Andina Copper Corporation (TSX-V: ANDC | FSE: FIR | OTCQB: PMMCF) has announced further outstanding drill intercepts from its Cobrasco Project in Choco, Colombia. Drillhole CDH009, drilled from the same pad as CDH006, CDH007 and CDH008, reached a final depth of 954 meters and confirmed a significant northwesterly extension of near-surface mineralization, with grades notably increasing from 38 meters downhole.
The hole returned 502 meters at 0.40% copper, 73 ppm molybdenum, and 1.22 g/t silver from 38 meters, including 388 meters at 0.44% copper, 36 ppm molybdenum, and 1.28 g/t silver. A higher-grade interval of 186 meters at 0.50% copper, 22 ppm molybdenum, and 1.48 g/t silver was also intersected from 38 meters. These results expand the drillhole-defined mineralized footprint at Cobrasco Central to approximately 1,200 meters by 550 meters, with the footprint continuing to grow through successive step-out drilling.
Mineralization remains open in all directions and persists to the end of CDH009 at 954 meters. However, copper grade decreases at depth as the intensity of overprinting sericite alteration and associated chalcopyrite–bornite mineralization progressively transitions to a lower-grade potassic-altered domain. Two additional step-out drillholes, CDH010 and CDH011, have been completed from the same platform to further extend the mineralized system, with assay results pending. Geological logging indicates the mineralized system extends into both holes.
Wide spaced scout drilling continues from a new platform located approximately 350 meters northwest of the previous drill site, designed to assess the overall scale potential of the Cobrasco mineralized system. Preparations are also underway for the introduction of a second drill rig, with multiple drill targets and ongoing step-outs planned in the near-term.
Joseph van den Elsen, Andina Copper President and CEO, stated: “Andina Copper continues to systematically advance its scout drilling programme in a northwesterly direction with wide spaced fans of holes aimed at expanding the envelope of porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization. The results of hole CDH009 validate this approach, significantly extending shallow, near-surface copper-molybdenum mineralization 350m to the northwest. Incredibly, all nine drill holes reported to-date have returned wide intervals of high-grade, near-surface Cu-Mo mineralization. The current drill defined footprint of the Cobrasco mineralized porphyry system is approximately 1,200m x 550m and remains open in all directions. Mobilization of a second diamond drilling rig will expedite continued systematic and aggressive exploration and evaluation of the Cobrasco Central system and enable simultaneous testing of potential new porphyry centers.”
Geologically, hole CDH009 intersected a leached cap with supergene oxidation to a depth of approximately 41 meters. Below the base of oxidation and extending to approximately 350 meters downhole, significant chalcopyrite mineralization occurs as disseminations and hairline veinlets affecting several phases of felsic rhyolite and intermediate daci-andesite porphyries, as well as magmatic-hydrothermal breccias. Below 350 meters, copper and molybdenum mineralization is principally associated with halo veins and alteration fronts comprising silica, white and green sericite, and molybdenite-bearing B-type veins. Chalcopyrite-bornite mineralization remains locally abundant within a preserved potassic altered domain and persists to the end of the hole.
Click to see Figure 2: Cobrasco Central long section showing CDH009 and previously reported drillholes. Click to see Figure 3: Examples of mineralization from CDH009.
Andina Copper holds two significant discoveries along the Andean porphyry belt in Argentina and Colombia, and a copper-gold target in Chile. The company's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, Frankfurt, and OTC markets.
