Sunstone Metals Ltd (ASX:STM) has expanded the Brama-Alba gold-copper porphyry system at its Bramaderos project in Southern Ecuador.
The precious and base metal explorer has received more strong results for the camp, which extends the gold-copper discovery to 1.1 kilometres long and 400 metres wide.
Some of the best results for this batch of assays (covering five drill holes) include:
- 221.6 metres at 0.43 g/t gold and 0.11% copper from surface;
- 93.3 metres at at 0.55g/t gold and 0.08% copper from surface, including 24 metres at 0.86 g/t gold and 0.10% copper from surface;
- 84 metres at 0.5 g/t gold and 0.16% copper from surface; and
- 57 metres at 0.74 g/t gold and 0.23% copper from 30 metres.
The Brama-Alba system remains open to the east and west, and today’s results highlight higher-grade copper-gold zones near the discovery’s surface.
What’s more, there’s a strong possibility for the Brama-Alba deposit to extend right out to some of the nearby gold-copper targets, such as Bramaderos' Melonal and Playas prospects.
Strengthening system potential
Speaking in a market announcement today, Sunstone managing director Malcolm Norris said the company was pleased with the latest round of results from Brama-Alba.
“These [results] strengthen the potential and increase the scale of the Brama porphyry system,” he explained.
“As we have seen in previous assay results from Brama, we continue to see very good gold-copper grades from surface.
“These results will be incorporated into an initial mineral resource estimate for the Brama-Alba deposits expected in late 2022.
“Further holes will now be drilled on the eastern end of Brama to potentially enlarge the gold-copper system in this direction.
“Ongoing drilling at Alba is progressing well and the market will be updated as more assay results are returned.”
Right now, three drill rigs are active at Bramaderos, while metallurgical test-work is underway on some of the new samples from Brama-Alba.
Exploration continues
Sunstone will continue turning the soil at Bramaderos throughout 2022, targeting several areas of interest.
At least one rig is expected to hold the fort at Brama, where it’ll drill at least five holes for around 2,000 metres, while at least six holes (covering roughly 2,400 metres) will be completed at Alba.
Next month, work will also kick off at the Limon target, where Sunstone plans to execute at least six holes and around 3,500 metres of drilling, targeting chargeability and conductive anomalies.
Planning is also underway at the Melonal prospect, located southwest of Alba, where at least one hole for roughly 500 metres is expected.
Next chapter
Ultimately, drilling programs at Brama and Alba will form the basis for an initial mineral resource estimate (MRE) at Bramaderos.
Sunstone hopes the MRE will cement an initial resource that can be built up as exploration continues across Brama-Alba and other nearby targets like Limon, Playas and Melonal.
Thanks to today’s findings, Sunstone knows the Brama-Alba system is at least 1,100 metres long by 400 metres wide, and the system has a vertical extent of at least 400 metres.
The explorer will keep the market updated on its work at the Southern Ecuador gold-copper play.