Pantanillo Soil Data Reveals 5km x 1.2km Gold Anomaly Beyond Current Resource

Expanding the Footprint of Pantanillo

Flagship Minerals Limited (ASX – FLG) has unveiled compelling new exploration insights from its Pantanillo Gold Project in Chile’s prolific Maricunga Belt. The company’s ongoing analysis of a recently acquired dataset from Anglo American Norte SpA has identified a substantial gold-in-soil anomaly measuring approximately 5 kilometres in length and 1.2 kilometres in width. This anomaly notably dwarfs the current drill-defined footprint of the existing 1.05 million ounce qualifying foreign estimate (QFE) deposit at Pantanillo North.

Flagship’s Managing Director, Paul Lock, emphasised the significance of the findings, noting that the anomaly is over six times the length and twice the width of the current pit shell. The scale of this gold anomaly, coupled with supporting elevated levels of copper and molybdenum, reinforces the project’s potential as a large-scale gold system with considerable upside.

From Data to Development

The Pantanillo dataset is extensive, comprising over 700 folders and 10,000 files, which Flagship is meticulously reviewing to fast-track the conversion of the existing QFE into a Mineral Resource Estimate compliant with the JORC Code (2012). This process involves validating drillhole data, re-sampling where necessary, and planning infill and confirmatory drilling to underpin a robust resource model.

Flagship’s strategy targets defining a resource base sufficient to support open pit mining and heap leach processing, aiming for an annual gold production of 100,000 ounces sustained over at least a decade. Parallel metallurgical testwork and technical studies are underway to inform a comprehensive techno-economic assessment, vital for advancing the project towards development.

Exploration Potential Beyond the Known Deposit

The soil sampling, originally conducted by Kinross Gold and Orosur Mining, reveals that significant portions of the anomalous zone remain undrilled or poorly tested. This opens the door for targeted exploration along strike and in adjacent areas, potentially expanding the resource base further. The anomaly’s alignment with geological structures and the presence of pathfinder elements such as lead, arsenic, and antimony hint at deeper mineralisation zones yet to be explored.

Flagship’s 11,000-hectare tenure in the Maricunga Belt is strategically located between established gold operations, underscoring the project’s geological promise. However, the proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, including the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park and Ramsar wetlands, means that environmental permitting will be a critical component of the project’s advancement.

Looking Ahead

With the groundwork laid by Anglo American and others, Flagship Minerals is poised to leverage this rich dataset to unlock Pantanillo’s full potential. The company’s methodical approach to resource validation and exploration drilling will be closely watched by investors eager for tangible progress towards resource definition and eventual production.

As Flagship continues to refine its understanding of the deposit and its broader geological setting, the market will be keen to see how these early indications translate into a JORC-compliant resource and the subsequent steps towards project development.