Andina Copper Corporation (TSX-V: ANDC | FSE: FIR | OTCQB: PMMCF) has reported assay results from drillholes PIU12 and PIU13 at the Piuquenes North target in San Juan, Argentina, confirming a new porphyry copper-gold discovery. The drilling targeted a large magneto-telluric (MT) geophysical anomaly identified during the company’s 2026 survey program.
Drillhole PIU13 intersected 468 meters grading 0.50% copper, 0.30 grams per tonne gold, and 3.04 g/t silver from 700 meters depth, including a higher-grade interval of 164 meters at 0.70% Cu, 0.44 g/t Au, and 4.19 g/t Ag from 924 meters. The mineralization is hosted within a multiphase porphyry system between 664 and 1,168 meters downhole, characterized by intense quartz vein stockwork and potassic alteration with chalcopyrite and bornite. Gold is a significant co-product, with lesser silver.
Drillhole PIU12, collared approximately 600 meters east-northeast of PIU13, intersected shorter intervals of mineralization within a pre-mineral porphyry, interpreted as the periphery of the system. It returned 14 meters at 0.38% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, and 1.81 g/t Ag from 864 meters. Both holes have tested only a small portion of the MT anomaly, which measures approximately 800 by 700 meters and trends north-northeast, remaining open in all directions.
“We are extremely pleased with the results from our first drillholes at Piuquenes North. High-grade Cu-Au values from PIU13 confirm a new discovery, proximate to the high-grade, near surface mineralization at Piuquenes Central,” said Joseph van den Elsen, President and CEO. “Only a fraction of the large geophysical anomaly has been tested, and we are now designing the next phase of drilling to expand on what is potentially a significant new porphyry discovery along the emerging San Juan Miocene belt.”
The Piuquenes project now comprises three recognized porphyry systems: the newly discovered Piuquenes North, along with Piuquenes Central and Piuquenes East. These are located immediately adjacent to the north of Aldebaran Resources Inc.’s Altar copper-gold porphyry project. Other large porphyry copper projects in the region include El Pachon (Glencore) approximately 30 kilometers to the south, the operating Los Pelambres copper mine (60% Antofagasta plc) in Chile, and Los Azules (McEwen Copper) 50 kilometers to the northeast. Mineralization on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at Piuquenes.
Geologically, PIU13 collared in andesitic volcanic host rocks and from about 664 meters intersected a broad mineralized multiphase porphyry system extending to 1,168 meters. The intrusive complex includes pre-mineral, early mineral, and intermineral porphyry phases affected by potassic alteration, locally overprinted by sericite and chlorite. The highest-grade interval is associated with the early mineral porphyry between 914 and 1,045 meters. The low-resistivity MT anomaly has been demonstrated to correspond with a broad, mineralized copper-gold porphyry system, which remains open to the north, north-northeast, and at depth.
The company plans to integrate final assay results with updated geological logging into a refined three-dimensional model to design a follow-up drill program targeting down-dip and along-strike extensions, with priority on the north-northeast continuation and untested depth extent of the MT anomaly. The company’s Corporate Presentation is available at Andina Copper Corporate Presentation. For the latest news and releases, visit the company’s Mailing List.
Gustavo Zulliger, a consultant of Andina Copper and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information. The company implemented a QA/QC program including certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates, confirming reliable analytical data.
