Great Southern Copper PLC (LSE:GSCU) said it had identified targets for scout drilling at its Viuda prospect, which has now been elevated to a high-priority porphyry copper-gold prospect in its pipeline
Mapping and drone surveys confirmed a potential system in an area where GSC believes no historical drilling exists.
The Viuda prospect is part of GSC’s Especularita project in Chile's coastal metallogenic belt and comprises 16 sq km of concessions.
Permitting for scout drilling has been received, GSC added.
Sam Garrett, GSC’s chief executive said: "Since acquiring the prospect in May 2024, GSC has adopted an aggressive exploration plan to confirm Viuda as a porphyry copper-gold target and fast-track the prospect to drill-ready status within the company's drilling prospect pipeline.
“Prospect-scale mapping, Landsat imagery and results from a drone magnetics survey at Viuda define a 2km diameter, zoned alteration system that is consistent with porphyry copper-gold style mineralisation.
“The alteration footprints of porphyry systems are typically very large, in this case 4 sqkm2, and as such work at Viuda will now focus on vectoring toward potential mineralised centres which are often more difficult to identify at surface due to the effects of oxidation, weathering and erosion.
“Scout RC drilling is being planned to initially test areas of visible stockwork alteration plus assist with ongoing geological interpretations and exploration in areas of deeper weathering with limited outcrop.”