Bramaderos Project Targets 3.5Moz Gold Equivalent as Drilling Set to Begin

Discovery Highlights Bramaderos’ Growth Potential

Sunstone Metals Limited (ASX – STM) has announced a significant breakthrough at its Bramaderos Gold-Copper Project in southern Ecuador, revealing extensive high-grade porphyry mineralisation at surface within the Porotillo area. This discovery bolsters the company’s confidence in expanding its existing 3.6 million ounce gold equivalent (AuEq) resource, which was recently increased by 33% in November 2025.

The trenching program at Porotillo delivered impressive results, including intervals such as 29.46 metres at 0.91 g/t AuEq and 21.59 metres at 1.19 g/t AuEq, with mineralisation remaining open along strike and at depth. These findings confirm the presence of robust gold and copper mineralisation near surface, a promising indicator for future resource growth.

Strategic Drilling to Convert Exploration Targets

Building on these surface results, Sunstone is poised to commence a 5,000-metre diamond drilling campaign starting mid-February, initially targeting the Copete porphyry system before expanding to Porotillo and Melonal. The Copete-Porotillo porphyry complex holds an exploration target estimated between 135 and 180 million tonnes at 0.25 to 0.40 g/t AuEq, translating to 1.7 to 3.5 million ounces AuEq. The drilling aims to convert this conceptual target into a formal mineral resource, a critical step in advancing the project’s valuation and development potential.

Meanwhile, a scoping study is underway on the Brama-Alba-Melonal cluster, with metallurgical samples dispatched to Intertek Base Metallurgical Laboratories in Canada. This study will assess the economic viability of the growing cluster of outcropping gold-copper porphyry systems, potentially paving the way for future mining operations.

Broader Project Context and Future Outlook

The Bramaderos Project is part of Sunstone’s broader portfolio that includes the El Palmar Project in northern Ecuador, which also hosts significant gold-copper porphyry mineralisation with a 1.2 million ounce AuEq resource. Both projects benefit from excellent infrastructure and strong community engagement, aligning with Sunstone’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices.

Sunstone’s management, led by Managing Director Patrick Duffy, emphasises the strategic importance of these discoveries and the company’s readiness to accelerate resource growth. The upcoming drilling campaign and scoping study results will be closely watched by investors eager to see how these assets translate into long-term value.

While the exploration targets remain conceptual and subject to further validation, the combination of surface trenching success, historical drilling data, and imminent resource conversion efforts position Sunstone Metals as a compelling player in Ecuador’s gold-copper exploration landscape.