Hot Chili Doubles La Verde Copper-Gold Discovery Footprint with Multiple Higher-Grade Centres Confirmed

Expanding the La Verde Discovery

Hot Chili Limited (ASX: HCH) has reported a major advancement in its La Verde copper-gold porphyry discovery located approximately 30 kilometres south of its flagship Costa Fuego project in Chile’s Atacama region. The company’s recent phase-one reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign has effectively doubled the known mineralisation footprint at La Verde to over 1,000 metres in length and up to 750 metres in width, with mineralisation starting near surface and extending to depths of around 400 metres.

This expansion is underpinned by a series of strong assay results confirming the presence of multiple higher-grade centres within the broader porphyry system. These centres, designated North-East (NE), South-East (SE), and South-West (SW), each exhibit significant copper and gold grades over substantial strike lengths and vertical extents, with mineralisation remaining open both laterally and at depth.

Drilling Highlights and Geological Insights

The phase-one drilling program, which concluded in April 2025, comprised 31 RC holes totaling approximately 9,600 metres. Assay results have confirmed consistent copper grades above 0.2% Cu with accompanying gold mineralisation, including intervals such as 46 metres at 0.6% Cu and 0.2 g/t Au, and 48 metres at 0.5% Cu and 0.1 g/t Au. These intercepts highlight the potential for bulk tonnage polymetallic mineralisation typical of porphyry deposits.

Geophysical data, including a recent ground magnetic survey and 3D magnetic inversion modelling, have revealed a tonalitic porphyry intrusion aligned with the mineralised zones. This geophysical signature is guiding ongoing exploration efforts to identify extensions of the La Verde system and new targets within the broader Domeyko project area.

Strategic Importance and Next Steps

La Verde’s proximity to the Costa Fuego project positions it as a potentially significant contributor to Hot Chili’s future development pipeline. The company is advancing regulatory approvals for phase-two drilling, which will include deeper RC and diamond drilling to test the vertical extent of the mineralisation and refine the geological model.

Further exploration activities are planned to include detailed litho-structural mapping, infill soil geochemistry, and twinning of existing drill holes to enhance confidence in the resource. These efforts will feed into ongoing pre-feasibility optimisation studies for Costa Fuego, aiming to unlock the full potential of this emerging copper-gold hub.

While historical drilling data from previous operators exists, Hot Chili is focused on validating and integrating this information with its own high-quality datasets to build a robust resource base. The company’s systematic approach to sampling, assaying, and data verification underscores its commitment to delivering reliable and transparent exploration results.