Solis Minerals (ASX:SLM) has applied for 27 exploration concessions covering 25,600 hectares and is considered a copper porphyry mineralisation target, dubbed the Canyon Project in Peru.
The Canyon Project sits on a northwest-southeast prospective trend with known porphyry occurrences outside of the application area.
It contains a belt of intrusive rocks known as the Coastal Batholith that stretches from the Ecuadorian border in the north to the Chilean border in the south along the coast of Peru.
Solis Minerals is continuing to advance its portfolio of targets in the Coastal Belt of Peru to conduct drilling programs. Drilling is expected to begin at the Canyon Project in the third quarter of 2026.
The $7.29 million market capitalisation company says rapid reconnaissance zones of interest at Canyon will comprise geological mapping and geochemistry sampling in areas of previously reported exploration.
In the medium term, remote sensing will be used to vector further exploration. Any targets uncovered will be permitted and included into the company’s project pipeline.
Executive Director Mike Parker says this is an opportunity for Solis to continue exploring for copper in its area of expertise, the intrusive belts of the coast of Peru.
“This large prospective block is bracketed by porphyry copper projects along strike, which are localised by cross faulting,” Parker says.
“In the application area, similar structures were identified in previous exploration, which will be the immediate area of focus. The relative lack of cover rocks will enable us to use geochemistry as a rapid and efficient tool to focus on follow-up areas.
“Our focused staking strategy is the most cost-effective way of adding to our exploration pipeline. In addition, we believe this area adds another element to our copper strategy in providing an opportunity to explore for near surface heap-leachable copper oxide resources that offer relatively less expensive and easier fast-track copper production.”
The company says the rocks, of Late Jurassic to Cretaceous age, host Solis’ Ilo Project’s alongside the copper deposit of Tia Maria and Zafranal in Arequipa, the Almacen prospect, and the Los Pinos Project. The rocks also host other copper projects and prospects.
The application area is 22km by 12km and the geology predominantly comprises granodiorite and tonalite.
Solis Minerals is an emerging explorer focused on unlocking the potential of South America’s critical minerals.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Solis
