Torino Metals Pty Ltd., a privately held mineral exploration company, has announced a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for its wholly owned Zonda copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan Province, Argentina. The estimate, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, totals 615 million tonnes grading 0.34% copper equivalent, containing 2.824 billion pounds of copper and 2.88 million ounces of gold. This is equivalent to approximately 4.55 billion pounds of copper, underscoring the project's significant scale and potential to become a major copper-gold producer.
The resource is constrained within an optimized open-pit shell and includes a higher-grade zone of 338 million tonnes grading 0.41% copper equivalent, containing 1.92 billion pounds of copper and 1.86 million ounces of gold. The Zonda deposit begins at or near surface, with an estimated strip ratio of approximately 0.5:1, which could translate into lower mining costs and improved project economics. Torino completed five diamond twin holes totaling 908 meters during its 2026 drilling campaign to validate historical exploration data. The company reported that 21 of 30 historical drill holes ended in mineralization, with the deposit remaining open at depth and laterally, suggesting further expansion potential.
The resource estimate has an effective date of Oct. 13, 2026, and was prepared by independent qualified person Marcelo Zangrandi of AMBA Consultoria Ltda. Torino noted that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability, but the maiden estimate provides a strong foundation for advancing the project. For a privately held company like Torino, this announcement marks a critical milestone that could attract strategic partners or investors to fund further development. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/yjslh.
The Zonda project is located in the prolific San Juan Province, which hosts several major copper-gold deposits and is considered a favorable jurisdiction for mining investment. The near-surface nature of the deposit and low strip ratio could make it amenable to open-pit mining, potentially reducing capital intensity. The higher-grade zone could be targeted in early mine planning to enhance cash flow. However, challenges remain, including the need for further drilling to convert inferred resources to indicated and measured categories, and eventual feasibility studies to demonstrate economic viability. The project's progress will be closely watched by the mining industry, as it could contribute to the global supply of copper and gold, both of which are essential for the energy transition and technology sectors.
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