An academic study of drill core from Angkor Resources Corp.'s Thmei North target on its Andong Bor mineral exploration license in northwest Cambodia has confirmed that the alteration and mineralization exhibit the characteristics of a porphyry copper-molybdenum system, the type of deposit that supplies most of the world's copper. The study, conducted by the Economic Geology Laboratory at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in partnership with the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) in Phnom Penh, provides independent scientific validation of the company's exploration model and identifies the most favorable zones for copper mineralization.
The significance of this finding lies in its implications for the remaining 1,700 meters of the 2,800-meter drill program planned for early 2027. The study identifies potassic alteration at depth as the main copper zone and chlorite-serite alteration above it as also copper-bearing, while the upper phyllic zone appears to lack mineralization. This alteration model gives the exploration team a clear guide for placing future drill holes to intersect the potassic and chlorite-serite zones. The study also found that copper occurs in both the diorite and surrounding hornfels, meaning drilling is not limited to one rock type. As Dennis Ouellette, VP Exploration, noted, "This study supports what we have been seeing in the core. The copper is in the potassic and chlorite-serite alteration, while the phyllic zone near the top appears to lack it. That tells us where to aim the next phase of drilling at Thmei North."
The study's conclusions align with the company's own assay results from previous drilling, which returned 108 meters of 0.53% copper equivalent and 46 meters of 0.51% copper equivalent, both in potassic-altered rock. These results were previously reported in the news release ANGKOR CONFIRMS 108 METRES OF 0.53% COPPER EQUIVALENT AT ANDONG BOR, CAMBODIA, December 13, 2022. The consistency between the academic study and the company's assay data strengthens confidence in the geological model and the potential for a significant copper-molybdenum deposit.
The study examined core from the Thmei North drill holes, identifying three stacked alteration zones typical of porphyry systems. Potassic alteration, formed from the earliest and hottest fluids, is where most copper was deposited. Chlorite-serite alteration later overprinted part of the potassic zone, preserving earlier copper and adding more. Phyllic alteration near the top, formed from later acidic fluids, appears to have destroyed earlier copper minerals. The main copper-bearing veins formed at temperatures between 300 and 415 degrees Celsius, and fluid inclusion studies indicate that boiling occurred as fluids rose and pressure dropped, a process commonly associated with metal deposition in porphyry systems. Molybdenite, the primary ore mineral of molybdenum, was identified within the copper-bearing zone.
The study's findings are consistent with the modified copper porphyry model the company is using to guide its drilling, as outlined in the news release ANGKOR RESOURCES DRILLS INITIAL PROGRAM AT ANDONG BOR COPPER-GOLD TARGET, CAMBODIA - Angkor Resources Corp. The company's exploration team is now using the alteration model to place the remaining drill holes, which will test the potassic and chlorite-serite zones at depth. The next phase of drilling is scheduled for early 2027, after the fields are dry and crops have been harvested.
The study was led by Sokvireak Say of Kyushu University and ITC, with contributions from Kotaro Yonezu, Akira Imai, and Akane Ito of Kyushu University, John C. Menzies of Cmi Capital Limited, and Reach Sam of Angkor Resources. This collaboration continues Angkor's partnership with ITC and supports the company's commitment to building Cambodia's national capacity in geoscience. The work also highlights the role of international academic partnerships in advancing mineral exploration in developing regions.
Detailed tables and figures from the study illustrate the alteration zones, vein sequence, and fluid characteristics. For example, Table 1: Alteration zones at Thmei North and their relationship to copper. provides a visual summary of the stacking pattern. Similarly, Table 2: Vein sequence at Thmei North, from earliest to latest. documents the paragenesis, and Table 3: Temperature and salt content of the vein-forming fluids, measured from fluid inclusions in quartz. For comparison, seawater is about 3.5% salt. presents the fluid inclusion data. Core samples prepared for assay are shown in Figure 2 Core samples prepared for sending to ALS laboratory for assay. and Figure 3: Angkor staff prepare samples from latest drilling at Andong Bor for analysis and assay..
While the study is an academic research project and not a technical report prepared under NI 43-101, it provides valuable scientific support for the company's exploration strategy. The identification of a porphyry copper-molybdenum system at Thmei North, if confirmed by further drilling, could have significant implications for Angkor Resources and for Cambodia's emerging mining sector. The company's Andong Bor license covers 100.28 square kilometers and is located within the Loei Fold Belt, a region known for gold, skarn, and porphyry-type deposits. As exploration continues, the integration of academic research with industry drilling programs exemplifies a collaborative approach to resource development. For more information about Angkor Resources, visit angkorresources.com.
