Maiden Drillhole Hits 1.7% Copper in Llahuin JV’s Southern Porphyry
FMR Resources' maiden drillhole at the Southern Porphyry target within Chile’s Llahuin Project has intersected encouraging shallow copper-gold mineralisation, advancing towards a significant porphyry system at depth.
- Maiden drillhole 25LLDD0070 intersects up to 1.7% copper in epithermal veins
- Drilling has reached over 800m depth, targeting a 1,600m deep magnetotelluric anomaly
- Key geological indicators such as remobilised chalcopyrite and anhydrite-pyrite veining encountered
- Strong correlation between drilling results and 3D geophysical models
- Further drilling and downhole geophysics planned to refine exploration targets
Early Signs of a Telescoped Copper-Gold System
FMR Resources Limited (ASX – FMR) has reported highly encouraging early results from its maiden drillhole at the Southern Porphyry target, part of the Llahuin Project Joint Venture in Chile. The drillhole, designated 25LLDD0070, has intersected a shallow epithermal copper-gold vein swarm with assays peaking at 1.7% copper, confirming the presence of mineralisation near surface within the upper Santa Maria epithermal system.
This early intercept supports the geological model of a telescoped system, where epithermal-style mineralisation overlies a deeper porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum core. The discovery of remobilised chalcopyrite veins and zones of anhydrite-pyrite veining at various depths further strengthens the case for a significant porphyry system driving the mineralisation.
Drilling Progress and Geophysical Validation
Currently, the drillhole has advanced beyond 800 metres downhole and is on track to reach its planned final depth of 1,600 metres. The target at depth corresponds to a large magnetotelluric (MT) anomaly, interpreted as a porphyry copper system. The spatial correlation between the geological features encountered in the drillcore and the 3D geophysical models, including induced polarisation and magnetic data, has been excellent, providing increased confidence in the targeting strategy.
Key indicators such as remobilised chalcopyrite-filled veins at around 400 metres and a broad zone of anhydrite-pyrite veining between approximately 485 and 745 metres are classic hallmarks of porphyry copper deposits. These findings have excited the geological team, who see them as strong vectors pointing towards mineralised zones at depth.
Implications for the Llahuin Project and Next Steps
The Southern Porphyry target lies within a six-kilometre mineralised corridor hosting multiple copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry centres. Surface mapping and historic drilling have already identified alteration and mineralisation consistent with the upper levels of a porphyry system. The current drilling results add a critical piece of evidence supporting the presence of a significant mineralised system beneath.
FMR plans to continue drilling through the MT anomaly to the target depth, complemented by downhole geophysical surveys to refine the 3D models. Further assay results and geological observations will be reported as they become available, potentially unlocking a new chapter in the development of the Llahuin Project.
Bottom Line?
As drilling pushes deeper, FMR’s Southern Porphyry target could soon reveal the scale of its copper-gold potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will deeper drilling confirm the extent and grade of the porphyry copper system?
- How will upcoming assay results influence the project’s resource estimation?
- What are the implications of the geophysical data for identifying additional targets nearby?
