Operational Highlights from Agadir Melloul
On July 30, 2026, Critical Mineral Resources Plc (CMR) provided an operational update regarding its Agadir Melloul copper project located in Morocco. The second quarter report emphasizes the progress made in resource-definition drilling, ongoing drilling activities, and the initiation of project development studies. The primary focus of current drilling operations is on infill and step-out drilling in Zone 1 North, where recent results affirm the continuation of copper mineralization in the areas that have been drilled.
Drilling Results and Project Development
CMR has reported significant drill intercepts, showcasing results such as 6.9 meters at 0.45% Cu and 1.0 g/t Ag from the surface, and multiple other promising intercepts that highlight the ongoing potential of the Agadir Melloul copper resource. The company has so far drilled approximately 6% of the project's area, with an internal non-JORC resource model estimating around 25,000 tonnes of copper. A newly completed drill hole has intersected over 10 meters of mineralization from a depth of 52 meters, with massive sulfide copper enrichment identified at 66 meters, pending assay results that could significantly impact the average width of the mineralization.
As part of the project's development, a feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed processing plant commenced in July, led by the Afrilab Group based in Marrakech. Additionally, a second program of laboratory metallurgical tests is in progress, aimed at supporting the finalization of the process flowsheet. The company has formed a technical sub-committee to oversee project development, which convened for its first meeting in Casablanca last June.
Despite a temporary pause in drilling due to a shortage of consumables, operations have resumed with a current drilling rate of approximately 800 meters per month. The company is in the process of procuring a reverse circulation rig to enhance drilling efficiency. An independent consultancy has been commissioned to prepare the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in line with JORC standards, slated for publication in October 2026.
The exploration potential in the southeastern permit area, approximately 10 kilometers from Zone 1 North, has been validated through fieldwork, identifying multiple high-priority drill targets that underscore the broader exploration capabilities of the project area.
CEO Charlie Long expressed optimism about the ongoing drilling results, which indicate a continuity of near-surface copper mineralization in Zone 1. He noted that while the latest grades are somewhat lower than previous findings, they remain above the internal cut-off grade of 0.3% copper. He highlighted the transition of Agadir Melloul from a discovery phase to a development project, with significant advancements in metallurgical testwork, environmental studies, and preparations for the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.
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