southeast Côte d’Ivoire, has identified several opportunities to further improve the already compelling economics that underpin the development of Afema into a near-term 200 000 oz/y-plus openpit gold operation, the company highlights. The high confidence nature of the study has facilitated the declaration of a maiden Joint Ore Reserves Committee (Jorc) probable ore reserve of 1.91-million ounces.