Hot Chili Expands La Verde Copper-Gold Zone with 472m at 0.41% CuEq

La Verde Delivers Long High-Grade Copper-Gold Intersections

Hot Chili Limited (ASX:HCH) has unveiled a new batch of drilling results from its La Verde porphyry copper-gold discovery in Chile’s Atacama region, delivering a standout 472-metre intersection grading 0.41% copper equivalent (CuEq) starting at just 49 metres depth. Within this broad zone, a higher-grade core of 106 metres at 0.70% CuEq was recorded, including an even richer 33-metre segment hitting 0.90% CuEq. These figures reinforce La Verde’s potential as a significant contributor to Hot Chili’s flagship Costa Fuego project.

The company’s diamond drill hole DKD060 notably refined geological models by revealing fewer late-stage dykes than expected, supporting the expansion of the +0.4% copper grade envelope. Assays are still pending for the deepest 143 metres of this hole, leaving open the possibility of further extensions.

Consistent Growth and Continuity in Mineralisation

Additional drill holes continue to confirm the continuity of mineralisation near surface and at depth. Reverse Circulation hole DKP058 extended a previously reported intersection by 74 metres to total 182 metres at 0.50% CuEq from 24 metres depth, bolstering confidence in a broad, shallow copper-gold enrichment horizon along La Verde’s eastern flank.

Similarly, DKP052 delivered 272 metres at 0.40% CuEq from 82 metres, including multiple higher-grade intervals up to 0.64% CuEq. These results underpin the potential for a sizeable starter pit zone, a critical factor in project economics.

Drilling Accelerated Despite Weather Setbacks

Following severe July rains in the Atacama that temporarily halted operations and required significant earthworks to restore access, Hot Chili has added a fourth rig to the La Verde drilling program. The operation now runs six shifts daily, aiming to expedite the integration of La Verde into Costa Fuego’s development plans.

La Verde lies 30 kilometres south of Costa Fuego’s planned central processing hub and is expected to substantially enhance the project’s scale and economics. Costa Fuego already ranks among the five largest independent copper development projects globally, and La Verde’s addition could cement its status.

Pathway to Resource and Feasibility Milestones

Hot Chili is targeting a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for La Verde later this year, followed by a revised Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Costa Fuego incorporating the new discovery. The company also plans to submit the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Costa Fuego in the second quarter of 2027.

The copper equivalent calculations use metal prices of US$4.50/lb for copper and US$3,150/oz for gold, with recoveries modelled on comparable nearby deposits. This conservative approach lends credibility to the reported grades.

While assays for 18 drill holes remain outstanding, the current results confirm strong continuity and expansion potential. The integration of La Verde is poised to be a cornerstone for Hot Chili’s copper-gold ambitions in Chile.