Fitzroy Minerals Inc. (TSXV: FTZ, OTCQX: FTZFF, FSE: C3Y) is making significant progress at its Buen Retiro Copper Project in Copiapo, Chile, as it advances definition drilling, metallurgical test work, and geophysical surveys toward a maiden mineral resource estimate and pre-feasibility study (PFS). The company announced results from two drill holes that confirm wide intervals of copper mineralization, with hole BRT-DDH048 returning 92.5 metres at 0.53% copper from 3.5 metres, including 46.0 metres at 0.82% copper. Hole BRT-DDH049 returned 83.0 metres at 0.57% copper from 95.0 metres, including 43.0 metres at 0.90% copper.
Merlin Marr-Johnson, President and CEO of Fitzroy Minerals, noted that the resource definition drilling is advancing quickly and has intersected many samples exceeding the 1% copper limit for exploration assay methods, requiring re-assay using ore-grade methods. He highlighted the start of metallurgical test work for the PFS as a milestone and emphasized that the Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) geophysical survey, completed by Fleet Space Technologies over a 5 km x 5 km area, represents a step forward in the hunt for a major sulphide discovery.
The definition drilling program, using two rigs, has completed 32 new diamond drill holes totaling 5,143 metres in the southwest area, with assays pending for many. The program aims to delineate sufficient Measured and Indicated Resources to support a robust life-of-mine plan for the heap leach project and inclusion in the PFS. Additional drilling targets Inferred Resources that could become future plant feed. Once definition drilling concludes in May, one rig will begin a minimum of 8,000 metres of Phase 3 exploration drilling for sulphide mineralization and ANT targets, while the other will execute a 2,000-metre geotechnical program.
Metallurgical test work has commenced at SGS Laboratories on a 2,900 kg representative sample. Three primary geo-metallurgical domains have been defined: a higher-grade oxide domain (≥0.5% Cu), a lower-grade oxide domain (0.10-0.5% Cu), and a mixed supergene transition domain. The program includes variability analysis, targeted testing of hydrothermal breccia and iron-rich units, permeability and column leach testing, and evaluation of acid consumption behaviour.
The ANT geophysical survey data processing and interpretation are underway, with a higher-resolution survey planned over a central 2 km x 3 km area covering priority targets. Drilling results from holes BRT-DDH046 to BRT-DDH049 show consistent thickness of the copper-mineralized package, approximately 80-90 metres thick, dipping about 75 degrees east-northeast. The high-grade copper samples are predominantly found near the central axis of the dominant structure controlling ferric breccias.
Fitzroy Minerals has implemented rigorous QA/QC procedures, including insertion of blanks, standards, and pulp duplicates, representing about 12% of total samples. The Qualified Person, Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans, has reviewed and approved the technical information. The company's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FTZ and on the OTCQX under FTZFF. For more information, visit www.fitzroyminerals.com.
