Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX:SUH) expects first assays from its Llahuin diamond drilling in late November, after logging chalcocite in hole 24LHRD067.
The company has completed three holes for 658.2m, about one-third of the 2,000m program at its 100%-owned Llahuin Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Project in Chile.
The initial program aims to extend the existing mineral resource at the Cerro Ferro and Ferro South zones, with holes planned to a maximum depth of 650–750m.
Hole 24LHRD067 returned 241m @ 0.42% copper equivalent (CuEq), including 143m @ 0.51% CuEq, as previously reported on 4 August. Extension drilling in the hole has now logged both chalcocite and chalcopyrite mineralisation.
Chairman Mark Stowell says the chalcocite has ‘beneficial’ processing qualities.
“Chalcocite contains around 80% copper by weight, more than double chalcopyrite, and has beneficial processing qualities,” Stowell states.
The company is now moving the rig to Cerro to re-enter DDLLA028, a historical diamond hole that ended at 401m.
Southern Hemisphere plans to extend the hole to a depth of around 650–750m to test for a porphyry feeder zone beneath the system, using copper isotope analysis provided by consultant VectOres.
The program also adds a new copper-gold target, with historical hole RCLLA009 returning 8m @ 3.67 grams per tonne gold from 45m. However, the hole was not assayed for copper.
Recent heavy rain eroded river banks back to bedrock, exposing outcrop containing visible chalcocite and an estimated 6% pyrite.
Historical pulps from the reverse circulation drilling are being sent to the laboratory for full multi-element analysis, and a new drillhole is planned to test this target.
“With drilling running 24/7 and first assays due late November, we expect to add more to Llahuin’s potential before year end,” Stowell adds.
Llahuin hosts a JORC mineral resource of 218.2 million tonnes (Mt) @ 0.38% CuEq, comprising 174.1Mt @ 0.39% CuEq in the measured and indicated category, and 44.1Mt @ 0.31% CuEq inferred.
Southern Hemisphere Mining is an Australian explorer advancing a portfolio of copper and battery manganese assets in South America.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Southern Hemishpere Mining
