Culpeo Minerals Limited (ASX: CPO, OTCQID: CPORF) has secured access to the Lana Corina Project and the Vista Montana Prospect in Chile. This clears the way for the Company’s planned maiden diamond drilling programme at Vista Montana.
The initial four-hole, 2,000m diamond drilling programme is set to begin within two weeks. Drilling will follow the completion of works at El Quillay South.
Key Points to Watch
- Access secured to the Lana Corina Project and Vista Montana Prospect
- Initial four-hole, 2,000m diamond drilling programme to start in early September 2026
- Vista Montana sits approx. 1km north-east of the Lana Corina Cu-Au-Ag-Mo discovery, where drilling returned 454m @ 0.96% CuEq from 90m
- Drilling will test targets defined through mapping, magnetics, soil geochemistry and rock chip sampling
- An IP survey at Lana Corina will commence in the coming days
Vista Montana Maiden Diamond Drilling Programme
Culpeo Minerals interprets Vista Montana as part of the same north-northeast trending mineralised corridor as Lana Corina.
The prospect has been defined through ground magnetic surveying, geological mapping, soil sampling and rock chip sampling. This work has identified numerous copper- and gold-mineralised quartz veins and breccias within the target corridor.
Figure 1: Lana Corina magnetic data image long section highlighting porphyry target areas and including the planned drill area at Vista Montana [Courtesy: Culpeo Minerals]
Phyllic alteration, comprising quartz, sericite and pyrite, has been observed at the surface. This alteration style is commonly associated with porphyry mineralisation, supporting Vista Montana’s ranking as a priority target.
Demagnetisation of host rocks along the structural corridor may reflect hydrothermal alteration tied to the mineralising event. This pattern is consistent with observations already made at Lana Corina.
The initial four-hole, 2,000m programme has been designed to test targets within the interpreted corridor. It will deliver the first subsurface assessment of Vista Montana. The programme may extend depending on early results.
Historical Lana Corina Intercepts Strengthen the Case for Vista Montana
Culpeo Minerals points to the low magnetic zones at Lana Corina as a guide for what Vista Montana may hold. Previous drilling there has already returned strong copper and molybdenum grades, including:
- 454m @ 0.96% CuEq from 90m in CMLCD014
- 257m @ 1.03% CuEq from 170m in CMLCD002
- 173m @ 1.11% CuEq from 313m in CMLCD003
- 169m @ 1.23% CuEq from 239m in CMLCD010
- 104m @ 0.83% CuEq from 155m in CMLCD001A
- 81m @ 1.14% CuEq from 302m in CMLCD005A
Figure 2: Vista Montana and Lana Corina geological setting with multiple alteration zones, breccia pipes and mineralised veins [Courtesy: Culpeo Minerals]
These intercepts sit within the same structural trend now identified at Vista Montana, giving the Company a direct geological link between proven mineralisation at Lana Corina and the untested ground it is about to drill.
Figure 3: Vista Montana and Lana Corina target areas on magnetic background [Courtesy: Culpeo Minerals]
A Copper Portfolio Anchored in Chile’s Coastal Cordillera
Culpeo Minerals holds a strategic portfolio of copper assets in Chile, the world’s leading copper-producing jurisdiction. The Company is targeting high-grade systems within the infrastructure-rich Coastal Cordillera, a proven belt hosting multiple major copper deposits.
Figure 4: Culpeo Minerals primary project areas, showing significant drilling results [Courtesy: Culpeo Minerals]
Both the Lana Corina and Fortuna Projects sit in the Coquimbo Region, roughly 350 kilometres north of Santiago. The location places Culpeo close to the world-class Los Pelambres mine, with established road access, power transmission and water availability supporting future development.
Chairman Points to a Continuous News Flow Ahead
Culpeo Minerals’ Non-Executive Chair, Geoff McNamara, said the re-established access allows the Company to move straight into drilling.
| “The re-establishment of operations at the Lana Corina Project allows us to move directly to maiden diamond drilling at Vista Montana, which has the potential to materially expand the Lana Corina discovery,” McNamara said. |
Figure 5: Geoff McNamara, Non-Executive Chair of Culpeo Minerals [Courtesy: Culpeo Minerals]
He added that the imminent geophysics survey will help sharpen the picture further.
| “This drilling, coupled with an imminent geophysics survey, will further refine existing targets and potentially identify new targets along the highly prospective structural corridor.” |
Drilling at El Quillay South, part of the Company’s Fortuna Project, is continuing. Once that 200 metre hole is complete, the rig will move directly to Vista Montana.
| “Drilling continues at El Quillay South before moving directly to Vista Montana, ensuring we will have a strong continuous pipeline of news and results over the coming months,” McNamara said. |
Share Price Performance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Last Price | A$0.017 |
| Market Capitalisation | A$9.54 million |
| 1 Week | +41.67% |
| 1 Month | +21.43% |
| 2026 YTD | +41.67% |
| 1 Year | +41.67% |
| vs ASX 200 (1 Year) | +40.46% |
Industry Outlook
The global copper market was valued at US$248.2 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$388.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% between 2026 and 2033. Asia Pacific held 74.0% of the market share in 2025, with copper remaining critical to solar panels, wind turbines and grid infrastructure.
Figure 6: Global Copper Market Size by Type, 2023-2033 (US$ billion) [Courtesy: Grand View Research]
Demand growth is also being shaped by end-use trends. The building and construction segment accounted for over 26.0% of revenue share in 2025, while primary copper made up more than 84.0% of the market by type. This continued reliance on copper across energy and infrastructure keeps exploration success at projects like Vista Montana firmly in focus for investors.
With drilling set to move from El Quillay South to Vista Montana, Culpeo Minerals is entering its next exploration phase. The programme will test targets along the broader Lana Corina mineralised corridor.
Disclaimer
This article has been prepared by Colitco in collaboration with Culpeo Minerals as part of a commercial content and investor communications arrangement. Colitco may receive compensation for the production and distribution of this content. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial product advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. The content reflects information available at the time of publication and may not be updated. All figures, data and statements have been sourced from Culpeo Minerals’ official ASX announcements and publicly available sources. Readers should conduct their own independent research and seek professional financial advice before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Exploration results are not a guarantee of future resource definition or commercial production.
Luke Carlino is a seasoned Copywriter, Content Strategist, and Social Media Manager specialising in Mining, Finance, and Business journalism. With more than a decade of industry experience, he brings rigorous editorial standards and commercial acuity to every project.
