Tinka Resources has embarked on its maiden drilling campaign at the Silvia gold-copper project, entirely owned by the company and situated in central Peru. This pivotal exploration initiative, stemming from an acquisition from BHP in 2021, aims to uncover rich deposits of gold and copper within both skarn and porphyry-hosted geological formations. The initial phase is strategically focused on Area A, identified for its promising high-grade gold-copper skarn mineralization, and will involve the drilling of four diamond holes, each designed to reach depths of up to 400 meters.
Graham Carman, President and CEO of Tinka Resources, expressed considerable enthusiasm regarding the commencement of drilling. He highlighted that the drill rig is now operational around the clock and will continue until late December. Carman commended his team and local stakeholders for their efficient preparation of the site, ensuring the drilling program began on schedule and within budget. He underscored Silvia's potential as a highly attractive, yet previously unexplored, target situated within a globally significant gold, copper, and base metal belt. He drew parallels to the immense Antamina copper-zinc skarn deposit, located approximately 100km to the north, as a testament to the region's prolific mineral endowment. Furthermore, Carman noted the presence of two additional prospective areas, B and C, at Silvia, which are slated for assessment in subsequent exploration phases, indicating a broader potential for significant discoveries.
Recent independent sampling efforts have corroborated the presence of substantial gold and copper grades at the Silvia project. A particularly notable sample yielded an impressive 28.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 1.2% copper over a 0.6-meter interval. The geological context of the Silvia project, characterized by gold and copper mineralization, is thought to be shaped by a 'dilational pull-apart' mechanism occurring between two major north-north-east-trending fault lines. This structural setting creates favorable conditions for mineral deposition, enhancing the project's overall prospectivity.
Carman further elaborated on the geological characteristics, explaining that the gold and copper mineralization at Silvia is intimately linked with monzonite porphyry stocks and dikes. These intrusive bodies have penetrated a thick limestone unit known as the Jumasha Formation. The mineralization is found both within these intrusions and the surrounding limestone, forming distinctive 'skarn' deposits, further enhanced by quartz stockwork veining. He clarified that the skarn in Area A manifests in sporadic outcrops within a high-altitude valley, with colluvial cover, or 'scree,' filling the gaps. The presence of altered limestones in the peripheral zones suggests a potentially expansive mineral system. This inaugural drilling program is therefore seen as a crucial initial step to ascertain the grade and extent of the mineralization across the project.
Tinka Resources anticipates releasing the initial findings from this drilling program by the close of 2025, with further results expected to emerge in early 2026. Area A is recognized as one of several high-potential locations situated along a 4km north-east-trending axis within the Silvia project area. Carman reinforced the project's promise by citing impressive high-grade surface samples, particularly for gold, with previous samples from Tinka showing up to 18g/t gold and 12% copper. A continuous trench sample also revealed 46 meters grading 1.9g/t gold and 0.8% copper, including a segment of 6 meters at 12.8g/t gold and 2.7% copper. These prior results were recently reaffirmed by third-party validation channel samples, which reported grades of up to 28g/t gold and 1.9% copper. The company eagerly awaits and plans to report the findings from the first drill hole once assays are concluded and interpreted. Tinka Resources specializes in the exploration and development of base and precious metal ventures across Peru, with its flagship asset being the Ayawilca zinc-silver-tin project, which boasts significant mineral resources in distinct zones.
In a significant move to advance its exploration efforts, Tinka Resources has initiated its first drilling program at the Silvia gold-copper project in central Peru. This strategic undertaking, focused on high-grade gold and copper deposits, represents a critical step in evaluating the potential of an area acquired from BHP in 2021. The systematic drilling in Area A, characterized by promising skarn mineralization, is expected to provide vital data on the grade and scale of the mineral resources. The company's commitment to rigorous exploration, supported by strong geological indicators and prior high-grade surface samples, underscores the potential for substantial discoveries in this resource-rich region.