Vertiv(US:VRT) Thenewswire·2025-12-16 11:30Core Viewpoint - Andina Copper Corporation is advancing its exploration program at the Piuquenes porphyry copper-gold discovery in San Juan, Argentina, with a focus on systematic surface geochemistry, geophysical surveys, and targeted drilling to enhance resource definition and exploration potential [1][2][3]. Exploration Program Overview - The 2025-26 exploration program includes systematic surface geochemistry, multiple geophysical surveys, and targeted delineation drilling aimed at advancing the Piuquenes Central and Piuquenes East discoveries [2]. - The company holds a 2,500 ha land package adjacent to Aldebaran Resources' Altar project, which is at the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) stage [2]. Drilling and Geochemical Activities - A diamond drilling program of approximately 3,000 meters is set to commence in January 2026, focusing on expanding the Piuquenes East discovery and testing a magnetic geophysical anomaly [4][5]. - The initial drilling will target mineralization extensions approximately 200 meters below a previous discovery hole that reported 208 meters at 0.31% Cu, 0.13 g/t Au, and 1.24 g/t Ag [4][5][6]. - A large-scale soil geochemistry program is underway, involving 600 samples collected on a 100 m x 100 m grid across the project area [7][8]. Geophysical Survey Programs - Three complementary geophysical surveys are being conducted: a drone magnetic survey, a magnetotelluric (MT) survey, and an induced polarization (IP) survey, all aimed at enhancing drill targeting [11][12][13]. - The drone magnetic survey covers approximately 103 line kilometers, while the MT survey includes 116 stations designed to investigate depths of up to 2,000 meters [12][13]. Strategic Context - The Piuquenes Project is strategically located near Aldebaran Resources' Altar Project, which hosts a multi-billion-tonne mineral resource, and is part of a well-endowed metallogenic corridor in the Central Andes [17]. - The integrated approach of combining surface geochemistry, geophysical methods, and targeted drilling is intended to improve geological understanding and reduce exploration risk [18].