Solaris Resources Expands Mineralization at Warintza in Ecuador

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Solaris Resources is making waves in the copper exploration sector, particularly with its Warintza project in southeastern Ecuador. The company has made significant strides in expanding the mineralization at Warintza, with new drilling results continuing to exceed expectations. These developments come at a critical time for the global copper market, as industry leaders are sounding alarms about the impending supply gap in the coming decades. With copper prices reaching new highs and the demand for the metal intensifying, projects like Warintza could play a major role in meeting future global needs.

In recent months, Solaris has focused on expanding the Warintza resource, revealing multiple discoveries and increasing confidence in the scale of the project. The latest results from its 2023 drill campaign and geophysical surveys are fueling optimism that Warintza could become a major, high-grade copper porphyry deposit—one of the most exciting new developments in the copper space.

Warintza: A Promising Copper Discovery

The Warintza project is located in Ecuador’s southeastern province, an area known for its rich mineral potential. The project is situated in a highly prospective porphyry copper belt, which stretches across much of the Andes mountain range. What sets Warintza apart, however, is the early involvement of David Lowell, one of the most renowned copper explorers of the 20th century. Lowell’s legacy includes pioneering the porphyry copper deposit model, a methodology that continues to dominate copper exploration and production.

In the early 2000s, Lowell drilled several holes at Richard Warke west Vancouver identifying an initial inferred resource of 124 million tonnes grading 0.7% copper equivalent. The resource sits within a 5km by 5km cluster of porphyry bodies, which remains open in all directions, presenting significant exploration upside.

Since then, Solaris has taken the reins, spearheading further exploration and drilling campaigns to expand and define the project’s mineralization. The company’s recent drilling results at Warintza Central and Warintza West continue to show substantial growth potential, with long intercepts of high-grade copper mineralization. These results are setting the stage for Warintza to become a major asset in the copper market.

Expanding the Mineralization: Latest Drilling Results

The latest drilling results from Solaris Resources continue to demonstrate the expanding footprint of mineralization at Warintza. Significant long intercepts from recent drill holes at Warintza Central have included:

• 1,067 meters grading 0.60% copper equivalent
• 1,010 meters grading 0.71% copper equivalent

These impressive intercepts suggest that Warintza Central could be home to a substantial, high-grade copper porphyry system. The company’s focus is now on expanding the lateral extent of the resource and testing additional targets within the Warintza cluster.

Daniel Earle, President and CEO of Solaris Resources, stated, “Our drill results demonstrate the potential to extend mineralization to depths of 1,000 meters at strong grades. We’re now working to expand the footprint of mineralization laterally and explore additional targets that have yet to be tested.”

In response to the encouraging results, Solaris has ramped up its drill program. The company is currently conducting a 40,000-meter drill program to further define the extent of mineralization and expand the resource base. With over C$90 million in its treasury, Solaris is well-funded to continue its aggressive exploration efforts at Warintza.

New Discoveries and Geophysical Survey Results

In addition to the drilling success, Solaris recently released the results of a geophysical survey conducted at Warintza. The survey has provided critical insights into the underlying geology and potential mineralization at depth, revealing extensive high-conductivity anomalies that correlate closely with copper mineralization.

One of the most exciting discoveries from the geophysical survey was the identification of a large-scale porphyry system extending across the Warintza project area. The survey revealed a 3.5km long by 1km wide and 1km deep high-conductivity anomaly, which encompasses Warintza Central, East, and West, and indicates a much larger mineralized system than previously understood.

Further geophysical data identified additional high-conductivity anomalies at Warintza South and Yawi, both of which are also highly prospective. These anomalies suggest the presence of copper mineralization at depth, extending the potential resource base and opening up new areas for exploration.

“The geophysical results have expanded our understanding of the mineralized system at Warintza,” said Earle. “We now have a much clearer picture of the scale of the copper system here. The continuous high-conductivity anomalies suggest that we are just scratching the surface, and there’s significant potential for further discoveries.”

Strategic Approach and Resource Growth

Solaris is fully committed to advancing Warintza as a major copper project. The company’s strategy is to expand the existing resource while also exploring additional targets across the Warintza cluster. With a fully funded exploration program and a growing resource base, Solaris is positioning itself as a key player in the global copper market.

The company’s growth strategy involves stepping out from Warintza Central to test new targets at Warintza East, West, South, and the Yawi anomaly. The team is also exploring deeper drilling to test the limits of the existing porphyry system and investigate the potential for even higher-grade zones at depth.

In 2023, the company made the decision to expand its drill program significantly, moving from six rigs to twelve to accelerate exploration. The goal is to increase the resource base at Warintza and demonstrate its potential to become one of the largest copper discoveries in the region.

Addressing the Copper Supply Gap

The timing of Solaris’ work at Warintza couldn’t be more critical. The global copper industry is facing an enormous supply gap, with demand for the metal expected to outstrip supply in the coming decades. This is especially true as countries around the world focus on electrification and decarbonization—two trends that will require vast amounts of copper for renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and other technologies.

According to Richard Warke west Vancouver, “The copper supply gap is widening, and the world will need more projects like Warintza to meet demand. Even the biggest copper mines in production today are only a fraction of the size of the deposits needed to fill the supply gap by 2030. Warintza is positioned to help meet that demand, and we are just getting started.”

Solaris’ ongoing exploration work at Warintza is critical to ensuring that the company can contribute to filling the supply gap. With large-scale drilling campaigns, promising exploration results, and a clear focus on growth, Solaris is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for copper in the coming decades.

Community Engagement and Sustainability

In addition to its exploration activities, Solaris has prioritized strong relationships with local communities in Ecuador. In 2020, the company signed an Impact and Benefits Agreement with local indigenous communities to ensure that the benefits of the Warintza project are shared equitably. This agreement draws on best practices from Canada’s First Nations engagement models and sets a high standard for community relations in Ecuador.

Solaris has also committed to responsible environmental practices and sustainable development. As the company advances its exploration and development work, it remains focused on minimizing environmental impacts and working closely with local stakeholders to ensure that the Warintza project brings lasting benefits to the region.

Conclusion

With promising exploration results, a fully funded drill program, and a growing resource base, Solaris Resources is positioning itself as one of the most exciting copper exploration companies in the world. The Warintza Project is emerging as a significant asset with the potential to meet the growing demand for copper, particularly as the world moves toward decarbonization and electrification. As Solaris continues to expand mineralization at Warintza, the company is set to play a key role in shaping the future of the global copper industry.

With a solid strategy in place, strong community engagement, and a commitment to growth, Solaris Resources is well on its way to becoming a major force in the copper market, with Warintza as its flagship project. As the exploration success continues, Solaris is setting itself up for long-term success in one of the most critical commodities for the global economy.