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Highlights
- Sunstone Metals Ltd expands gold-copper mineralization at Bramaderos in Ecuador.
- New discovery at Copete porphyry suggests potential for a large-scale mining project.
- Initial trench sampling reveals significant mineral deposits, broadening the project’s prospects.
Sunstone Metals Ltd (ASX:STM) has announced a significant discovery at its Bramaderos gold-copper project in southern Ecuador. The recent find of gold-copper porphyry at the Copete target area suggests that mineralization at Bramaderos extends over an expansive area, covering approximately 2 kilometers by 1.8 kilometers. This discovery points to the potential for developing a large open-pit mining operation.
The mineralization was identified through trench sampling at Copete, which confirmed the presence of gold-copper porphyry deposits near the surface. Notably, one of the trenches (ML-01) recorded mineralization over a span of 113 meters with a grade of 0.64 grams per tonne (g/t) gold-equivalent, comprising 0.51 g/t gold, 0.07% copper, and 1.2 g/t silver. This was part of a broader interval of 214 meters with an average grade of 0.50 g/t gold-equivalent, including 0.37 g/t gold, 0.08% copper, and 1.1 g/t silver. The substantial width of mineralization suggests that the porphyry is well-suited for large-scale extraction methods.
Sunstone Metals anticipates that surface leaching has affected some of the copper grades, meaning deeper drilling might reveal even richer deposits. This potential for higher-grade material adds value to the overall Bramaderos project, particularly as the Copete porphyry lies close to the previously defined Brama-Alba Resource, which holds an estimated 2.7 million ounces of gold-equivalent. The project also includes the sizable Melonal exploration target, creating further scope for expansion and scale.
According to Sunstone Metals’ Managing Director Patrick Duffy, the recent find at Copete reinforces Bramaderos' large-scale potential. “The Copete porphyry is another exciting discovery that underscores the substantial opportunities within the Bramaderos project, and we anticipate more positive outcomes as exploration continues,” Duffy stated. He highlighted the close proximity of the Copete discovery to both the Brama-Alba Resource and the Melonal target, emphasizing the project’s capacity to attract substantial interest due to its scale and resource quality.
The latest development also aligns with Sunstone’s broader strategy to enhance the project’s value, especially as demand for gold and copper resources remains strong. The Bramaderos project holds a porphyry exploration target of approximately 3.3 to 8.6 million ounces, indicating considerable resource potential.
Following the announcement, shares of Sunstone Metals saw an increase, trading at 0.8 cents by midday AEDT—a 14.29% rise since the market opened. This market response reflects investor interest in the project’s promising outlook and the potential for Sunstone Metals to further define resources at Bramaderos.
