Announcement • Jun 24
Auro Metals Inc. Reports Assay Results of First Three Drill Holes At Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project
Auro Metals Inc. announced the assay results of the first three drill holes from the 2026 Phase I Drill Program at its 100%-owned Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project located in the Zamora-Chinchipe Province in southeastern Ecuador. The drill program commenced on April 14, 2026. To date, 12 holes have been completed and assay results for the first three have been received. All three holes were drilled at the southern part of the known mineralized porphyry system of the Project (Santa Barbara South) which is believed to be the core area of the known porphyry mineralization system. The purpose of drilling these holes was to test the continuity of mineralization between historical drill intercepts and the extension of mineralization in up-dip and down-dip directions. Drillhole DSB-54 intersected 705.7 metres grading 0.61 grams per tonne gold and 0.1% copper, from surface, including 235m grading 0.97 g/t gold and 0.11% copper from surface. This drillhole is fully mineralized and ended in mineralization. Drillhole DSB-55 intersected 246m grading 0.56 g/t gold and 0.09% copper, from surface, including 155.5m grading 0.73 g/t gold and 0.11% copper, from 31.5m. Drillhole DSB-56 intersected 134m grading 0.67 g/t gold and 0.09% copper from surface, and 24m grading 0.89 g/t gold and 0.07% copper from 164.5m. All three holes intersected wide mineralization starting from surface. The drill results indicate mineralization is open in both up-dip and down-dip directions, also demonstrating good consistency of gold-copper grades. Hole DSB-54 was drilled at the northern portion of Santa Barbara South to a depth of 705.7m, and intersected 705.7m (from 0.00m to 705.7m at the end of hole) grading 0.61 g/t gold and 0.10% copper, including 235m (from 0.00m to 235.0m) grading 0.97 g/t gold, 0.11% copper. Gold-copper mineralization starts from surface and continues until the end of the hole. The dominant lithology intersected in this hole is aphanitic basaltic andesite which is cut by intrusive diorite dykes with or without porphyritic texture. Both rock types are strongly altered with potassic alteration featured by secondary biotite in patches and along fractures, and alterations with sericite, chlorite and epidote. Quartz veining (A and B types) is common, cutting both basaltic andesite and intrusive diorite dykes. Mineralization is characterized by pyrite and chalcopyrite in forms of both dissemination and narrow veinlets and threads. Higher grade mineralization is mostly hosted in basaltic andesite associated with abundant quartz veining in the vicinity of intrusive diorite dykes. Hole DSB-55 was drilled 100m to the southeast of DSB-54, and about 150m in the up-dip direction of the historical hole DSB-18. The hole has a length of 285.5m and intersected an interval of 246m grading 0.56 g/t gold and 0.09% copper from surface to a depth of 246m, including a higher-grade interval of 155.5m from 31.5m to 187m. Drill results from this hole indicate gold-copper mineralization is open in the up-dip direction to surface. Lithology in the hole is mainly intrusive diorite which extends from surface to a depth of 243 m, and further downwards dominated by a jasperoid horizon which is the result of hydrothermal alteration. Gold-copper mineralization is concentrated in the upper diorite, but little in the lower jasperoid, characterized by disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite plus minor small veinlets locally. Typical alteration includes secondary biotite and sericite, and quartz veining is common throughout the mineralized interval. Hole DSB-56 was drilled around 60m in the up-dip direction of historical hole DSB-05, on the same cross section of DSB-54. The hole has a length of 274.85m and intersected 134m grading 0.67 g/t gold and 0.09% copper from 0m to 134m, and 24m grading 0.89g/t gold and 0.09% copper from 164.5m to 188.5m. The drill results of this hole indicate mineralization is open in the up-dip direction to surface. The lithology intersected in DSB-56 is dominated by intrusive diorite, starting from surface to a depth of 198m, and further downwards to the end of the hole is a jasperoid horizon. Gold-copper mineralization is well developed in the diorite, but not in the jasperoid, characterized by disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite plus minor small veinlets locally. Typical alteration includes secondary biotite and sericite, and quartz veining is common throughout the mineralized interval. All samples in respect of the exploration program at the Project discussed in this news release were shipped in securely-sealed bags by a chartered commercial truck, directly from the field to the sample preparation facilities of SGS in Guayaquil, Ecuador for preparation, and to SGS in Lima, Peru for geochemical analysis. SGS is a global leader in inspection, verification, testing, and certification. It is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory independent from Auro. All samples go through fire assay (SGS code FAA313) for gold and multi-acid digestion ICP-AES multi-element assay (SGS code ICP40B) for other elements.
