Andina Copper Corporation (TSX-V: ANDC | FSE: FIR | OTCQB: PMMCF) announced diamond drill assay results from drillholes PIU12 and PIU13 at the newly generated Piuquenes North target in San Juan, Argentina. Drilling targeted a large, discrete magneto-telluric (MT) geophysical anomaly identified in the company's 2026 survey program. The results confirm a new porphyry copper-gold system, with significant implications for the emerging San Juan Miocene belt.
Drillhole PIU13 returned 468 meters at 0.50% copper, 0.30 g/t gold, and 3.04 g/t silver from 700 meters downhole, including a higher-grade interval of 164 meters at 0.70% copper, 0.44 g/t gold, and 4.19 g/t silver from 924 meters. Mineralization is hosted within a multiphase porphyry system intersected between 664 and 1,168 meters, characterized by intense quartz vein stockwork and potassic alteration with chalcopyrite and bornite. Gold is a significant co-product, with lesser silver. In contrast, hole PIU12, collared approximately 600 meters east-northeast of PIU13, intersected only short intervals of mineralization interpreted as the periphery of the system, returning 14 meters at 0.38% copper, 0.12 g/t gold, and 1.81 g/t silver.
President and CEO Joseph van den Elsen noted that PIU13 confirms a new discovery proximate to the high-grade mineralization at Piuquenes Central. He emphasized that only a fraction of the 800-meter by 700-meter MT anomaly has been tested, and the company is designing a follow-up drill program to expand on what could be a significant new porphyry discovery. The anomaly trends north-northeast and remains open in all directions and at depth.
The Piuquenes district now comprises three recognized porphyry systems: Piuquenes North, Piuquenes Central, and Piuquenes East, all located immediately north of Aldebaran Resources Inc.'s Altar copper-gold porphyry project. Other large projects in the region include Glencore's El Pachon (30 km south), Antofagasta plc's Los Pelambres mine in Chile, and McEwen Copper's Los Azules (50 km northeast).
Geologically, PIU13 intersected andesitic volcanic host rocks before entering a broad mineralized multiphase porphyry system. The intrusive complex includes pre-mineral, early mineral, and intermineral porphyry phases affected by potassic alteration, locally overprinted by sericite and chlorite. Copper-gold mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite and bornite in M, A, and B type quartz veins and disseminations. The highest grades are associated with the early mineral porphyry between 914 and 1,045 meters. PIU12, drilled at a different azimuth, intercepted pre-mineral porphyry with moderate alteration, confirming lateral extension but at lower grades.
The company plans to integrate assay results with geological logging to refine a 3D model and design a follow-up drill program targeting down-dip and along-strike extensions. Additional geophysical measurements on core will help refine interpretations. The qualified person for the technical information is Gustavo Zulliger, a Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG 11165).
