Aftermath Silver Ltd (TSX-V:AAG, OTCQX:AAGFF, FRA:FLM1) CEO Ralph Rushton talked with Proactive about the company's latest drilling campaigns at the Berenguela and Challacollo projects, outlining exploration plans aimed at expanding existing mineral resources while engineering work continues in parallel.
Proactive: Welcome back inside our Proactive newsroom. Joining me is Ralph Rushton, CEO of Aftermath Silver. Great to see you again. How are you?
Ralph Rushton: I'm very good, thank you. Fresh back from a nice break in Europe.
You're back to work because the company has resumed drilling on a couple of projects. Let's begin with Berenguela.
We've moved the drill to the eastern side of the mineral resource. Our 2024 and 2025 drilling intersected long intervals of high-grade copper there. We're now following those results up by drilling along the edge of the resource and extending eastwards beyond it to determine whether additional copper mineralisation can be incorporated into the resource estimate.
How is the drilling program being carried out?
We're positioned on the easternmost drill section of the existing resource and extending holes a few hundred metres beyond it. Any mineralisation encountered there would likely represent an addition to the existing resource. We've only recently started, so there are no results yet.
Is this expected to be a lengthy program?
It's an iterative program. If we have success, we'll continue drilling until we've gathered sufficient information. At the same time, we're waiting for permits for another copper target southwest of the project. Once work in the east is complete, we'll move there.
Northern Chile is also seeing activity.
Yes, at the Challacollo project. It's been in our portfolio for about seven years. We intended to drill last year, but contractor issues and equipment problems delayed the program. We're now close to completing the first hole. We're testing the margins of the existing resource to determine whether it can be expanded with additional ounces.
Were these targets identified through geophysical work?
No. Challacollo is a historic mine with extensive mine plans and a prefeasibility study completed around 10 to 12 years ago. We already have substantial geological information, so we haven't needed geophysics. That information has guided our targeting.
Investors will likely be pleased to see drilling progressing on two projects.
Absolutely. Engineering studies continue at Berenguela, but as a geologist I'm always happy when we're drilling. Exploration keeps things exciting alongside the engineering work.
Thanks for the update.
Thanks very much.
Quotes have been lightly edited for style and clarity