Southern Hemisphere Advances Southern Porphyry Drilling with Promising Assays

Phase I Drilling Confirms Large Porphyry System

Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX:SUH) has wrapped up the first phase of deep diamond drilling at its Southern Porphyry copper target in Chile, delivering evidence of a vertically extensive hydrothermal system. Four drillholes totalling over 5,000 metres intersected multiple intrusive phases; granodiorite, diorite, and andesitic porphyries; along with broad zones of quartz-anhydrite veining, brecciation, and sulphide mineralisation.

Assay highlights include a significant 124 metres at 0.31% copper equivalent (CuEq) from 258 metres depth in hole 25LHDD071, featuring a 20-metre interval at 0.48% CuEq. Another hole, 26LHDD072, returned 104 metres at 0.16% CuEq from 522 metres, accompanied by elevated molybdenum levels, a classic vector towards a concealed porphyry core. These results underscore a gold-dominant mineralisation style with associated molybdenum consistent with a higher-level position above the porphyry centre.

Targeting the High-Grade Core in Phase II

Despite intersecting fertile but non-causative intrusions, Southern Hemisphere and JV partner FMR Resources are confident the potassic core; the heart of the porphyry system; remains untested. Integration of assays, structural data, petrography, geochemistry, MT/IP geophysics, and downhole logging has refined targeting vectors south, east, and at depth from existing holes.

Phase II drilling is being meticulously planned to test this interpreted high-grade core, with work ongoing to combine multi-element geochemistry, structural vein orientation, and geophysical models. The next round of drilling will commence once outstanding assays, including those from drillhole 26LHDD073, are received and permits finalised. This approach follows the detailed exploration progress documented in recent reports, including the assays confirming a large porphyry system that highlighted broad gold-copper-molybdenum mineralisation but left the core untested.

Broader Project Portfolio and Corporate Update

Beyond Llahuin, Southern Hemisphere continues to advance its Cardawan Copper Project in Western Australia, an early-stage sedimentary-hosted copper prospect strategically located along the Great Northern Highway. The company also markets its Los Pumas Battery Metals Manganese Project in Chile, seeking joint venture or sale opportunities to develop this long-life manganese deposit targeting agricultural, steelmaking, and electric vehicle supply chains.

On the corporate front, Southern Hemisphere secured a $0.5 million unsecured loan facility from Merchant Holdings Pty Ltd, related to Chairman Mark Stowell, at an interest rate of 7.65% per annum. This facility supplements the company’s cash position, which stood at $499,000 at quarter-end, supported by $999,000 in total available funding including the facility. Exploration expenditure for the quarter was approximately $1.1 million, partly offset by JV partner contributions of $999,000 from FMR Resources.

Upcoming Catalysts and Funding Outlook

Looking ahead, Southern Hemisphere plans extensional diamond drilling at its 100% owned Llahuin resources, specifically targeting the Cerro and Ferro zones. The company also anticipates receipt of remaining assays from the JV drilling program and completion of integrated geological-geophysical-geochemical modelling to finalise Phase II drill targets.

With estimated funding for just over two quarters at current expenditure rates, Southern Hemisphere’s next steps hinge on assay results and the success of Phase II drilling. The progression of these activities will be critical in determining whether the company can delineate the sought-after high-grade porphyry core, which remains the key to unlocking the project’s potential value.