Andina Copper Corporation (TSX-V: ANDC | FSE: FIR | OTCQB: PMMCF) has reported diamond drill assay results from its Piuquenes North target in San Juan, Argentina, confirming the discovery of a new porphyry copper-gold system. The results from drillhole PIU13 returned 468 meters grading 0.50% copper, 0.30 g/t gold, and 3.04 g/t silver from 700 meters depth, including a higher-grade interval of 164 meters at 0.70% copper, 0.44 g/t gold, and 4.19 g/t silver from 924 meters. This discovery adds to the company's portfolio of porphyry centers at the Piuquenes project, which now includes Piuquenes North, Piuquenes Central, and Piuquenes East.
The significance of this find lies in its location within the Miocene porphyry belt of San Juan, adjacent to Aldebaran Resources Inc.'s Altar copper-gold project. Other major deposits in the region include El Pachon (Glencore) approximately 30 kilometers to the south, the operating Los Pelambres copper mine (60% Antofagasta plc) in Chile, and Los Azules (McEwen Copper) 50 kilometers to the northeast. The discovery underscores the potential for a significant new porphyry system along this emerging belt.
Drillhole PIU13 intersected a broad, mineralized multiphase porphyry system from 664 meters to 1,168 meters downhole. Mineralization consists of chalcopyrite and bornite in quartz veins and disseminations within potassic altered porphyry phases, indicative of a high-temperature porphyry core. Gold is a significant co-product, with lesser silver. The mineralized system remains open to the north, north-northeast, and at depth.
Drillhole PIU12, collared approximately 600 meters east-northeast of PIU13, intersected shorter intervals of mineralization and is interpreted to be on the periphery of the system. The targeted magneto-telluric (MT) geophysical anomaly measures approximately 800 meters by 700 meters and trends north-northeast. Only a small portion of this anomaly has been tested, leaving substantial untested potential.
Andina Copper's President and CEO Joseph van den Elsen commented, "High-grade Cu-Au values from PIU13 confirm a new discovery, proximate to the high-grade, near surface Cu-Au mineralization at Piuquenes Central. Significantly, only a fraction of the large geophysical anomaly at Piuquenes North has been tested, and we are now designing the next phase of drilling to expand on what is potentially a significant new porphyry discovery."
The company plans to integrate final assay results with geological logging to refine a three-dimensional model and design a follow-up drill program targeting down-dip and along-strike extensions. Priority will be given to testing the north-northeast continuation and untested depth extent of the MT anomaly.
For investors and industry observers, this discovery reinforces the prospectivity of the San Juan Miocene belt and highlights Andina Copper's ability to generate new targets. The proximity to large-scale projects like Altar and Los Pelambres adds strategic value. However, mineralization on adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at Piuquenes. The company's corporate presentation is available at Andina Copper Corporate Presentation. For the latest news, visit the Mailing List or follow Andina Copper LinkedIn.
Gustavo Zulliger, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information. The company implemented a rigorous QA/QC program, including certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates, ensuring data reliability.
