Marimaca Copper has expanded its high-grade bornite zone at Pampa Medina with new drilling revealing significant copper and silver grades, including intersections in basement metasediments for the first time, indicating potential for further resource growth.
- 6m at 6.11% Cu and 24g/t Ag in SPRD-07
- 40m at 2.04% Cu and 11.1g/t Ag from 664m depth
- Mineralization intersected in basement metasediments
- Step-out drilling extends high-grade zone 300m south
- Investor webinar scheduled for July 14, 2026
Step-Out Drilling Pushes Bornite Zone Southward
Marimaca Copper Corp (ASX:MC2) has delivered fresh encouragement from its Pampa Medina deposit in Chile, with step-out drilling extending the central high-grade bornite zone 300 metres south of previous intercepts. Hole SPRD-07 returned a standout 6 metres grading 6.11% copper and 24 grams per tonne silver within a broader 20-metre interval at 2.65% copper and 13.9 g/t silver from 564 metres depth. Deeper in the hole, a 40-metre section averaged 2.04% copper and 11.1 g/t silver, part of a 104-metre interval starting at 664 metres.
New Depth Horizons Opened by Basement Mineralization
Perhaps more intriguingly, hole SPRD-08B pierced mineralization within basement metasediments for the first time at Pampa Medina, reaching a depth of 1,052 metres. This discovery pushes the known mineralized envelope beyond the previously defined sedimentary and volcanic host units, hinting at untapped potential at depth. The basement-hosted mineralization shows consistent copper grades, including a 98-metre interval at 1.21% copper and 7.6 g/t silver starting from 386 metres, with multiple stacked mantos identified.
Geological Model Affirmed with Multiple Stacked Mantos
The ongoing drilling campaign continues to reinforce Marimaca Copper’s geological model of multiple high-grade, stacked manto-style copper-silver horizons dominated by bornite and chalcocite mineralization. The results confirm the continuity and thickness of mineralization across the sedimentary and volcanic sequence, with intercepts showing elevated silver grades that correlate with copper. The presence of mineralized dykes and faulting adds complexity but also potential exploration targets, as seen in hole SPRD-09 which extended mineralization further south despite intersecting barren dykes.
Broader Sierra de Medina Potential and Nearby Discoveries
Pampa Medina’s mineralized area remains only partially tested, representing a fraction of the Sierra de Medina land package that Marimaca Copper controls. The recent basement intercepts draw parallels with the nearby Cachorro discovery by Antofagasta Minerals, which is also hosted in basement tuffs and metasediments, suggesting a geological setting favourable for further discoveries. Near-surface oxide mineralization was also intersected west of the historic oxide footprint, broadening the deposit’s vertical profile.
Investor Engagement and Next Steps
Marimaca Copper will host an investor webinar on July 14, 2026, featuring VP Exploration Sergio Rivera and senior executives to discuss these latest exploration developments. The company plans to continue its 2026 campaign with further drilling and geophysical surveys aimed at delineating the high-grade central area of interest and testing extensions to the north and west. While true widths are estimated at approximately 80% of downhole lengths, the consistency of results across multiple holes adds confidence to the emerging resource picture.
Bottom Line?
Marimaca Copper’s latest drilling at Pampa Medina underscores the deposit’s expanding high-grade footprint and opens new depth targets, setting the stage for further resource definition.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the basement-hosted mineralization influence resource modelling at Pampa Medina?
- What are the implications of the barren dykes intersected in deeper holes for future drilling strategies?
- To what extent can the Pampa Medina system be extended laterally and at depth beyond current drill coverage?