⚒️ Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited reports its JV partner FMR Resources has confirmed strong evidence of a large Copper porphyry system at the Llahuin Curiosity-Southern Porphyry target in Chile. Surface alteration matches the upper levels of a mineralised system, supported by re-logged drill data. Drill targets are being finalised, with drilling to start in Q4 2025.
- Detailed field mapping completed at Llahuin by FMR across the Curiosity-Southern Porphyry target area providing critical additional data to assist in target generation
- Alteration identified suggests the upper levels of a mineralised copper porphyry system at surface, supporting the hypothesis that the porphyry system exists at depth
- Geophysical reprocessing underway to refine drill targets at depth
- Drilling on track to commence in Q4 2025
Below is an update on Llahuin’s Curiosity-Southern Porphyry deep target by JV partner FMR Resources Limited.
FMR Resources Limited (ASX:FMR) is pleased to provide an update on field activities at the Southern Porphyry target within the Llahuin Project, Chile.
Photo 1. Field mapping underway across the Southern Porphyry target area at the Llahuin Project. Photo of outcrop at the Santa Maria epithermal system. See Figure 1and Table 1 for location and details.
FMR Managing Director, Mr Oliver Kiddie said:
“Exploration is underway at Llahuin, with detailed mapping completed by the team on site. The alteration assemblages identified confirm we have defined the upper levels of a copper porphyry system at surface. Re-logging of historic drillholes and associated geochemical analysis supports the field mapping observations below surface. These are very encouraging early-stage results, which when coupled with the remodelled geophysical data due to be received in the coming weeks, will deliver the phase I drill targets across the exciting Southern Porphyry target area.”
Figure 1. Detailed geological mapping completed across the Southern Porphyry target area with sample locations, historic drillhole collars and traces, and MT resistivity anomaly projected to surface.
Detailed Field Mapping
Field activities have commenced at the Llahuin Project with the completion of detailed geological mapping across the Southern Porphyry target area (see Figures 1 and 4). Mapping has identified the presence of a porphyry at surface, above the magneto-telluric resistivity target (see Figures 1 and 2). Alteration assemblages encountered at multiple locations across the Southern Porphyry target area suggest the upper levels of a copper porphyry system are partially exposed at surface. Argillic alteration and silicification are prevalent, with zones of veining and oxides after sulphide (see Photos 2 and 3).
Photo 2. Argillic altered outcrop with elevated Cu confirmed by pXRF. See Figure 1 and Table 1 for location and details.
Photo 3. NW structure with abundant oxide after sulphide. Located in a low IP resistivity and moderate IP chargeability zone interpreted to be proximal to a Cu-Mo porphyry. See Figure 1 and Table 1 for location and details.
Figure 2. Section A-A’ of the Southern Porphyry Target showing 3D inversion model resistivity shells from magneto-telluric data and drillhole 22LHRC024 in relation to the MT target zone.
Table 1. Geological sampling details.
In conjunction, historic drillholes have been revisited and re-logged with the assistance of assay data. Drillhole 22LHRC024 displays hydrothermal alteration consistent with the upper levels of a porphyry system (see Photo 4 and Figure 3). Drillhole LLHBM001 exhibits extensive silicification throughout, characteristic of the shallower emplacement environment, discussed below.
Structural mapping continues at time of writing.
Photo 4. RC chips from 22LHRC024 from 61m to 66m showing hydrothermal alteration with disseminated chalcopyrite (Cu) and pyrite (Py) and evidence of oxidation. See Appendix 1 and 2 and Figure 1 for drillhole data and location.
Conceptual Southern Porphyry Model
Figure 3 depicts the conceptual model for Southern Porphyry. Epithermal veining at surface in conjunction with the alteration assemblages identified suggest a telescoped copper porphyry system. The alteration zones encountered during the detailed field mapping are depicted below. Alteration assemblages identified including argillic (Photo 2), silicification (LLHBM001), and quartz stockwork (Photo 3) at the locations depicted below suggest the upper levels of a copper porphyry system.
Figure 3. Generalised alteration-mineralization zoning pattern for telescoped porphyry Cu deposit with interpreted locations of FMR mapping and historic drilling. Note that shallow alteration-mineralization types consistently overprint deeper ones (Source: Sillitoe 2010, Economic Geology, v. 105, pp. 3–41).
Next Steps
The Company continues to undertake work programs across the Southern Porphyry JV including geological mapping, structural mapping, and sampling. The geophysical reprocessing (MAG, IP, and MT) and associated modelling is underway at the time of writing, with results expected within the coming weeks. Results from this exercise combined with the detailed mapping and historic drillhole validation will define drill targets for Phase I drilling at the Southern Porphyry target area. The Company has commenced tendering for drilling contractors to test the Southern Porphyry Target, with quotes received. Drill contractors will be engaged over the next 4 to 6 weeks, with drilling anticipated to commence in Q4 2025.
Background
FMR has entered into a conditional Binding Term Sheet giving it the right to earn up to a 60% interest in a highly prospective copper-gold-molybdenite project in central Chile. The Company will joint venture into selected tenements within the Llahuin Project held by Southern Hemisphere Mining Ltd (SUH) which overlie the Southern Porphyry Target. The Southern Porphyry JV gives FMR exposure to a potential Company-making discovery. Coincidental datasets captured across the Southern Porphyry target area suggest a large, untested copper porphyry system below historic exploration. With proven fertility along a ~6km corridor at Llahuin, including historic shallow copper porphyry mineralisation directly above the Southern Porphyry target, this JV delivers FMR drill-ready targets. The Llahuin Project is located close to the city of Illapel, in the Coquimbo Region, 350 kms north of Santiago in Chile, at an elevation of ~1,300 metres above sea level. The area is well served by infrastructure, including roads, and is also just 5 km from the electricity grid and 20 km from the nearest sealed airstrip. Porphyry-style Cu-Au-Mo mineralisation identified to date at the Llahuin Project is largely hosted in three main mineralised zones – the Central Porphyry Zone, Cerro do Oro and Ferrocarril, which occur along a +2.5 km N-S strike (open north and south, with a total strike length of up 6 km). These zones are coincident with a north-south trending valley, potentially reflecting weathering of more regressive units or a structure. The Project is located over volcano-sedimentary units of the Early Cretaceous Coastal Metallogenic Belt, one of several arc-parallel belts hosting mineralisation in Chile. The coastal belt is the oldest, with these progressively younging to the east.
The Full PDF is available below.
News Release
Date: 09 July 2024 | ASX Code: SUH | Frankfurt Exchange: NK4
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Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited is an experienced minerals explorer in Chile, South America.
Chile is the world’s leading copper producing country and one of the most prospective regions of the world for major new copper discoveries. The Company’s projects include the Llahuin Porphyry Copper-Gold-Moly Project, and the Los Pumas Manganese EV Battery Project, all of which were discovered by the Company.
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