Sunstone Metals Ltd has uncovered further high-grade epithermal gold-silver mineralisation at its flagship Bramaderos Project in southern Ecuador, with surface sampling returning assays up to 14.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. The results significantly expand the mineralised footprint and confirm the presence of multiple higher-grade corridors extending from the established Brama-Alba porphyry gold-copper system.
The company’s latest exploration supports its broader strategy of unlocking both near-surface high-grade gold-silver systems and deeper porphyry gold-copper deposits at Bramaderos, positioning it as a potentially major mining centre.
Location of Sunstone’s Bramaderos and El Palmar projects, Ecuador.
“These results are significant because they demonstrate very clearly that with additional mapping and surface sampling, the higher-grade gold opportunity will expand in scale at Bramaderos,” Sunstone MD Patrick Duffy said.
“This is entirely consistent with our geological model and gives us great confidence that we can grow the areas of higher-grade gold and deliver multiple drill targets. These results form the basis for an expanding exploration program – one that continues to define additional at surface gold-silver systems, and defines other gold-copper porphyry systems like that recently identified at Copete.
“At Bramaderos, we have a cluster of gold-silver epithermal systems at surface that are adjacent to several very large gold-copper porphyry deposits. This is an ideal scenario for considering future developments at what we expect will become a major gold-copper mining centre in southern Ecuador.”
Exploration details
Recent geological mapping and rock chip sampling in areas north and west of the Brama-Alba deposit have outlined new zones of epithermal gold-silver mineralisation. The best assay returned was 14.4g/t gold from a hydrothermal breccia sample.
These samples are also strongly associated with pathfinder elements such as lead and silver, and alteration styles typical of high-grade epithermal systems.
The surface results support an evolving geological model centred on structural corridors that host both epithermal and porphyry mineralisation.
Rock chip assay results from the most recent program in areas north and west of Brama-Alba.
Sunstone defines 3.9Moz in Ecuador and outlines multi-million-ounce exploration upside
Sunstone is advancing two large-scale gold and copper projects in Ecuador, with current Mineral Resource Estimates totalling 3.9 million ounces gold equivalent (AuEq) and substantial exploration upside across both sites.
Bramaderos Project – southern Ecuador
The Bramaderos Project hosts both near-surface and deeper porphyry gold-copper systems. It contains an initial Mineral Resource of 156 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.53 grams per tonne (g/t) AuEq, for 2.7 million ounces (Moz) AuEq.
In addition, Bramaderos hosts two substantial exploration targets:
- Porphyry exploration target: 255–360 Mt grading 0.40–0.74 g/t AuEq for a conceptual 3.3–8.6 Moz AuEq
- Limon epithermal target: 30–44 Mt grading 0.9–1.2 g/t AuEq for a conceptual 0.9–1.7 Moz AuEq
These estimates are conceptual in nature. There is insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource, and it remains uncertain if further work will support such an estimate.
El Palmar Project – northern Ecuador
Located 60 kilometres north-west of Quito, the El Palmar Project lies on the Toachi Fault Zone, a regionally important structure hosting several large porphyry copper systems. El Palmar hosts both surface and deeper porphyry-style mineralisation and carries an initial Mineral Resource Estimate of 64 Mt at 0.60 g/t AuEq for 1.2 Moz AuEq.
Together, the Bramaderos and El Palmar Projects position Sunstone Metals with a growing resource base and significant potential for further discoveries in a proven mineral district.
Outlook and development strategy
Sunstone aims to first advance near-surface epithermal deposits such as Limon to establish an initial scalable operation, before unlocking the full potential of its porphyry systems. The company continues to evaluate strategic partnerships and new opportunities in Ecuador, backed by an experienced team and strong infrastructure access.
The exploration momentum and growing inventory at Bramaderos underline Sunstone’s ambition to develop a tier-one gold-copper asset in the Andean region.