Torino Metals Pty Ltd., a privately held mineral exploration company, has announced a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for its wholly owned Zonda copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, the estimate totals 615 million tonnes grading 0.34% copper equivalent, containing 2.824 billion pounds of copper and 2.88 million ounces of gold, equivalent to approximately 4.55 billion pounds of copper. The resource is constrained within an optimized open-pit shell and includes a higher-grade zone of 338 million tonnes grading 0.41% copper equivalent, containing 1.92 billion pounds of copper and 1.86 million ounces of gold.
The Zonda deposit begins at or near surface, with an estimated strip ratio of approximately 0.5:1, which could support low-cost mining operations. Torino completed five diamond twin holes totaling 908 meters during its 2026 drilling campaign to validate historical exploration data. The company reported that 21 of 30 historical drill holes ended in mineralization, with the deposit remaining open at depth and laterally. The resource estimate has an effective date of Oct. 13, 2026, and was prepared by independent qualified person Marcelo Zangrandi of AMBA Consultoria Ltda. Torino noted that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability.
The announcement is significant for the mining sector because it highlights a large new copper-gold resource at a time of strong global demand for copper, driven by electrification and renewable energy technologies. The near-surface nature and low strip ratio of the deposit could make it an attractive target for development, though further drilling and economic studies are needed. For Torino Metals, a privately held Australian company focused on the Zonda project through its wholly owned subsidiary Torino Metals Argentina SAS, the maiden resource provides a key validation of its exploration strategy and could help attract strategic partners or financing. For the broader industry, the Zonda project underscores the potential of Argentina's San Juan Province as a emerging copper-gold region, which may draw increased investment and exploration activity.
Investors and industry observers can access the full press release via https://ibn.fm/yjslh. The release was distributed through Rocks & Stocks, a specialized communications platform for the mining industry that is part of the Dynamic Brand Portfolio at IBN. Rocks & Stocks leverages InvestorWire for wire distribution and offers editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets, among other services. For more details on Torino Metals, visit Torino.
