Royal Road Minerals issues update on Lalla Aziza Copper Project in Morocco

Royal Road Minerals Limited has shared an update on exploration progress at the Lalla Aziza copper project in Morocco. The project is currently held by Carbomine SARL, a Moroccan mining company. In December 2024, Royal Road entered into an Option Agreement with Carbomine, giving it the right to acquire full ownership of the Lalla Aziza mining license. The agreement outlines a phased payment and work structure based on exploration results and development milestones.

Located around 90 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh in Morocco’s Western High Atlas region, Lalla Aziza is an underground copper mine. The copper mineralization occurs within dolomite-hosted veins and breccia zones, associated with carbonaceous schist and shear structures.

Mining operations have been carried out across three underground levels, over a vertical range of 150 meters. Mineralized zones can be up to 12 meters wide, and ore is currently sold at a cut-off grade of 2.5% copper. Although there has been no historical drilling on the property, the presence of high-grade copper mineralization and associated gold values has made the site an attractive target for further exploration.

Sampling

Royal Road has conducted extensive surface and underground sampling, including channel and rock-chip sampling, as well as portable XRF soil analysis. Results have been promising, with underground channel samples returning copper grades as high as 15.6%, and gold values up to 3.1 grams per tonne. Notably, the highest gold grades appear in the footwall schist sequence. Surface rock-chip sampling from across the license area has also yielded copper values as high as 21.9%. The company has outlined a geological model that includes potential open-pit and underground development scenarios, based on the presence of repeated shear zones and folded mineralization.

Looking ahead, Royal Road intends to drill up to 2,000 meters at Lalla Aziza, with drill targets already selected and awaiting permitting. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the company has already paid Carbomine a total of $250,000 and will fund the drilling program at its own discretion. Should the results prove favorable, Royal Road has the right to purchase 100% ownership of the license for $1.5 million. Following acquisition, annual payments of $300,000 will be made until project financing is secured for a Bankable Feasibility Study. Upon finalizing financing and completing the study, an additional $2.5 million is due. Commercial production will trigger a 2.5% net smelter return royalty payable to Carbomine.