Marimaca Copper Corp (ASX: MC2) – Marimaca Drills Pampa Medina Sulphides – New High-Grade Sulphide Copper Horizon Emerges - A Copper Mining Story.
- Noel Ong
- Jul 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 10
Announcement
Marimaca Copper Corp (ASX: MC2 | TSX: MARI) has reported a significant breakthrough in its exploration campaign in the Pampa Medina area, situated 28km east of the Marimaca Oxide Deposit (MOD) (Figure 1). The standout result is a spectacular 6m at 12.0% Cu within a broader intercept of 26m at 4.1% Cu in hole SMRD-13. These new high-grade copper sulphide hits redefine the scale and geological potential of this manto-style, sediment-hosted system—something that is rarely seen in Chile.
Figure 1: The location of Marimaca Copper Project near Antofagasta in northern Chile. (source: MC2)
This is a material development for the company. For those who have followed Marimaca's story—particularly with its strong oxide copper foundation—the emergence of deeper sulphide potential adds a substantial new dimension to the narrative. Could this be the beginnings of a copper mining story for the company.
🔷Pampa Medina Drilling Highlights - Creating a Copper Mining Story?
Marimaca’s 2025 drilling campaign at Pampa Medina has materially extended mineralisation and uncovered a potentially Tier-1 copper sulphide system (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The location of Marimaca Copper Project near Antofagasta in northern Chile. (source: MC2)
These are the standout results (Figure 3):
💠SMRD-13:
6m @ 12.0% Cu from 594m
Within 26m @ 4.1% Cu from 580m
Within 100m @ 1.3% Cu from 580m
💠SMD-02:
40m @ 2.1% Cu from 282m
Within 132m @ 1.0% Cu from 278m
💠SMRD-12:
56m @ 1.4% Cu from 566m
💠SMD-01 (~600m north-west of SMD-13):
68m @ 1.2% Cu from 298m, including 20m @ 2.3% Cu
22m @ 1.7% Cu from 602m
💠SMR-01 (previously reported):
56m @ 2.1% Cu, including 18m @ 5.0% Cu from 296m
Within a broader 102m @ 1.2% Cu from 250m
💠SMD-03:
42m @ 0.72% Cu from 226m
Figure 3: Pampa and Step-out Drilling Locations Medina Deposit (source: MC2)
These intercepts define a zone of mineralisation now traced over a 600m (E-W) x 1,000m (N-S) footprint, with potential extensions to 1.4km x 1.2km. Importantly, the copper mineralisation is hosted in flat-lying, sedimentary units with characteristics similar to Kupferschiefer or African-style deposits.
🔷 Geological and Structural Context
Pampa Medina’s geology is unconventional for Chile—stratiform, sediment-hosted, high-grade copper mantos within interbedded sandstones, shales, conglomerates, and tuffs. Bornite and chalcopyrite dominate the deeper zones, while upper horizons continue to show chalcocite and oxide potential.
Stratigraphic continuity between holes SMR-01, SMD-01, SMD-12, SMD-02, and SMRD-13 suggests a coherent, laterally extensive copper horizon.
The sedimentary units are relatively flat-lying with a gentle easterly dip, intersected by several north-south faults which appear to influence grade and continuity.
Drill core from SMRD-13 revealed intense bornite mineralisation hosted within altered black shales, suggesting a high fluid flow regime and strong stratabound control.
🔷 Implications for Development Strategy
With these results, Marimaca has paused the previously announced Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Pampa Medina, as the new sulphide horizon may justify a broader-scale development concept.
While the flagship MOD DFS is nearing completion—with release anticipated in the near term—management has confirmed a 14-hole follow-up program (10,000m) at Pampa Medina is already underway. Two diamond rigs are currently active on site.
The proximity of Pampa Medina to MOD (28km) and to regional infrastructure (power, water, ports, workforce) makes it a natural candidate for potential integration into future production plans.
Hayden Locke, President & CEO of Marimaca Copper, commented:
With these thick, high-grade, sulphide intersections we now see the potential for a much larger scale copper system. Importantly, the location of Pampa Medina means it benefits from the same characteristics as our flagship MOD, such as access to first class infrastructure, proximity to workforces, lower permitting risk, and therefore any new discovery brought into development should be extremely competitive on a capital intensity basis.”
“This is the first time in my 40-year career that I have seen stratiform, sediment-hosted, ultra high-grade copper in Chile of this potential scale.”
— Sergio Rivera, VP Exploration
Samso Concluding Comments
These are the kinds of drilling results that materially alter a project’s risk/reward profile. Marimaca’s SMRD-13 intercept—6m at 12% copper—is not something you see often in Chilean copper stories. It's rare, it's stratabound, and it points to something much larger than originally anticipated.
To be honest, for me, anything that is not a porphyry-related story from this part of the South American continent is new to me. I have never worked in the region nor have anything other than talking to those who have many years of experience in the region. Hence, as I cover this stock, I am learning.
From a potentially stratabound-type copper deposit, the drilling results are indeed good. Some of the richest copper deposits are found in this type of copper mineralisation.
Generally, this also marks a shift in how the Pampa Medina area should be viewed. What was once a complement to MOD’s oxide story could now become a significant sulphide pillar in its own right. That 600m by 1,000m footprint—with thick, high-grade zones—is more than just encouraging.
Strategically, this strengthens the hub-and-spoke model Marimaca is positioning for. The flat terrain, proximity to MOD, and access to existing infrastructure reduce future capital intensity. That’s a major plus in today’s environment.
If you’re looking for a story that has transitioned from a conventional oxide leach development into something with potentially district-scale sulphide upside, this is a case study. The results may still need validation through a resource update, but the directional change is clear.
In the broader context of copper investment themes—grade scarcity, cost inflation, permitting hurdles—discoveries like this matter. They offer optionality, scale, and the kind of upside that can complement an already viable development story. Marimaca may still be several steps away from defining the full extent of Pampa Medina, but the direction of travel is clear. The opportunity is becoming more layered, and that’s usually a positive sign for long-term value creation.
The Samso Way – Seek the Research
Pampa Medina is emerging as more than a satellite target—it now has the footprint, grade profile, and geological scale to potentially reposition Marimaca’s district narrative. What started as a shallow oxide exploration play now contains high-grade sulphide mantos with strong stratabound controls. For investors, this means there is now a clear dual pathway to value: the near-term MOD oxide development and the longer-term district sulphide potential led by discoveries like SMRD-13. The context of low altitude, proximity to infrastructure, and Chilean jurisdiction adds further weight. Do your own work, but this is definitely one to watch.
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