Sunstone Metals Elevates Bramaderos Resource by 33% to 3.6Moz AuEq
Sunstone Metals has announced a significant 33% increase in the Bramaderos Gold-Copper Project resource to 3.6 million ounces gold equivalent, alongside expanded exploration targets that hint at further growth potential.
- Bramaderos Mineral Resource Estimate rises 33% to 3.6Moz AuEq
- Indicated Resources triple to 600,000oz AuEq, enabling scoping study initiation
- New Copete-Porotillo Exploration Target adds 1.7–3.5Moz AuEq
- Total Exploration Target now between 5.0 and 12.9Moz AuEq across multiple systems
- High metallurgical recoveries support economic open-pit mining potential
Resource Growth and Project Scale
Sunstone Metals Limited has delivered a robust update on its Bramaderos Gold-Copper Project in southern Ecuador, reporting a 33% increase in its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to 3.6 million ounces gold equivalent (AuEq). This expansion is underpinned by extensive drilling and trenching campaigns, with the Indicated Resource category tripling to 600,000 ounces AuEq. This upgrade not only confirms Bramaderos as a world-class project but also lays a solid foundation for the company’s upcoming scoping study focused on open-pit mine development.
Exploration Targets Signal Further Upside
Beyond the updated resource, Sunstone has unveiled a new Copete-Porotillo Exploration Target estimated between 1.7 and 3.5 million ounces AuEq. When combined with existing targets at Brama-Alba-Melonal and the Limon epithermal system, the total Exploration Target now ranges from 5.0 to 12.9 million ounces AuEq. These targets cover a large cluster of porphyry systems across a 2km by 2km area, all near surface and amenable to low-cost open-pit mining methods, highlighting substantial upside potential.
Technical Confidence and Metallurgical Insights
The updated MRE is based on 59 drill holes totaling over 29,000 meters and rigorous geological modelling by independent consultants. Metallurgical test work conducted at Base Met Labs Kamloops indicates excellent recoveries of 88% for gold, 85% for copper, and 60% for silver, supporting the economic viability of the project. The resource is constrained within a pit shell optimized for open-pit mining, with a low strip ratio and grades that outperform many comparable porphyry deposits globally.
Strategic Outlook and Next Steps
Sunstone’s Managing Director Patrick Duffy emphasized the rapid emergence of Bramaderos as a world-class asset, noting the clear path to further resource growth. The company plans to commence a scoping study in the first half of 2026, aiming to underpin the project’s value and development strategy. Concurrently, ongoing drilling programs will target resource expansion at Brama-Alba, Melonal, Limon, and the new Copete-Porotillo targets, subject to funding availability.
Broader Portfolio and Infrastructure
In addition to Bramaderos, Sunstone holds the El Palmar Project in northern Ecuador, which also boasts a substantial resource and exploration potential. Both projects benefit from excellent infrastructure, including proximity to power, roads, and ports, as well as strong community support and adherence to ESG standards, positioning Sunstone well for future development phases.
Bottom Line?
With a strengthened resource base and promising exploration targets, Sunstone Metals is poised to unlock significant value at Bramaderos, but the market will watch closely for scoping study outcomes and resource conversion progress.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming scoping study impact project economics and development timelines?
- What are the funding strategies to support the planned drilling and development activities?
- Can Sunstone convert the large Exploration Targets into defined Mineral Resources with further drilling?
