Great Southern Copper PLC (LON: GSCU) has commenced scout reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Artemisa North porphyry copper target within its Especularita Project in Chile, as the company accelerates exploration activity across its prospective copper-gold portfolio.
The drilling programme follows encouraging recent results from the nearby Piedras Blancas target, where earlier drilling confirmed the presence of a strong porphyry copper-style alteration system.
Historical rock chip sampling from underground mine workings at Artemisa North returned copper grades of up to 1.21% Cu, alongside 0.6g/t gold and 201ppm molybdenum, highlighting the target’s potential for significant mineralisation.
Management said the Artemisa North target remains open beneath shallow cover and has not been previously drill tested, making the current campaign an important step in evaluating its broader scale potential.
At Piedras Blancas, four drillholes totalling 574 metres intersected extensive phyllic alteration, while two holes transitioned into potassic alteration zones accompanied by sulphide mineralisation. The company said these results provide important proof-of-concept support for its porphyry copper exploration model at relatively shallow depths.
Great Southern Copper believes the combination of alteration signatures, mineralisation and geological continuity across the Especularita Project strengthens the case for a potentially larger copper system within the district, with further drilling expected to refine targeting and expand understanding of the project’s resource potential.
