Alvo Minerals advances exploration at its Palma Copper-Zinc Project in Brazil, identifying several new high-priority prospects ready for drilling. The project already hosts a substantial 7.6Mt JORC resource, with ongoing work aiming to expand this base.
- Palma Project hosts 7.6Mt @ 2% CuEq across three deposits
- New high-priority prospects Esperanza, Touro, and Entre Rios identified
- Extensive geochemical and geophysical surveys underpin drill-ready targets
- Recent reconnaissance drilling refines exploration model without major mineralisation hits
- Scientific cooperation with Brazilian Geological Survey enhances exploration data
Palma Project – A Growing Copper-Zinc District
Alvo Minerals Limited (ASX – ALV) has provided a comprehensive update on its exploration progress at the Palma Copper-Zinc Project in Tocantins State, Brazil. The project already boasts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 7.6 million tonnes grading 2% copper equivalent (CuEq), spread across three deposits, C1, C3, and the recently discovered C4. This resource base positions Palma as a significant volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) district with considerable potential for expansion.
Advancing New Drill-Ready Prospects
Building on its existing resource, Alvo has identified multiple new high-priority copper-zinc prospects within its extensive landholding of over 1,000 square kilometres. Notably, the Esperanza, Touro, and Entre Rios prospects have emerged as drill-ready targets following detailed multidisciplinary exploration involving geochemical sampling, geological mapping, and advanced geophysical surveys such as fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) and induced polarisation (IP) techniques.
Esperanza features a geochemical anomaly extending over 1 kilometre, with coincident strong electromagnetic conductors and surface gossan samples indicating lead and zinc mineralisation. Touro, a more recent discovery, exhibits the highest surface zinc grades recorded at Palma, with rock-chip samples showing up to 7.5% zinc. Entre Rios, considered an advanced prospect, presents a discrete shallow conductor supported by strong chargeability and low-resistivity anomalies, making it a compelling candidate for imminent drilling.
Refining Exploration Through Systematic Work
Since its listing in 2021, Alvo has drilled over 28,000 metres at Palma, focusing primarily on the known deposits. While recent reconnaissance drilling across seven new prospects has not yet intersected massive sulphide mineralisation, it has yielded disseminated sulphides and strongly altered zones indicative of distal VMS systems. These results have been instrumental in refining Alvo’s exploration model, reducing false positives, and prioritising the most prospective targets for future drilling campaigns.
Alvo’s in-house capabilities, including access to cutting-edge geophysical equipment and a newly acquired mechanical auger drill rig, enable efficient and cost-effective exploration. The company’s scientific cooperation agreement with the Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM) has further enhanced data quality, with detailed ground gravity surveys recently completed over key deposits.
Strategic Outlook and Broader Exploration
Beyond Palma, Alvo continues to evaluate additional copper, gold, and base metal opportunities across Brazil, including its Bluebush and Ipora Rare Earth Element (REE) projects. The company’s exploration strategy is clear – to discover, expand, and upgrade mineral resources through systematic and modern exploration techniques, leveraging a motivated and experienced team.
Managing Director Rob Smakman emphasised the company’s commitment to advancing drill-ready prospects, stating that each target has undergone multiple exploration phases and that drilling is the logical next step to confirm discoveries. The ongoing integration of geological, geochemical, and geophysical data is expected to yield further high-grade copper and zinc deposits, enhancing Palma’s status as a significant VMS district.
Bottom Line?
As Alvo prepares to drill its new high-priority targets, the Palma Project stands poised for potential resource growth that could reshape its copper-zinc footprint in Brazil.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling at Esperanza, Touro, and Entre Rios confirm new massive sulphide discoveries?
- How will the integration of gravity survey data from CPRM influence target prioritisation?
- What impact could expanding Palma’s resource base have on Alvo’s valuation and development timeline?