Hot Chili extends broad shallow copper-gold mineralisation at La Verde Proactive Wed, October 7, 2026 at 9:29 PM EDT 3 min read HG=F +1.18% HCH.AX -0.66% GC=F +0.51% CHC1.F -3.59% HHLKF +0.89% Hot Chili extends broad shallow copper-gold mineralisation at La Verde Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock Hot Chili Ltd (ASX:HCH, TSX-V:HCH, OTCQX:HHLKF, FRA:CHC1) has delivered another series of broad, shallow copper-gold intersections from its La Verde porphyry discovery in Chile, strengthening the geological model ahead of a maiden mineral resource estimate targeted for later this year.
The latest drilling has further defined the scale, grade and continuity of near-surface higher-grade mineralisation at La Verde, which sits about 30 kilometres south of the planned central processing hub for Hot Chili's Costa Fuego Copper-Gold Project in Chile's coastal Atacama region.
Among the standout results, reverse circulation hole DKP075 returned an updated 188 metres at 0.56% copper equivalent (CuEq), comprising 0.44% copper and 0.16 g/t gold, from just 24 metres depth, extending a previously reported 132-metre intersection.
DKP078 also returned a broad 240 metres at 0.43% CuEq from 36 metres, including 54 metres at 0.60% CuEq from 46 metres and 42 metres at 0.50% CuEq from 188 metres.
Hot Chili said ongoing reverse circulation drilling was continuing to define a coherent near-surface higher-grade zone that could potentially provide low-strip-ratio open-pit material during the earlier years of Costa Fuego's existing 20-year mine plan.
The results also support the company's current geological interpretation of La Verde following more than 35,000 metres of reverse circulation and diamond drilling.
On the eastern flank, partial results from DKP067 returned 112 metres at 0.47% CuEq from 42 metres, including 26 metres at 0.70% CuEq, comprising 0.59% copper and 0.14 g/t gold, from 62 metres.
The result builds on nearby drilling including DKP058, which previously returned 182 metres at 0.60% CuEq from 24 metres, giving Hot Chili further confidence in the continuity of mineralisation along the eastern side of the system.
Resource development and drilling are progressing in parallel, with new assay results being incorporated into updated geological and mineralisation models as Hot Chili works toward completing La Verde's maiden mineral resource estimate later in 2026.
Assays remain outstanding for 25 drill holes, comprising three diamond holes, one diamond tail and 21 reverse circulation holes, providing further potential news flow as the company moves toward resource definition.
Subject to establishing a mineral resource, Hot Chili plans to assess whether higher-grade near-surface material from La Verde could be incorporated into a revised Costa Fuego pre-feasibility study ahead of the planned submission of the project's Environmental Impact Assessment in the second quarter of 2027.
The company cautioned that La Verde does not yet have a mineral resource or reserve and has not been included in an economic study, meaning there is no certainty it will ultimately form part of the Costa Fuego mine plan.
Hot Chili is advancing the Costa Fuego copper-gold project in Chile's coastal Atacama region, with La Verde being evaluated as a potential additional source of near-surface, higher-grade material for the wider development.
The company's latest drilling continues to build the geological case for La Verde as a potentially important component of Costa Fuego, with the upcoming maiden resource estimate expected to provide the first formal measure of the discovery's scale.
