Andina Copper Corp. announced Thursday that diamond drilling at its Piuquenes North target in San Juan Province, Argentina, has confirmed the presence of a third porphyry copper system on the property. Holes PIU12 and PIU13, drilled to depths of 992.6 meters and 1,235 meters respectively, intersected multiple phases of porphyry intrusions carrying copper sulphide minerals such as chalcopyrite and bornite.
The drilling targeted a large, deep-seated low-resistivity anomaly identified by a Magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey, which measures approximately 800 meters by 700 meters. Both holes successfully encountered mineralization within the anomaly, with PIU13 showing the strongest visible copper sulphides from 848 to 1,045 meters downhole, hosted in an early mineral porphyry phase with potassic alteration.
“Confirmation of a third mineralized porphyry system at Piuquenes North marks an important milestone for the project and further demonstrates the significant exploration potential of the Piuquenes property,” said Joseph van den Elsen, President and CEO of Andina Copper, in a statement.
Hole PIU12 intersected andesitic host rocks intruded by pre-mineral porphyry dykes with chalcopyrite and minor bornite from 832 meters to the end of the hole, confirming the lateral extent of the system. The company noted that the elevated sulphide content observed is likely a major contributor to the MT anomaly, and the system remains open to the north and at depth.
Assay results for both holes are pending. Upon receipt, Andina Copper will integrate them with geological logging to update the geological model and refine targeting for follow-up drilling, expected to focus on down-dip and along-strike extensions.
The Piuquenes property, covering 2,500 hectares, already hosts the Piuquenes Central and Piuquenes East copper-gold porphyry centers. The new discovery at Piuquenes North underscores the project’s potential in the prolific Andean copper belt. The company also holds the Cobrasco Project in Colombia and a target in Chile.
Andina Copper is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ANDC, on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under FSE: FIR, and on the OTCQB under PMMCF. The company’s corporate presentation is available at Andina Copper Corporate Presentation.
All technical information in this release is based on visual logging, and no assay results have been reported yet. Gustavo Zulliger, a consultant and Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content.
