Ahead of its planned maiden drill program at the copper project, Firetail Resources (ASX:FTL) has launched a suite of fieldwork, including an airborne magnetics survey, soil sampling and detailed structural mapping.

The magnetics survey has been designed to extend coverage across the new Anta Q’illqa target in the north of the project area.

This will provide information on any mineralisation in the area as well as geological alterations and structures which could host a porphyry or intrusion-related mineral system.

In an effort to sketch-out the potential mineralised footprint, FTL is also undertaking a detailed soil sampling program, expected to be completed in April.

The program will add an additional layer of data on top of the geophysical survey, aiding Firetail in defining drill targets.

“The geology we are seeing on the ground is highly encouraging and we believe provides strong indicators of an extensive porphyry system,” Firetail managing director Glenn Poole said.

“In parallel with these programs, the modification of the drill permit we have across the project is also progressing and we expect to be drilling in Q3 this year at the compelling Ichucollo Target, the most advanced in the pipeline of targets we now have across the Picha Project.

“This will be the maiden drilling program across this target and highlights the untested potential of the area.”

Drilling at Ichucollo will focus on large-scale copper channel samples, which produced results of up to 24m at 1.08% copper. The target also represents a magnetic low and induced polarisation anomaly, further evidence of a potential mineralised system.

Firetail is also reviewing its Charaque gold-silver project, where previous owners produced detailed geological mapping, geochemistry and geophysical data.

“The Charaque Project has already demonstrated its mineral potential, with 2022 channel sampling returning grades of 929g/t silver and 0.98% copper, along with grades up to 538g/t silver from historical artisanal mine cuttings,” Poole said.

“We look forward to uncovering the potential value Charaque has to offer to the company.”

There are two targets of particular interest at Charaque:

  • Huallatani where channel samples of up to 538 g/t silver and 19.5% lead and dump samples from historical artisanal mining of up to 43.2 g/t gold and 7.74% lead were produced.
  • Arco with channel samples of up to 929 g/t silver and 0.98% copper, as well as five channel samples with assays greater than 60 g/t silver.

The company’s next steps at its Peruvian projects include:

  • Completion of soil sampling program
  • Integration, processing and inversion of magnetic survey data
  • Detailed mapping of northern target area
  • Deep-seeking geophysical survey to define the architecture of the Picha Project
  • Phase 2 diamond drilling across the Ichucollo target.