Coppernico Metals (TSX:COPR) has secured final regulatory approval to begin drilling under its expanded permit at the Sombrero Copper-Gold Project in Peru.
On Tuesday (10 November), the company announced that Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines had granted a start-of-activities authorisation, clearing the way for drilling under the expanded environmental permit received in August.
The authorisation covers an exploration area of approximately 3,122 hectares, allowing for up to 300 drill holes across 181 drill platforms.
With the approval in place, Coppernico is planning a 20,000m phase two drilling program across nine targets at different stages of exploration.
Fierrazo first in line for drilling
Initial drilling will focus on Fierrazo, a copper-gold skarn target supported by historical drilling results.
According to Coppernico, this portion of the program is fully funded, with site preparations, including access road and drill pad construction, already underway.
The broader exploration program also includes Nioc and Tipicancha, two targets where copper mineralisation has been identified at surface, although neither has been drilled.
At Nioc, the company is advancing a separate community agreement and drilling permit, with initial drilling targeted for 2027.
The remaining targets are largely concealed beneath post-mineral cover and have been identified through geophysical surveys and geological mapping, requiring first-pass tests.
Coppernico notes that the timing and pace of the 20,000m program will remain at its discretion as it evaluates the nine targets.
Coppernico Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on discovering and advancing large-scale copper-gold deposits in the Americas.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Main image: Coppernico Metals
