Hot Chili (ASX:HCH) has intersected 105.8m @ 0.7% copper equivalent (CuEq) within a broader mineralised zone at its La Verde discovery in Chile.
Diamond hole DKD060 returned 472m @ 0.41% CuEq from 49m, containing 0.34% copper (Cu) and 0.08 grams per tonne gold (Au).
The 105.8m interval, starting from 397m, contained 0.58% Cu and 0.15g/t Au. This included 32.6m @ 0.9% CuEq from 438m.
Hot Chili says the partial results expand La Verde’s interpreted ‘higher-grade’ core at depth. Assays remain pending for the final 142.7m of the 772.7m hole.
The company also received an updated result of 182m @ 0.5% CuEq from 24m in reverse circulation hole DKP058. The result extends a previously reported intersection by a 74m downhole.
Hole DKP052 returned 272m @ 0.4% CuEq from 82m, including 42m @ 0.5% CuEq from 92m and 28m @ 0.6% CuEq from 252m.
The copper-equivalent calculations incorporate copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver using assumed recoveries benchmarked against Hot Chili’s Cortadera deposit. The reported intersections are downhole lengths, with their relationship to true widths still being assessed.
CEO Christian Easterday says Hot Chili plans to incorporate La Verde into the nearby Costa Fuego Copper-Gold Project.
“The integration of La Verde is anticipated to significantly enhance Costa Fuego’s scale and economics — elevating its standing amongst the world’s few remaining meaningful scale and near-term independent copper development projects,” Easterday says.
Assays are pending from 18 holes. A fourth rig has been added after heavy rainfall temporarily disrupted drilling during July, bringing the operation to two diamond and two reverse circulation rigs.
Hot Chili says it is targeting a maiden mineral resource estimate for La Verde later this year. The company then plans to update the Costa Fuego Prefeasibility Study and submit the project’s environmental impact assessment during the June quarter of 2027.
Hot Chili is a copper-gold exploration and development company advancing Costa Fuego in Chile’s coastal Atacama region. La Verde is located around 30km south of the project’s planned central processing hub.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Hot Chili
