~1,200m of Reverse Circulation drilling underway testing large porphyry copper targets
Location of the Los Otros Copper Project and known copper deposits in the region. (Credit: AusQuest Limited)
AusQuest Limited (ASX: AQD) is pleased to advise that it has commenced its maiden drilling program at the Los Otros Porphyry Copper Project in southern Peru, which is subject to its Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of South32 Limited.
The program, comprising ~1,200m of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling (3-5 holes), will be undertaken as an initial test of a series of large porphyry copper targets located close to the Palaeocene Porphyry Copper Belt of southern Peru, which is the country’s major copper producing region.
The program is estimated to take around two weeks to complete with assay results expected to be available approximately six weeks after completion of drilling.
The porphyry copper target at Los Otros is associated with an area of advanced argillic alteration (~1km²) that has a Palaeocene age date, similar to the age dates reported for the giant porphyry copper deposits located nearby.
Historic geological mapping and sampling by the Company has outlined large areas of alteration (lithocap) with numerous samples returning anomalous levels of Mo, Bi, As, Sb, Pb, Au, Ag and occasional Cu, suggesting the potential for buried porphyry copper mineralisation (Quarterly Report to ASX September 2017).
The areas of alteration and anomalous geochemistry are located proximal to large magnetic bodies that are interpreted to be buried intrusions concealed by the overlying volcanic sequences.
Major WNW and NNW structures are evident in the area with the WNW structures running parallel to major regional fault systems which are believed to be closely associated with large porphyry copper deposits in the region.
AusQuest Managing Director Graeme Drew said the start of drilling at Los Otros marked the beginning of a major drilling effort by the Company across key projects in Peru in Australia during the first half of 2022.
“The start of a new drilling program is always an exciting time for our shareholders, especially when we are drilling large new targets in highly prospective regions,” he said.
“While the maiden drilling program at Los Otros is reconnaissance in nature, the results could be instrumental in identifying new porphyry copper systems in the region. We look forward to reporting results as soon as they become available.”
Source: Company Press Release