Fitzroy Minerals Inc. has reported further high-grade copper intersections from its Buen Retiro Copper Project near Copiapo, Chile, with drilling now totaling 31,189 metres in 2026 as of November 5, comprising 25,634 metres of diamond drilling and 5,555 metres of reverse circulation drilling. The results, released through NEWMEDIAWIRE, are intended for inclusion in the company's forthcoming maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, which is expected to form the basis of a planned Preliminary Economic Assessment.
The standout intercept came from hole BRT-DDH134, which returned 64 metres at 2.00% copper from 127 metres, including 41 metres at 3.05% copper from 133 metres. That hole corresponds with historical drill hole BRT-DDH013, which intersected 30 metres at 3.52% copper from 141 metres, including 12 metres at 5.00% copper, overlapping the high-grade portion of the new hole. According to the company, the two holes highlight a zone of strong mineralization over a true width of approximately 50 metres in the base of the historical Manto Negro open pit, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Other results included 107 metres at 0.48% copper from 10 metres in hole BRT-DDH146, including 37 metres at 0.96% copper, and 109 metres at 0.41% copper from 20 metres in BRT-DDH133, including 13 metres at 1.10% copper. Hole BRT-DDH143 returned 179 metres at 0.26% copper from 30 metres to 209 metres, plus a further 86 metres at 0.22% copper from 272 metres. The company said drill core results largely confirm previously reported geology across the Tenorita, Nativo, and Ortuzar areas, with most mineralization intersected in the first two areas being copper oxide and mixed oxide-sulphide material down to depths of 120 to 150 metres.
President and CEO Merlin Marr-Johnson said intersections of 64 metres at 2% copper, including 41 metres at 3% copper, are stand-out results, particularly given the overlap with historical results of 30 metres at 3.5% copper, including 12 metres at 5% copper. He noted the results are in near-surface, leachable material amenable to low-cost processing and said the company is looking forward to publishing its maiden mineral resource estimate and associated PEA soon.
The assay tables for the diamond and RC holes were released in two parts, available via click here for part 1 and click here for part 2. The company also flagged a technical caveat: abundant native copper in the richest interval of BRT-DDH134 is extremely soft and malleable and may not pass efficiently through preparation sieves, potentially under-representing native copper in reported assays. Ongoing metallurgical test work using bulk samples will allow the company to calibrate copper content in the mixed supergene zones.
Fitzroy has planned a further 3,300 metres of diamond drilling designed to support potential conversion of Inferred Resources to Measured and Indicated Resources, intended for an updated MRE and a planned Pre-Feasibility Study in the second quarter of 2027. A 5,000 metre sulphide exploration program, largely RC drilling, is also underway. The work matters for investors because the maiden MRE and PEA will be the first formal economic read on a project that has now seen more than 31 kilometres of drilling in a single year. For the wider copper market, the results point to shallow, leachable mineralization that could support low-cost processing if the economics hold. Fitzroy's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FTZ and on the OTCQX under FTZFF. More information is available at www.fitzroyminerals.com.
