Announcement • 2h
Torr Metals Provides Geological Update from Phase II Drill Program At Bertha North Target
Torr Metals provided a geological update from the fully funded Phase II drill program of up to 6,000 metres at the Bertha North target, part of the 332 km² Kolos Copper-Gold Project in southern British Columbia. The first drill hole (26-KO-01) has confirmed an extensive long-lived hydrothermal system down to approximately 563 metres depth, with a highly prospective interval of approximately 142 metres core length from 318.5 m to 460.9 m characterized by multiple generations of quartz-carbonate veining, crackle to hydrothermal brecciation, and progressively increasing sericitic alteration intensity within a favourable volcanic host sequence cross-cut by felsic intrusions. These observations represent an important step in refining the evolving geological model, which is targeting the intrusive source responsible for the large hydrothermal native copper system discovered during Phase I drilling in late 2025. The first drill hole confirms a long-lived and evolving copper (Cu) – gold (Au) hydrothermal system, recording early high-temperature magnetite ± epidote alteration overprinted by repeated brittle fracturing, multiple pulses of quartz-carbonate veining, open-space (toothcomb) quartz growth, and later-stage alteration and oxidation, indicative of sustained mineralized fluid flow through structurally prepared corridor. Hydrothermal alteration and structural preparation intensify toward the interpreted porphyry feeder zone, transitioning from oxidized silicified volcanic rocks into increasingly epidote- and sericite-altered intervals characterized by stronger veining, brecciation, and repeated structural reactivation. Systematic geological logging and pXRF screening identify successive hydrothermal events, with the most intensely altered and structurally prepared intervals corresponding to distinct multi-element geochemical responses. Hematitic alteration persists to the end of the hole, approximately 400 m vertically below surface, largely obscuring primary sulphide textures. Where local fresh exposures occur chalcopyrite and chalcocite are observed, supporting the interpretation of a long-lived copper-bearing hydrothermal system that is interpreted to represent a major structurally focused feeder zone, or "main plumbing," within a porphyry copper-gold system, providing a key vector for ongoing drill targeting. Magnetite-bearing veinlets and hydrothermal brecciation confirm early high-temperature fluid activity, while brecciated volcanic host rocks demonstrate sustained permeability and repeated fluid circulation, consistent with long-lived copper Cu-Au porphyry systems. Observations continue to strengthen the intrusive source model, with the strongest veining, alteration, brecciation, and magnetite development occurring along the transition between the magnetic-resistive domain and the adjacent chargeability anomaly, refining targeting toward the interpreted intrusive source. The progressive increase in hydrothermal brecciation, multi-stage veining, alteration, felsic intrusions, and structural preparation at the transition between the resistive and chargeable geophysical domains is exactly what was expected to be encountered within a major hydrothermal feeder corridor. Hole 26-KO-02 was designed as a follow-up to confirm the geometry of this interpreted feeder system, and it is now believed to represent a direct connection to the porphyry intrusion driving the broader hydrothermal system. Subsequent drilling will also directly target the adjacent chargeability anomaly, which may represent the intrusive source driving the hydrothermal system. Representative select drill core with depths listed from within the 320 to 520 m hydrothermal corridor in hole 26-KO-01, illustrating crackle to hydrothermal brecciation overprinted by multiple generations of quartz-carbonate veining with epidote ± sericite alteration. Repeated brittle fracturing, open-space (toothcomb) quartz growth, and magnetite-bearing veinlets record successive hydrothermal fluid events and sustained fluid flow. Pervasive hematite alteration overprints earlier hydrothermal mineral assemblages and may obscure primary sulphide textures, making laboratory assays and petrographic analysis key for evaluating the hydrothermal system. Magnetic vector inversion (MVI), resistivity, and chargeability 2D cross-sections across Bertha North show strong zonation into a highly prospective geophysical interface where hydrothermal brecciation, multi-stage veining, magnetite veining, and repeated structural reactivation are concentrated. Drill site locations are based on existing road networks to minimize disturbance. Hole 26-KO-01 was designed to test both a coincident magnetic-resistive geophysical anomaly together with a bounding induced polarization (IP) chargeability anomaly identified during the 2026 geophysical program. The upper portion of the hole intersected oxidized, silicified volcanic rocks containing localized felsic to felsic dykes before transitioning into an extensive sequence of fragmental to amygdaloidal volcanic rocks displaying progressively stronger hydrothermal textures. Toward the interpreted boundary between the magnetic-resistive domain and the bounding chargeability anomaly, drill core exhibits multiple generations of quartz-carbonate vein networks, crackle to hydrothermal brecciation, pervasive epidote ± sericite alteration, localized magnetite veinlets and fracture infill, and repeated brittle reactivation and fluid pathways. The observed succession of hydrothermal textures; including repeated quartz veining, hydrothermal brecciation, evolving epidote-to-sericite alteration, localized magnetite veining, and multiple episodes of brittle reactivation is consistent with an increasingly focused hydrothermal conduit, supporting interpretation as a structurally controlled feeder zone with features consistent with a large porphyry copper-gold system.