Pioneer Minerals (ASX:PMM) has launched on-ground exploration at its San Francisco Gold-Copper-Silver Project in Argentina, with an expanded field team scheduled to mobilise next week.
The in-country technical team, Andes Exploration, inspected outcrops, historical mine workings, and existing drill core during its initial visit to the project in San Juan Province.
Andes geologists confirmed access to the San Francisco de los Andes breccia, providing a starting point for follow-up mapping and fieldwork.
The company notes some road improvements may be necessary for future operations. Access to other priority targets remains to be verified.
Historical diamond drill core at the Villa Nueva storage facility is well stored and in good condition.
This supports a planned systematic relogging program focused on successive mineralisation events, breccia characteristics, alteration, and structural relationships.
Historical drilling at the breccia pipe, previously reported on 9 October, returned ‘high-grade’ zones including:
- 109m @ 4.94 grams per tonne gold (Au), 109g/t silver (Ag), and 1.13% copper (Cu) from 12m at hole SFDH-012
- 83m @ 4.4g/t Au, 82g/t Ag, and 0.43% Cu from 25m at hole SFDH-011
- 85m @ 2.7g/t Au, 87g/t Ag, and 0.56% Cu from 33m at hole SFDH-005
- 27m @ 5.5g/t Au, 97g/t Ag, and 3.3% Cu from 44m at hole SFDH-003
Exploration aims to test the extent and continuity of this mineralisation, including potential extensions at depth, while assessing other breccia and vein systems across the project.
Building the evidence base
Next week’s program covers the relogging of selected core and field verification of priority geochemical targets identified from historical data.
Andes will also assess logistics, integrate observations into the existing 3D geological model, and evaluate potential geophysical surveys to help prioritise targets. Pioneer reports no new assay results or drilling outcomes in this announcement.
In parallel, Andes has opened discussions with local providers regarding environmental assessment requirements and preparatory work for a potential environmental impact assessment submission.
Pioneer is prioritising data validation before committing to further drilling.
CEO Michael Beven says the fieldwork will sharpen the company’s understanding of the system.
“Commencing field exploration at San Francisco is an important step in progressing our assessment of this gold-copper-silver project,” Beven says.
“With a broader field program planned to commence next week, our immediate focus is on gathering the geological evidence needed to refine our understanding of the system and assess additional priority targets.”
Pioneer Minerals is an Australian explorer advancing a cornerstone gold-copper-silver project in Argentina alongside a critical minerals and uranium portfolio across North America and Namibia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Pioneer Minerals
