Andina Copper Corporation (TSX-V: ANDC | FSE: FIR | OTCQB: PMMCF) has reported an outstanding drill intercept from hole CDH005 at its Cobrasco Project in Choco, Colombia. The hole was designed to test the southern extensions of the Cobrasco system to a depth of 700 meters, in a large step-out over an area with limited geological data and no prior drilling. Results confirm a large-scale southerly extension of copper-molybdenum-silver mineralization, demonstrating a multi-phase porphyry system with consistently mineralized intermediate intrusive phases over broad intervals.
The company has completed step-out drillholes CDH006 and CDH007 with assays pending, and hole CDH008 is underway targeting the northern extension. Systematic drilling is defining a copper-molybdenum system over a mostly near-surface zone within a 2500 meter by 1000 meter target area. Drilling to date has tested an area of approximately 1000 meters by 750 meters, less than half the potential footprint. President and CEO Joseph van den Elsen stated, “Ongoing drilling at Cobrasco continues to demonstrate the large-scale and relatively shallow nature of Cobrasco Central, with results from hole CDH005 significantly extending the mineralized envelope to the south. With broad spaced holes having tested less than half the target area to-date, we see the potential for a globally significant copper deposit(s) at Cobrasco.” To accelerate exploration, a second drill will be mobilized to systematically explore and define the lateral extents of the system and add volume to higher-grade copper shells.
Hole CDH005 was collared from the same platform as holes CDH002, CDH003, and CDH004, oriented due south (Az: 180°, Dip: -50°). It tested approximately 600 meters of lateral extent and 700 meters of vertical extent, terminating at 934 meters downhole. Unlike earlier holes that intersected a multi-phase quartz-rich rhyolitic to dacitic subvolcanic dome complex, hole CDH005 is characterized by mineralized diorite to dacite-andesite porphyries, generally manifesting as magnetic intrusive sequences at surface transitioning to a magnetic low “embayment” at depth. The intermediate units are intruded by narrow quartz-rich felsic rhyolite subvolcanic intrusions. The hole collared in dark-colored diorite porphyry, remaining in this phase to approximately 170 meters, then intersecting fine-grained dacite–andesite units with visually significant chalcopyrite-dominant sulphide mineralization and weak to moderate sericite alteration overprinting earlier potassic assemblages. The dacite–andesite units extend to approximately 630 meters, where a younger intermineral rhyolite porphyry continues to end of hole at 934 meters, displaying epidote–chlorite alteration consistent with a propylitic assemblage, interpreted as outer or lower zones of the hydrothermal system. Mineralization remains open to the south.
Drillhole CDH005 differs from previous southwest-trending holes with no phreatomagmatic breccias observed at depth, which have defined the SW limits of the Cobrasco Central system. The continuity of intrusive phases, alteration styles, and sulphide mineralization is supported by wide intercepts of moderate to high grade copper mineralization associated with waning potassic alteration transitioning into early sericitic alteration. The large, coincident copper-molybdenum surface geochemical anomaly extends approximately 2.5 km north–south and 900 m east–west, supported by limited rock chip geochemistry, geological mapping, and geophysical data. A systematic environmental baseline program has commenced across the project area.
Andina Copper Corporation is a South America-focused copper explorer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:ANDC), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF). The company holds two significant discoveries along the Andean porphyry belt in Argentina and Colombia, and a copper-gold target in Chile. More information is available in the Corporate Presentation.
