Intelligence

Materials

Marimaca Copper Reports 216m Copper-Silver Intercept at Pampa Medina

Author:
FAQSIR News Desk
Last Updated:
Reading Time
4 min

Marimaca Copper Corp. has reported further assay results from its ongoing drilling programme at the Pampa Medina deposit in Chile’s Antofagasta Region. The deposit is approximately 28km east of the company’s Marimaca Oxide Deposit, while the defined area of interest at Pampa Medina measures 3km x 1.5km.

#SPRD-15 returns extended copper-silver mineralisation

Drill hole SPRD-15 returned 216m grading 0.96% Cu and 7.2g/t Ag from 466m downhole. The interval included 62m grading 2.20% Cu and 21.5g/t Ag from 602m.

Other higher-grade sections within the hole included 82m of 1.72% Cu and 16.3g/t Ag from 600m, 14m of 3.05% Cu and 26.7g/t Ag from 606m, and 12m of 3.25% Cu and 36.7g/t Ag from 632m. A separate interval returned 6m of 2.00% Cu and 12.0g/t Ag from 506m.

The reported intervals are downhole lengths. Marimaca Copper estimates true widths at approximately 80% of the reported intervals.

#Step-out drilling extends the mineralised horizon

The company said drilling outside the central corridor extended the mineralised sediment horizon 300m to the south and west.

SPRD-12, drilled 300m west of earlier drilling, intersected 56m of 0.95% Cu and 4.2g/t Ag from 748m. The interval included 22m of 1.80% Cu and 9.7g/t Ag from 750m, as well as 8m of 2.42% Cu and 9.0g/t Ag from 750m. A further interval returned 8m of 1.20% Cu and 2.8g/t Ag from 796m.

SPD-13 intersected multiple mineralised horizons over 222m grading 0.50% Cu from 194m. Results included 18m of 1.01% Cu from 246m, 28m of 1.07% Cu from 322m, including 12m of 1.90% Cu from 338m, and 48m of 1.05% Cu from 368m, including 12m of 1.99% Cu from 404m.

SPRD-17 returned multiple stacked intervals across 104m grading 0.65% Cu from 522m. This included 30m of 0.96% Cu from 522m, including 20m of 1.28% Cu and 2.3g/t Ag from 524m. A further interval recorded 40m of 0.89% Cu from 586m, including 14m of 1.36% Cu and 4.0g/t Ag from 586m.

#Additional drilling results and limitations

SPRD-10 returned 28m of 0.88% Cu and 5.4g/t Ag from 594m, including 16m of 1.37% Cu and 8.5g/t Ag from 594m. It also intersected 14m of 0.96% Cu and 7.3g/t Ag from 704m. SPRD-11 returned 10m of 1.02% Cu and 5.0g/t Ag from 552m but was affected by late dykes.

Near-surface oxide mineralisation was reported from SPRD-14 and SPRD-16A. SPRD-14 intersected 30m of 0.61% Cu and 4.2g/t Ag from 238m, while SPRD-16A returned 36m of 0.77% Cu from 184m, including 12m of 1.58% Cu and 3.2g/t Ag from 204m.

SMRD-35 intersected 26m of 0.45% Cu and 2.9g/t Ag from 88m, followed by 32m of 0.74% Cu and 4.6g/t Ag from 302m. Deeper drilling in this area was affected by post-mineralisation WNW faults and dykes.

#Scout drilling to the north and northwest

Scout reverse-circulation holes were drilled north and northwest of the defined area of interest to assess the depth and extent of the target sedimentary horizons.

SWR-10, SWR-11, SWR-13 and SMR-36 did not intersect the target sedimentary horizon at downhole depths ranging from 540m to 700m. The company said these holes will be extended through diamond drilling.

SWR-13 ended in mineralisation at the limits of reverse-circulation drilling capability, returning 8m at 1.47% Cu and 7.5g/t Ag from 580m in volcanic rocks. SWR-12A intersected the sedimentary horizon at greater depth, including 8m grading 1.17% Cu and 11.8g/t Ag from 578m, before drilling stopped because of technical limitations at depth.

Diamond drilling to extend the relevant holes is underway. The 2026 programme is focused on defining the central area of interest, outlining oxide extensions and testing potential extensions identified through geophysical work.

#Pampa Medina project context

Pampa Medina is described as a manto-style copper deposit hosted mainly in Jurassic-Triassic sedimentary units, including sandstones, conglomerates, tuffs and black shales. These units are overlain by andesitic volcanics and underlain by an Upper Paleozoic complex of metamorphosed sediments, volcanics and intrusions.

The deposit contains near-surface oxide copper mineralisation and deeper sulphide zones. The company reports that elevated silver grades occur in both oxide and sulphide copper-mineralised zones and generally correlate with copper grade.

Marimaca Copper’s drilling results are exploration results rather than a completed mineral resource or economic assessment. The company also cautioned that drilling interpretation, project development, financing, permitting, operating costs, metal prices and other factors could cause future results to differ from forward-looking statements.

#Key Takeaways

  • SPRD-15 returned 216m of 0.96% Cu and 7.2g/t Ag from 466m, including 62m of 2.20% Cu and 21.5g/t Ag from 602m.
  • Step-out drilling extended the mineralised sediment horizon 300m to the south and west.
  • SPRD-12, SPD-13 and SPRD-17 also returned copper-bearing intervals across stacked mineralised horizons.
  • Several scout holes did not reach the target sedimentary horizon, while some drilling was affected by faults, dykes or the technical limits of reverse-circulation drilling.
  • Diamond drilling is underway to extend selected scout holes and assess deeper target horizons.

Original source: Read original article

Frequently Asked Questions

Marimaca Copper Corp. (TSX:MARI)(ASX:MC2) reported further assay results from ongoing drilling at the Pampa Medina deposit in Chile’s Antofagasta Region. The release states that SPRD-15 returned 216m of 0.96% Cu and 7.2g/t Ag from 466m, including 62m of 2.20% Cu and 21.5g/t Ag from 602m downhole. The reported intervals are downhole lengths, and true widths are estimated at approximately 80% of reported intervals.
The release reports that step-out drilling extended the mineralised sediment horizon 300m to the south and west. SPRD-12 returned 56m of 0.95% Cu and 4.2g/t Ag from 748m, including 22m of 1.80% Cu and 9.7g/t Ag from 750m. SPD-13 intersected 222m of 0.50% Cu from 194m, including oxide, mixed and sulphide intervals. SPRD-17 intersected 104m of 0.65% Cu from 522m, including 40m of 0.89% Cu from 586m.
The release states that mineralisation across the target lithological horizons continues to show horizontal and vertical continuity within the defined 3km x 1.5km area of interest. It also states that drilling extended the mineralised sediment horizon 300m to the south and west, while the company described Pampa Medina as remaining open in several directions and materially under-tested. These are descriptions of exploration results and the company’s interpretation, rather than a statement of a completed mineral resource or economic assessment.
Yes. SPRD-11 was impacted by late dykes, while SPRD-14 and SPRD-16A intersected post-mineral faulting at depth. Deeper drilling in some holes was impacted by post-mineralisation WNW faults and dykes. SWR-10, SWR-11, SWR-13 and SMR-36 did not intersect the target sedimentary horizon at downhole depths ranging from 540m to 700m. SWR-13 ended in mineralisation at the limits of reverse-circulation drilling capability, and drilling on SWR-12A was halted due to the technical limitations of reverse-circulation drilling at depth.
The release states that diamond drilling is underway to extend certain scout reverse-circulation holes, including areas to the north and northwest where the target sedimentary horizons appear to deepen beyond the practical limits of reverse-circulation drilling. It also states that the 2026 drilling campaign is focused on defining the high-grade central area of interest, delineating identified oxide extensions and conducting further step-out drilling to test potential extensions of the broader system identified in geophysical work completed to date.
The reported drilling comprised reverse-circulation-collared and diamond-tailed drilling. Diamond drill holes were sampled on a continuous 2-meter basis, halved using a conventional core splitter, and prepared in Copiapó before assaying in Santiago by Andes Analytical Assay Ltd. Reverse-circulation holes were sampled on a continuous 2-meter basis and riffle split on site up to one-eighth (12.5%) of their volume. The company states that a quality assurance and quality control programme using blanks, standards and duplicates was employed with acceptable results, and that measured recoveries were over 95% for diamond drilling and over 95% for reverse-circulation drilling.
The release states that forward-looking statements, including those concerning development activities, potential growth and the discovery’s potential to complement the Marimaca Oxide Deposit, are not assured and that actual results and future events could differ materially. It identifies risks including development activities not progressing as anticipated, the inherent risks of mining, exploration and development, uncertainty in interpreting drilling results and geological data, fluctuating metal prices, project delays, cost overruns, unanticipated operating costs, financing requirements, and regulatory procedures and permitting timing. The release states that readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.