NGEx Minerals has reported another set of exceptionally high-grade drill results from the Lunahuasi copper-gold-silver project in San Juan, Argentina, strengthening the case for one of the most closely watched mineral discoveries in the Vicuña district. The latest results combine broad zones of copper-equivalent mineralisation with much narrower intervals carrying exceptionally high grades, highlighting the unusual geological characteristics of the Lunahuasi system.
High-Grade Copper Intersections Continue
Drill hole DPDH077 returned 57.75 metres grading 9.41% copper-equivalent, including 19 metres at 25.84% and an exceptionally strong 8-metre interval at 37.38% copper-equivalent.
Another hole, DPDH071, intersected 573.4 metres grading 2.17% copper-equivalent, with several higher-grade sections within the broader mineralised zone.
Hole DPDH072 produced 207 metres at 2.37% copper-equivalent, including 3.5 metres grading 30.49%. The combination of extensive mineralised zones and extremely high-grade structures gives Lunahuasi a potentially different development profile from a conventional large, low-grade porphyry copper deposit.
Underground Mining Could Unlock High-Grade Zones
The geological characteristics could potentially support selective underground mining of higher-value mineralised structures while the broader system is assessed. That development concept remains preliminary. The geometry of the high-grade zones, ground conditions, potential dilution and achievable mining widths have yet to be defined in sufficient detail to establish a mine plan.
NGEx has received environmental approval for an exploration adit and is targeting the fourth quarter of 2026 to begin underground development, subject to remaining permits. The planned underground access could significantly expand the company’s ability to evaluate Lunahuasi. It would provide year-round drilling access, enable larger metallurgical samples to be collected and allow direct observation of geological and geotechnical conditions.
Metallurgy and Mining Data Become the Next Test
Underground access is particularly important because drilling alone cannot answer all of the questions required to assess a future mine. Lunahuasi will need to demonstrate consistent copper, gold and silver recoveries, produce marketable concentrates and establish how potentially deleterious elements can be managed.
The company will also need to determine whether the high-grade structures have sufficient continuity and practical widths to support underground extraction without excessive dilution. The latest drilling results strengthen the project’s resource potential, but they do not constitute a mineral reserve or economic study. The planned underground programme could mark an important transition for Lunahuasi: from a discovery defined by exceptional copper-gold-silver drill grades toward a project supported by the metallurgical, structural, geotechnical and engineering data required for a credible development strategy.
