Libero Copper (TSXV:LBC) recently announced details of its ongoing 14,000-metre exploration program at the Mocoa porphyry copper-molybdenum project in Putumayo, Colombia. Situated within Colombia’s Jurassic Copper Belt, the Mocoa project represents Libero Copper’s flagship asset. The current program aims to expand the resource, increase geological understanding, and test newly identified areas, signaling a significant step in advancing the Mocoa project.
14,000-Metre Drill Program Overview
The core of Libero Copper’s exploration strategy at Mocoa includes a robust drill plan intended to clarify the high-grade copper and molybdenum distribution while potentially enlarging the resource through both infill and step-out drilling. This comprehensive initiative not only targets refining insights into the mineral deposit but also aims to assess new areas like Piedralisa and Neblina for additional resource potential. These high-priority zones were selected based on recent airborne geophysical surveys and fieldwork, which revealed soil anomalies for copper, molybdenum, zinc, and lead.
The multi-pronged approach combines infill drilling to confirm high-grade zones within wide-spaced drilling areas and step-out drilling to investigate the deposit’s potential for expansion. The project integrates geological, geophysical, and geochemical data collected over recent years to shape a coherent strategy for Mocoa. The company’s previous work on this site included extensive drilling that mapped a strike length of over 1,000 meters, covering a width of 600 meters and depths reaching 900 meters. With new drill holes planned to extend and verify high-grade zones, Libero Copper aims to deepen its understanding of the deposit’s core and test previously uncharted regions.
Expansion of Mocoa System
As the program progresses, Libero Copper has focused its efforts on confirming the extent of high-grade copper and molybdenum cores in the Mocoa system. The 14,000 meters of planned drilling will play a key role in this, drawing on a geological model updated through extensive relogging and fieldwork that has spanned several years. This drilling plan reflects Libero Copper’s emphasis on understanding the alteration and lithologies of the deposit in greater detail. Approximately 8,126 meters of previous drilling data have been re-evaluated to inform this updated model, based on samples collected from 2008 through 2022.
The Mocoa project’s historical drilling has intercepted high-grade copper and molybdenum cores across the deposit, though with wide spacing between drill holes. To address this, the current program’s infill drilling is designed to improve the grade distribution data in these wide-spacing areas, as well as test deeper portions of the porphyry system beneath the initial inferred mineral resource estimate. The goal is to confirm the high-grade cores and explore resource expansion in multiple directions, with a particular focus on extending the mineral resource boundary to the north and northeast, where mineralization is projected to continue.
Step-Out Drilling Strategy
Step-out drilling forms another essential aspect of the Mocoa program, intended to expand the overall mineral resource to the north and northeast. This portion of the project will explore additional mineralization that could extend beyond the current resource boundaries, potentially boosting the size and quality of the deposit. By following the identified plunge of high-grade cores, this drilling effort aims to establish a clearer understanding of the deposit’s full extent.
Libero Copper has also taken measures to mitigate the environmental impact of these operations by utilizing existing drill pads. This approach reduces surface disturbance, supporting the project’s commitment to preserving the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, the installation of a rainwater collection system ensures water self-sufficiency for drilling, consumption, and sanitation needs. This setup not only secures a steady water supply but also eliminates reliance on external sources, aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainable resource use.
Progress on MD-044 Drill Hole
The MD-044 drill hole marks the first in the series of planned drills under this 14,000-meter program. As of November 5, 2024, the drill has reached a depth of 615 meters, with a target depth of 1,200 meters. This hole aims to assess the continuity of high-grade mineralization extending northeast of the deposit, probing below the existing inferred resource estimate.
Detailed logging of MD-044 has identified argillic alteration and iron oxides within the upper 100 meters, overlaid with sericite, which supersedes earlier potassic alteration phases. The mineralization observed in this interval includes copper in quartz veinlets with chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and minor bornite, as well as molybdenum in molybdenite-rich B-type veinlets. The logging data suggest a complex interplay of alteration phases and mineralization, with potential implications for understanding the deposit’s structural and geochemical evolution.
Surface Exploration and New Target Areas
Libero Copper’s exploration efforts extend beyond drilling. Surface exploration is set to follow up on the Neblina, Piedralisa, and Silencio areas near the main Mocoa deposit. Detailed mapping and soil sampling will cover these zones over the 2024-2025 season, with specific focus areas that emerged as promising during recent geophysical surveys.
The Neblina zone, located to the north-northeast of Mocoa, consists of two sub-regions—Neblina West and Neblina East. Neblina West, approximately 2 kilometers north of the main deposit, shows magnetic anomalies and demagnetized zones indicative of underlying porphyry systems. Neblina East, situated 3 kilometers northeast of the deposit, has yielded locally elevated molybdenum values. Together, these sub-zones offer strong indications of potential porphyry bodies.
Piedralisa, located 3 kilometers southeast of Mocoa, has shown soil anomalies for zinc, lead, copper, and molybdenum. Previous surface exploration identified outcrops in the area consistent with the upper portions of a porphyry system. A large 3D radial symmetric intrusion interpreted as a porphyry body is also present here, adding to the zone’s prospectivity for hosting additional copper-molybdenum mineralization.
The Silencio zone lies 3 kilometers north of the main Mocoa deposit. Preliminary surveys have shown elevated copper values in soil samples, aligning with magnetic highs and structural features typical of porphyry bodies. The planned soil grid for Silencio will help delineate copper anomalies, guiding further exploration within this promising zone.
Environmental and Logistical Considerations
Throughout the Mocoa exploration program, Libero Copper has emphasized environmental stewardship. By reusing existing drill pads and employing a rainwater collection system, the company has minimized the project’s environmental footprint. The water system, which collects and utilizes rainwater, secures a sustainable supply for drilling and other operational needs, reducing dependence on external water sources.
This environmental approach aligns with the broader objective of minimizing impact while advancing exploration. As the Mocoa program unfolds, Libero Copper aims to balance resource development with sustainability, addressing both operational needs and environmental responsibilities in the resource-intensive industry of mineral exploration.
