en.Wedoany.com Reported - Great Southern Copper (GSC) has completed its first exploration reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Especularita project in Chile, targeting a large porphyry copper system.
The project is located in a low-altitude area, adjacent to existing infrastructure and mining services, with convenient access. The region is distributed along Chile's main copper belt, including deposits such as Los Pelambres, Altar, and El Pachon. GSC holds the right to acquire 100% ownership of the project.
This exploration campaign completed a total of 17 reverse circulation holes, with a total footage of 2,474 meters. The drilling targets focused on the western and southern margins of the La Colorada advanced argillic lithocap. The company stated that these areas were selected based on their geological characteristics—the surface may expose porphyry-type alteration around the lithocap.
At the Piedras Blancas and Artemisa North targets, initial drilling revealed diorite and microdiorite, accompanied by strong magnetite-biotite-pyrite alteration, later overprinted by intense chlorite-sericite alteration. It should be noted that holes RC001 at Piedras Blancas and RC008 at Artemisa North intercepted porphyry copper-type potassic alteration near the surface, characterized by hydrothermal biotite and quartz veinlets. Drilling at the Victoria and Artemisa South targets showed weaker phyllic alteration, with mineralization appearing more structurally controlled.
According to the report, the overall intensity of veining and copper oxide mineralization increases northward, suggesting a potential mineralizing fluid source beneath the La Colorada lithocap. Samples were collected at 2-meter intervals, and quality assurance and control procedures were implemented. All samples have been shipped to ALS laboratories in Santiago and La Serena for preparation, with subsequent analysis to be completed in Lima, Peru. GSC expects the first batch of analytical results to be available within two to four weeks. Additionally, ongoing geological mapping and geophysical work will inform further exploration of other targets within the license area.
GSC CEO Sam Garrett stated that the company is satisfied with completing the first drilling test on the flanks of the large Especularita lithocap alteration system. This project helps guide subsequent drilling within the lithocap, targeting areas most likely to host copper and gold mineralization. Last month, the company initiated exploration reverse circulation drilling at the Artemisa South copper-gold target, part of the Especularita project.
