- 01FMR starts maiden drilling at Chile’s La Martuca prospect.
- 02At least 2,000m will test mineralised structures and geophysical targets.
- 03Drilling runs 10–12 weeks; assays expected 6–8 weeks after first hole ends.
FMR Resources (ASX: FMR) has commenced first-ever drilling at the La Martuca prospect within its La Lorena project in central Chile, starting a diamond program of at least 2,000 metres designed to test mapped mineralised structures and geophysical targets.
Expected to run for 10 to 12 weeks, the initial campaign will test continuity between historical artisanal mine levels, extensions to known mineralised structures, and multiple induced polarisation chargeability and magnetic features.
FMR expects assays six to eight weeks after completion of the first drill hole, with results to be integrated with geological data to determine whether additional drilling is warranted at La Martuca.
The campaign begins at La Martuca before FMR completes further assessment of the Esperanza prospect datasets and progressively refines and ranks additional targets across La Lorena.
Beneath Artisanal Workings
Initial drilling at La Martuca is focused around the artisanal workings and an associated IP chargeability feature, with the program designed to test mineralisation beneath the workings and possible extensions beyond them.
3D modelling has brought together IP sections, magnetic features, mapped alteration, mineralised structures, and previously reported high-grade rock-chip results to define the initial drill targets around La Martuca.
“The next few months are incredibly exciting for FMR shareholders as we continue to gather datasets and drill test multiple highly-ranked targets across La Lorena, Los Warbos, and the Llahuin JV,” managing director Oliver Kiddie said.
“We look forward to updating the market with our progress as we continue our exploration journey, with a clear aim of a company-making discovery”.
FMR plans to complete at least 2,000m across La Lorena while undertaking an integrated assessment of the Esperanza datasets, including initial drill hole design, before using incoming La Martuca assays and geological information to shape any additional drilling.
Broader Target Pipeline
La Lorena lies east of Combarbalá in an area underlain by Eocene-aged volcanic and intrusive rocks over older Cretaceous basement, a setting FMR considers favourable for porphyry and epithermal mineralisation.
The project sits within a regionally significant Trans-Lithospheric Fault architecture that is interpreted to provide first-order controls on magma ascent, intrusive plumbing, and metallogenic fertility through the broader La Lorena–Los Warbos area.
Within La Lorena, FMR is evaluating a pipeline of porphyry and structurally controlled copper-gold targets.
Historical workings at Esperanza and La Martuca will provide evidence of near-surface mineralisation, while geophysics and mapping assess the scale and geometry of the broader systems below surface.
The project is located approximately 380 kilometres north of Santiago at elevations of about 1,600m to 2,500m, with regional road and electricity access, the ports of Coquimbo and Los Vilos about 200km and 170km away by road respectively, and a sealed airstrip nearby.
Get the wire before the market opens.
The ASX small-cap stories that matter, filed before 9am AEST. Curated by the Small Caps desk.