Are Royal Road Minerals' Ambitions in Saudi Arabia Facing Unexpected Hurdles?

Highlights

• Royal Road Minerals Ltd focuses exploration efforts on Saudi Arabia’s Jabal Sahabiyah project in collaboration with MIDU Company Limited.
• Jabal Sahabiyah includes three exploration licenses covering diverse prospects for copper, gold, zinc, and silver.
• Advanced exploration techniques are revealing promising mineralization zones, with drilling permits underway for early next year.

Royal Road Minerals Ltd (TSXV:RYR) is intensifying its exploration efforts in Saudi Arabia by shifting its focus to the Jabal Sahabiyah project. Located in Asir Province, this project covers nearly 284 square kilometers and has attracted attention due to its promising mineral potential. The decision to prioritize Jabal Sahabiyah was made in conjunction with its joint venture partner, MIDU Company Limited, through their local subsidiary Royal Road Arabia Limited (RRA), and was endorsed by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Overview of Jabal Sahabiyah Project Area

The Jabal Sahabiyah project area encompasses three exploration licenses granted to RRA in an early 2024 competitive licensing round. This expansive zone hosts multiple sites with mineral potential, including the Jabal Muwayqirah and Hanash South prospects. Preliminary studies indicate a range of valuable minerals, such as copper, gold, zinc, and silver. Given the scale of the project, Royal Road Arabia is committed to utilizing advanced methods to explore these resources comprehensively.

Key Prospects and Findings at Jabal Muwayqirah

RRA’s exploration at Jabal Muwayqirah has generated substantial interest. Recent geochemical sampling and drone-assisted magnetic surveys have highlighted an area with significant mineralization, identified as a potential drill target. Surface sampling has returned impressive results, with gold concentrations reaching high levels and copper content showing encouraging percentages. Building on these findings, RRA is planning to conduct additional auger sampling and is currently undergoing the permitting process for drilling activities, anticipated to begin in the near future.

Historical Insights and New Developments at Hanash South

Hanash South, another prominent prospect within Jabal Sahabiyah, has a documented history of exploration. Previous studies by Riofinex in the 1970s identified mineralized gossans across a considerable strike length, leading to early discoveries of copper and zinc zones. These findings were initially based on magnetics and induced polarization surveys, prompting drilling into sulphide-rich areas. Today, RRA is revisiting and enhancing this work with updated analytical approaches, seeking to verify the potential of these earlier discoveries with modern methods.

Enhanced Exploration Techniques Yield Promising Insights

Royal Road Arabia’s systematic approach at Jabal Sahabiyah involves cutting-edge exploration techniques, including geochemical sampling, to reveal mineralization across both local and district scales. According to Royal Road’s CEO, Tim Coughlin, Jabal Muwayqirah’s economic viability has been bolstered by recent geochemical sampling, which has led to higher copper equivalent grades when factoring in gold values from grab samples. These updated analyses are proving valuable in better understanding the mineral resources present within the project area.

Innovative Sampling Methods Reveal New Mineralization Patterns

Sampling beneath transported cover and within wadis has emerged as a key strategy for uncovering mineralization in challenging terrain. The erosion patterns observed along wadi banks and sub-crop areas are proving to be effective indicators of mineral presence. At Hanash South, for example, past drilling by Riofinex was concentrated within wadi areas where these gossan formations occur as erosional remnants. Similar auger anomalies and magnetic responses are guiding the immediate exploration focus at Jabal Muwayqirah, suggesting new zones worth investigating.

Royal Road Minerals’ intensified exploration at Jabal Sahabiyah represents a strategic shift to capitalize on the mineral wealth potential in Saudi Arabia’s Asir Province. By utilizing advanced exploration tools and building upon past research, RRA is setting the stage for a new phase of discovery at this expansive project site.