Drilling commences at Cangallo
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
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June 12th, 2025
STAGE 2 DRILLING COMMENCES AT CANGALLO COPPERGOLD PROJECT, PERU
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Stage 2 Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program (~5,000m) has commenced.
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Initial assay results expected within 6-8 weeks.
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Drilling designed to extend copper-gold intersections and locate porphyry centre.
Further to its ASX release of April 24th, AusQuest Limited (“AusQuest or the Company” – ASX:
AQD) is pleased to advise that the Stage 2 Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program has
commenced at its 100%-owned Cangallo porphyry copper-gold discovery in Peru.
This program is expected to take 4-6 weeks to complete with initial assay results expected to
be available within 6-8 weeks from the commencement of drilling.
The Stage 2 RC drilling program (~5,000m) is designed to extend the original copper-gold
intersections by re-directing drill-holes from the original drill pads as well as stepping out to the
west, south and north to help locate the centre of the porphyry system(s), which is thought to
have excellent potential for higher copper grades (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Cangallo Copper Prospect showing planned Stage 2 RC drill-hole locations.
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Commenting on the start of drilling at Cangallo, AusQuest’s Managing Director, Graeme Drew,
said:
“We are very excited to announce the start of our Stage 2 drilling campaign, which we think
will add significantly to the copper intersections reported from the maiden drilling program and
further enhance the size potential of this new porphyry copper-gold discovery.
“Stage 2 drilling is designed to help locate the centre of the porphyry system and the possible
presence of a supergene blanket – both of which hold excellent potential for high copper
grades.
“Deep diamond drilling and a third stage of RC drilling have also been planned and will be
completed in the second half of this year once all necessary permits have been received.
“Success should create significant value for our shareholders and mark the beginning of a
transformative period for the Company. We look forward to keeping the market informed of
results from the drilling program.”
Cangallo Exploration Results:
The vast majority of the copper and gold intersected by the maiden RC drilling program occurs
within the volcanic host rocks (andesites and dacites). Copper enrichment, stock-work veining
and hydrothermal alteration (potassic and sericitic) intersected by the drilling are thought to
indicate the margins of a much larger porphyry system that is still to be defined.
Tonalite dykes that were recognised at surface and in the RC drill-holes are considered to be
the source of the hydrothermal fluids and base metals, however the small number of dykes is
not enough to explain the large amount of alteration and widespread metal distribution that is
evident in the drilling, highlighting excellent potential for a large-scale intrusive stock nearby.
The presence of higher copper grades within or proximal to these dykes suggests that there is
also excellent potential for the large-scale porphyry stock to be more strongly mineralised.
Broad zones of copper mineralisation (up to 304m @ 0.30% Cu and 0.06ppm Au) – in the form
of both oxides (malachite, chrysocolla and brochantite) and sulphides (mainly chalcopyrite) –
were reported for seven of the eight holes drilled, with the mineralisation starting from near
surface and continuing to the end-of-hole in at least six drill-holes.
The depth of oxidation is highly variable, extending to more than 200 metres in several drillholes, providing strong evidence for supergene processes being active in the area, raising the
possibility of an enriched supergene blanket with higher copper grades occurring somewhere
beneath the shallow cover.
Geological mapping and rock-chip sampling identified a partially exposed copper (+/- gold)
porphyry system, within a large-scale (3km x 2km) caldera-like structure containing extensive
colluvial and younger sediment cover. The maiden drilling program only tested a very small
portion of this Cangallo structure.
Background:
Peru is the second largest copper producer in the world behind Chile, with around 2.8Mt of
copper being mined and processed per annum. The bulk of this production comes from around
10 large copper projects, mainly porphyries, that are located along the Andean Belt that
extends from Chile in the south to Ecuador in the north.
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Porphyry deposits are typically large (often over 1 billion tonnes of ore), usually open-cuttable
with low waste to ore ratios. The shallower parts of these ore bodies are usually oxide ores
that can be processed by heap leach methods, delivering lower development and operational
costs.
There are a number of profitable large-scale operations (Cerro Verde, Cuajone, Toquepala,
Quellaveco), and new approved developments (Mina Justa, Zafranal) located within the
Arequipa District where Cangallo is situated, using head grades between 0.20% and 0.40%
Cu. These mines have multi-decade mine-lives and are long-lived assets.
The economic viability of the Peruvian resources is often affected by a range of issues
including location, altitude, proximity to infrastructure and water, and land usage conflicts with
local communities.
The Cangallo Project is particularly well located with respect to the above, being close to
significant infrastructure, 25km east of the town of Chala and within 10km of the coast.
Community consultation has formed part of the Company’s exploration process, with no critical
issues identified to date.
Peru is a stable country and the government is supportive of new mine developments as they
add significantly to the Peruvian economy and the communities where they are located.
Graeme Drew
Managing Director
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COMPETENT PERSON’S STATEMENT
The details contained in this report that pertain to exploration results are based upon information compiled by Mr
Graeme Drew, a full-time employee of AusQuest Limited. Mr Drew is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining
and Metallurgy (AUSIMM) and has sufficient experience in the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the December 2012 edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration
Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” (JORC Code). Mr Drew consents to the inclusion in the report of
the matters based upon his information in the form and context in which it appears.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This report contains forward looking statements concerning the projects owned by AusQuest Limited. Statements
concerning mining reserves and resources may also be deemed to be forward looking statements in that they
involve estimates based on specific assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact
and actual events and results may differ materially from those described in the forward looking statements as a
result of a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward looking statements are based on management’s
beliefs, opinions and estimates as of the dates the forward looking statements are made and no obligation is
assumed to update forward looking statements if these beliefs, opinions and estimates should change or to reflect
other future developments.
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