VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marimaca Copper Corp. (“Marimaca Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX: MARI) is pleased to announce further results from the 2022 infill and extensional drilling campaign. Results reflect a total of 4,068m across 20 drill holes.

The drilling intersected broad zones of near-surface green copper oxide mineralization in 19 of the 20 drill holes. Drilling was focused on infilling the higher-grade central core of the MOD, and the MAMIX depth-extension zone discovered in the 2021 drilling campaign (see press release dated October 14, 2021). As with previous results (see announcements dated June 13, 2022, May 19, 2022, and May 10, 2022), drilling continues to demonstrate the excellent thickness and continuity of the mineralized column at the Marimaca Oxide Deposit (MOD).

Highlights

• Drilling continues to improve confidence in high-grade central core of the MOD, including additional, new extensions at depth below the existing PEA pit limits
• Drilling completed up to late June 2022 will inform the planned updated mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) for late Q3 2022, with balance of infill drilling expected to be included for subsequent MRE update
  • All budgeted MAMIX extensional drilling was completed before the data cut-off and is expected to be captured in the planned 2022 MRE update
• Drill results will continue to be released as assays are returned from the lab

MOD Infill

• Holes MAR-156 and ATR-112 confirm the higher grade green oxide zones at the core of the MOD
  • ATR-112 intersected 118m at 0.96% CuT from 4m, including 56m at 1.85% CuT from 66m
  • MAR-156 intersected 230m at 0.53% CuT from surface, including 102m at 0.85% CuT from 34m
• Hole MAR-155, drilled in the south-west of the MOD, encountered expected mineralization intersecting 72m at 0.35% CuT from 6m including 26m at 0.82% CuT from 30m
• Holes MAR-152 and MAR-154 encountered the lower grade oxide halo at the south-east margin of the MOD
• Hole MAR-157 was drilled outside the eastern PEA pit limit and encountered lower-grade mineralization along a west-north-west fracture set

MAMIX Infill

• Holes MAR-68 EXT and MAR-23 EXT demonstrate the continuity of higher grades at depth into the MAMIX zone
  • MAR-68 EXT intersected 384m at 0.64% CuT from 2m, including new intersection of 136m of 0.69% CuT from 250m
  • MAR-23 EXT intersected new intersections of 96m at 0.71% CuT from 354m and 58m at 1.07% CuT from 392m to the base of the hole within a broader intersection 436m at 0.38% CuT from 14m
• MAR-25 EXT intersected 422m of 0.48% CuT from surface, including new intersection of 110m at 0.34% CuT from 314m
• MAR-153 intersected 216m at 0.41% CuT from 28m, including 96m at 0.73% CuT from 90m
• MAR-151 intersected 266m at 0.34% CuT from 22m, including 52m at 0.45% CuT from 22m, 102m at 0.43% from 186m, 100m at 0.42% CuT from 200m and 28m at 0.58% CuT from 230m
• MAR-07 EXT intersected 268m at 0.42% CuT, including new intersection of 64m at 0.33% CuT from 222m
• MAR-45 EXT, MAR-13 EXT, MAR-43 EXT and ATR-81 EXT intersected broad zones of lower grade oxide mineralization from near-surface
• MAR-21 EXT, MAR-69 EXT, MAR-20 EXT and MAR-63 EXT intersected known post-mineral faults and dyke systems in the downhole extensions
  

Sergio Rivera, VP Exploration of Marimaca Copper, commented:

“We have now completed the drilling planned to be captured in the 2022 MRE update, which includes all the planned MAMIX and peripheral drill holes targeting resource growth.

Results continue to be in-line with our geological interpretation at the MOD, with the excellent grade and vertical continuity of the Marimaca system demonstrated again in this latest batch of results. The 2022 infill campaign has been an important de-risking milestone for Marimaca as our confidence in the ore body continues to improve.”

Overview of Drilling Campaign Objectives

Marimaca’s 2022 drilling campaign consists of over 32,000m of planned drilling between the MOD infill and the MAMIX zone, the depth extension of the MOD. Both programs will support an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) planned for late Q3 2022.

Results from the infill and MAMIX program continue to return positive results. Drilling released in today’s announcement was largely targeted at infilling and improving confidence in the higher-grade central portion of the MOD and the MAMIX depth extension below. The higher grade, green oxide core is located from surface and continues into the MAMIX zone to depths of up to 462m – the deepest drilled at the MOD to date. The near-surface, higher grade green oxide zones are accessible in the early years of the PEA mine plan (see announcement dated August 4 2020) with the 2022 infill drilling program targeting conversion of the Inferred-category resources to Measured & Indicated level.

Figure 1: Plan View of Infill Drilling Results, Planned Holes and MOD PEA Pit Shell is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5c7a9ff-c3cc-4585-a16d-3d78f0378c8a 

Table 1. Summary of Infill Drill Results

Table 2. Summary of MAMIX Drill Results

Table 3. Infill collars and survey

Table 4. MAMIX collars and survey

Sampling and Assay Protocol

True widths cannot be determined with the information available at this time. RC holes were sampled on a 2m continuous basis, with dry samples riffle split on site and one quarter sent to the Andes Analytical Assay preparation laboratory in Calama and the pulps then sent to the same company laboratory in Santiago for assaying. A second quarter was stored on site for reference. Samples were prepared using the following standard protocol: drying; crushing to better than 85% passing -10#; homogenizing; splitting; pulverizing a 500-700g subsample to 95% passing -150#; and a 125g split of this sent for assaying. All samples were assayed for %CuT (total copper) and %CuS (acid soluble copper) by AAS. A full QA/QC program, involving insertion of appropriate blanks, standards and duplicates was employed with acceptable results. Pulps and sample rejects are stored by Marimaca Copper for future reference.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release, including the information that relates to geology, drilling and mineralization was prepared under the supervision of, or has been reviewed by Sergio Rivera, Vice President of Exploration, Marimaca Copper Corp, a geologist with more than 36 years of experience and a member of the Colegio de Geólogos de Chile and of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, and who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 responsible for the design and execution of the drilling program.

The QP confirms he has visited the project area, has reviewed relevant project information, is responsible for the information contained in this news release, and consents to its publication.

Contact Information
For further information please visit www.marimaca.com or contact:

Tavistock
+44 (0) 207 920 3150
Jos Simson / Emily Moss / Nick Elwes
marimaca@tavistock.co.uk

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Marimaca Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project delays or cost overruns or unanticipated excessive operating costs and expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, the availability of and costs of financing needed in the future as well as those factors disclosed in the annual information form of the Company dated March 28, 2022, the final short form base prospectus and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Marimaca Copper undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Figure 1Plan View of Infill Drilling Results, Planned Holes and MOD PEA Pit Shell