Hot Chili Hits 398 Metres at 0.45% CuEq From Surface at La Verde

By Mining Hub News Desk
8 September 2026, 1:27 p.m. EDT 2 min read

Hot Chili Limited has returned a broad near-surface intersection of 398 metres grading 0.45% copper equivalent from surface at the La Verde porphyry discovery in Chile, headlined by a high-grade interval of 62 metres grading 0.91% copper equivalent from 20 metres depth.

Figure 6. Oblique slice towards NW (Azi 325°, Plunge+26°). 0.3% and 0.4% Cu interpolants displayed for oxide and transitional material, sliced along NNE orientation with the front removed. US$3.50/lb Cu conceptual open pit shell displayed in dark grey; US$6.00/lb Cu conceptual open pit shell displayed in light grey1. Base of weathering shown as dashed blue line. Results reported including CuEq2.

Oblique slice of the La Verde deposit showing copper mineralisation interpolants and conceptual open pit shells. Source: Hot Chili Limited

The latest reverse circulation drilling program at La Verde has intersected wide zones of shallow copper-gold mineralisation across the deposit. Drillhole DKP063 included higher-grade intervals of 12 metres grading 1.00% copper equivalent from 20 metres and 34 metres grading 1.00% copper equivalent from 42 metres.

Additional shallow reverse circulation drilling included hole DKP075, which returned a partial intersection of 132 metres grading 0.57% copper equivalent from 24 metres depth, including 42 metres grading 0.70% copper equivalent from 96 metres. Assays for the remaining 177 metres of DKP075 remain pending. Meanwhile, drillhole DKP064 intersected 126 metres grading 0.45% copper equivalent from 54 metres depth, including 26 metres grading 0.70% copper equivalent from 108 metres, alongside a deeper interval of 74 metres grading 0.35% copper equivalent from 276 metres.

Assays from 22 drillholes across the project remain pending as laboratory turnaround times improve. Updated assay results from the deeper portion of diamond drillhole DKD060 confirmed mineralisation continuity down to 765.2 metres depth within a 772.7-metre total hole depth, returning an additional 123.1 metres grading 0.30% copper equivalent from 642.1 metres.

Hot Chili Limited targets the completion of a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for La Verde later in 2026, followed by a formal submission of the Costa Fuego Environmental Impact Assessment in Q2 2027.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director Christian Easterday said:

“DKP063 is among the strongest near-surface intersections we have drilled at La Verde so far, with comparable grades are now appearing across the deposit, we have confidence in the scale of a potential high-grade starter pit for Costa Fuego. With assays from 22 holes still to come, our focus is on converting this drilling into a maiden Mineral Resource and, from there, integrating this into an enhanced and upscaled Costa Fuego Prefeasibility study.”

Hot Chili's previous disclosures identify the La Verde discovery as an asset intended to feed into the coastal range Costa Fuego copper-gold project in Chile.

Read the full announcement: Thick, High-Grade, Surface Enrichment Zone Extends at La Verde