Second Drill Hole Confirms Mineralisation 500m North at Palma Project
Alvo Minerals’ latest drilling at the Touro Prospect within its Palma Copper-Zinc Project confirms extended copper and zinc mineralisation, hinting at a potentially large volcanogenic massive sulphide system. Assay results are pending, with further drilling planned to test deeper targets.
- Second diamond drill hole PDT-118 confirms disseminated copper-zinc mineralisation 500m north of initial discovery
- Mineralised trend extends over 1km at surface with conductive plates detected 500m below surface
- Visual sulphides include chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite within hydrothermal alteration zones
- Assay results expected within 6-8 weeks to validate visual estimates
- Ongoing drilling program aims to test deeper electromagnetic conductor targets and other prospects at Palma
Expanding the Touro Discovery
Alvo Minerals Limited (ASX, ALV) has provided a promising update on its exploration activities at the Touro Prospect, part of the broader Palma Copper-Zinc Project in Brazil. The company’s second diamond drill hole, PDT-118, located approximately 500 metres north of the initial discovery hole PDT-117, intercepted disseminated mineralisation including copper and zinc-bearing sulphides within a strongly altered hydrothermal zone. This step-out drilling confirms that the mineralised system extends significantly beyond the initial discovery, suggesting a potentially large and continuous volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit.
Geological Context and Visual Mineralisation
The mineralisation intercepted in PDT-118 includes chalcopyrite (copper sulphide), sphalerite (zinc sulphide), pyrite, and pyrrhotite (iron sulphides), consistent with the VMS style mineralisation typical of the Palma district. The mineralised zones were found between 114 and 122 metres downhole, hosted within a hydrothermally altered sequence. While no massive or semi-massive sulphides were encountered in this hole, the disseminated sulphides may represent a peripheral halo to a more central mineralised core, which remains to be tested.
Scale and Potential of the Prospect
Surface mapping and geochemical sampling have delineated a mineralised trend exceeding 1 kilometre in strike length, with fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) surveys revealing conductive plates extending 500 metres below surface. These plates, interpreted as zones of higher conductivity likely related to sulphide mineralisation, have not yet been drilled but represent key targets for upcoming exploration. The company’s managing director, Rob Smakman, highlighted the significance of intercepting mineralisation so far from the initial hole, reinforcing the prospect’s potential scale.
Next Steps and Broader Exploration Strategy
Alvo is continuing its drilling campaign at Touro, with plans to test the deeper FLEM conductor plates that may host higher-grade massive sulphides. Assay results from the initial discovery hole PDT-117 have been dispatched, with results from PDT-118 expected within 6 to 8 weeks. Beyond Touro, the company is advancing exploration across multiple prospects within the Palma Project, which boasts a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 7.6 million tonnes at 2.0% copper equivalent. The integrated approach combining geology, geochemistry, and geophysics positions Alvo to efficiently identify and prioritise targets for further drilling.
Palma Project’s Strategic Importance
Situated in Tocantins State, Brazil, the Palma Project is emerging as a significant VMS district with multiple deposits open for expansion. Alvo’s extensive tenure of over 1,000 square kilometres and more than 80 kilometres of prospective strike provides a robust platform for ongoing discovery and resource growth. The company’s in-house expertise and equipment enable cost-effective exploration, a competitive advantage in the current market environment.
Bottom Line?
As assay results approach and deeper targets beckon, Alvo’s Touro Prospect could redefine the scale of its Palma copper-zinc district.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm the grades suggested by visual mineralisation at Touro?
- How will drilling of deeper FLEM conductor plates impact the resource potential?
- What is the timeline for advancing other high-priority prospects within the Palma Project?
