Alvo Minerals has confirmed significant copper, zinc, silver, and gold mineralisation at its Touro Prospect within the Palma Project in Brazil, with drilling underway to test deeper targets. This discovery bolsters the potential of Palma as a major VMS district.
- High-grade copper, zinc, silver, and gold confirmed in first drill hole PDT-117
- Mineralisation extends over 750m strike with sulphides intercepted in all holes drilled so far
- Deeper drilling underway targeting a conductor extending 2.2km strike and 750m depth
- Palma Project hosts a 7.6Mt resource at 2.0% copper equivalent
- Additional assay results pending from four more drill holes
Discovery Confirmation at Touro
Alvo Minerals (ASX, ALV) has released assay results from the first drill hole (PDT-117) at its Touro Prospect, part of the broader Palma Copper-Zinc Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) Project in Central Brazil. The assays confirm a high-grade polymetallic mineralisation zone, featuring copper, zinc, silver, and gold grades that are notably higher in precious metals than previously observed in the Palma district.
The highlight intercept includes 9.3 metres at 1.1% copper equivalent from 55.3 metres downhole, with sub-intervals reaching up to 1.7% copper equivalent. These results validate earlier visual estimates and reinforce Touro’s status as a material discovery within the project.
Expanding Mineralised Footprint
Drilling to date has intercepted massive, semi-massive, and disseminated sulphides along a 750-metre strike length of a 2.2-kilometre-long and 750-metre-deep target zone. The mineralised system remains open along strike and at depth, with four additional drill holes awaiting assay results. The ongoing exploration program is designed to systematically test these extensions and refine the geological model.
Alvo’s Managing Director, Rob Smakman, expressed optimism about the discovery, noting the unexpectedly high silver and gold grades, which are among the best seen across the Palma Project. He also highlighted the significance of the deeper electromagnetic conductor, which is now being tested by the current drill hole PDT-122 after operational delays.
Strategic Importance of Palma Project
The Palma Project already hosts a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 7.6 million tonnes at 2.0% copper equivalent, underscoring its potential as a significant VMS district. The project’s polymetallic nature, with appreciable quantities of copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold, positions it well within the competitive landscape of base and precious metals exploration.
Alvo’s integrated exploration approach, combining geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, has enabled the identification of over 30 prospects within the project area, with Touro emerging as a key focus. The company’s in-house capabilities and low-cost exploration model provide a solid platform for advancing these targets.
Next Steps and Market Implications
Drilling activities are set to resume imminently on the deep conductor target with hole PDT-122. Meanwhile, assay results from other recent drill holes (PDT-118 to PDT-121) are expected in the coming weeks, which will provide further clarity on the scale and grade continuity of the mineralisation.
As Alvo continues to delineate and expand the resource base at Palma, the market will be watching closely for signs of resource upgrades and potential development pathways. The combination of base and precious metals in the mineralised system adds strategic value, particularly given the global demand for copper and battery metals.
Bottom Line?
With high-grade assays confirming Touro’s promise, Alvo Minerals is poised for a pivotal phase of deeper drilling and resource expansion at Palma.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the pending assay results from additional drill holes impact the overall resource estimate?
- What are the implications of the unexpectedly high silver and gold grades for project economics?
- How quickly can Alvo advance the deeper conductor target to define the full extent of mineralisation?