Pampa Metals Drills Bornite-Rich Copper Mineralization and Extends Porphyry to Depth at Piuquenes, Argentina
Friday, Jan 10, 2025 10:23 am ET
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Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM / FSE:FIR / OTCQB:PMMCF) has made significant progress in its follow-up drill program at the emerging Piuquenes copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan Province, Argentina. The Company's drilling efforts have resulted in the intersection of wide intervals of copper mineralization and alteration, as well as the discovery of bornite-rich copper mineralization. These findings have expanded the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast and extended the core of the system to depth.
Hole PIU-04 2025DDH, collared from the eastern margin of Piuquenes Central, has intersected variable intensity porphyry veining, alteration, and copper mineralization over wide intervals. This drill hole has significantly expanded the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast, indicating the potential for a substantial mineralized zone. Additionally, Hole PIU-05 2025DDH has intersected several significant intervals of bornite-rich copper mineralization, extending the core of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to depth. The presence of bornite, a copper-rich mineral, suggests that the deposit may contain higher-grade copper mineralization, which can lead to more efficient and profitable mining operations in the future.
The discovery of bornite-rich mineralization in Hole PIU-05 2025DDH is particularly encouraging, as bornite is less common than chalcopyrite in porphyry copper deposits and is often associated with higher-grade copper deposits. The consistent occurrence of a bornite zone below 530 meters in PIU-05 suggests that the drill hole may have encountered a zone closer to a latent bornite-dominated core at depth. This could imply that the deposit is more extensive and richer than previously thought, potentially increasing the overall resource size and value.
The exploration progress at Piuquenes is notable when compared to other copper-gold porphyry projects in the region. The San Juan Miocene porphyry belt, where Piuquenes is located, remains high in corporate and exploration activity, with major companies including Rio Tinto, South 32, BHP, and Teck also active. The proximity of Piuquenes to the giant Altar porphyry copper system, as well as the presence of other large porphyry copper projects in the region, suggests the potential for significant mineralization in the area.
As Pampa Metals continues to drill and assay results become available, the Company will be able to update its resource estimates and provide a more accurate assessment of the project's potential. The discovery of bornite-rich mineralization and the extension of the porphyry system to depth have the potential to enhance Pampa Metals' long-term investment potential by indicating higher-grade copper mineralization, a more extensive deposit, and increased attractiveness to major mining companies.