Solis Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:SLMN, ASX:SLM, OTCQB:SLMFF, FRA:08WA) has kicked off diamond drilling at its 100%-owned Cinto Copper Project in southern Peru, beginning an initial program of around five holes for 2,500 metres designed to test high-priority porphyry copper targets.
The program will investigate coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies, including targets generated by induced polarisation (IP) surveying and areas where previous surface sampling returned copper grades of up to 8.7%.
Maiden drilling tests key targets
Drilling will begin with hole CI-001-2026, while a second hole from the same pad will test beneath Channel 6 and a broad IP chargeability anomaly.
A third proposed hole will target beneath Channels 1-4 and towards a deeper sub-circular chargeability anomaly that Solis believes could indicate a possible porphyry nucleus.
The company has permitted 11 drill pads, providing scope to expand the program depending on results from the initial holes.
Previous exploration has strengthened the geological case for drilling, with channel sampling returning results including 23.4 metres at 0.88% copper, 16.8 metres at 0.52% copper and 2.2 metres at 5.80% copper.
The latter included 1.1 metres at 8.7% copper, 0.535 g/t gold and 25 g/t silver. Follow-up work in 2025 returned 26.5 metres at 0.28% copper, including 5.4 metres at 1.0% copper.
“We have commenced diamond drilling at Cinto following the successful mobilisation of our team and equipment to site. The project area has excellent copper porphyry potential with abundant outcropping breccia-style copper mineralisation, geophysical targets, proximity to globally significant copper mines and regional infrastructure.
We look forward to providing drilling updates as the program advances alongside the progress we are making at the Mandacaru Lithium Project in Brazil,” CEO Mitch Thomas said.
Cinto rock geochemistry. LHS (located proximate to Channel 7, sample 18369, taken across mineralisation in brecciated andesitic tuff exposed by gully erosion.
Cinto sits within major Peruvian copper district
Cinto lies along the Incapuquio Fault Zone, the same regional geological structure associated with several major porphyry deposits, including Toquepala, Quellaveco, Cuajone and Cerro Verde.
Solis said interpretation of magnetic data indicates mineralised breccias and shear zones at Cinto broadly coincide with inferred fault structures, while a roughly 1,000-metre-wide chargeability anomaly in the northwest represents a compelling deeper drill target.
The project is also close to the operating Toquepala, Quellaveco and Cuajone copper mines, reinforcing the established copper endowment and infrastructure of the district.
Mandacaru drilling continues in Brazil
Drilling at Cinto will run alongside Solis Minerals’ program at the Mandacaru Lithium Project in Brazil.
The fifth Mandacaru drill hole is nearing completion, with a sixth expected to begin shortly. Core is being logged, sampled and submitted to SGS in Belo Horizonte for analysis, with further drilling updates and assay results expected as they become available.