Airborne magnetometry and ASTER studies confirm that the Malargüe deposit is larger than initially estimated, accelerating the timeline for it to become the first to undergo drilling in the Western Malargüe Mining District (MDMO).
By Panorama Minero
Canadian mining company Kobrea Exploration Corp. announced that recent geophysical and remote sensing studies confirm that the copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry system at the El Perdido project is considerably larger than previously interpreted. The company is preparing to take a decisive step in exploration with the start of a drilling program, which is shaping up to be a milestone for mining reactivation in the province.
Technical data is driving this decision. The aerial magnetometry and ASTER remote sensing studies allowed Kobrea to expand the interpretation of the deposit. The results suggest an extension of the system measuring 2 kilometers by 2 kilometers, revealing that mineralization continues beneath a cover of colluvial material to the east. The geophysical firm indicated that hydrothermal alteration extends beyond historical boundaries, a key detail that increases the project’s potential.
“The results of the aerial magnetometer survey support our interpretation that the El Perdido porphyry system is larger than previously recognized,” said James Hedalen, CEO of Kobrea, reinforcing the strength of the findings. A point of particular interest to the industry is the identification of a hydrothermal breccia unit measuring 1,700 meters by 250 meters, a formation common in world-class porphyry deposits. This finding, combined with the confirmation of permits by the Ministry of Mining and Environment of Mendoza, positions El Perdido as a project with great potential.
El Perdido: The First to Drill in a Slow-Moving Context
Kobrea’s project contrasts with the overall exploration landscape in Mendoza. Of the 34 approved projects in the Malargüe Western Mining District (MDMO), most are still in the geological mapping and surface sampling stages.
In this context, Governor Alfredo Cornejo urged the sector to "accelerate investment" in exploration during remarks made at the Argentina Cobre II conference, organized by Panorama Minero. Cornejo was emphatic in saying that Mendoza had "lost time" and that now there are "no more excuses." His message to businesspeople was clear: "There are the approved projects, and in the next campaign, it’s time to explore, to drill."
Kobrea’s progress aligns directly with this expectation. Meanwhile, the El Seguro project, managed by the state company Impulsa Mendoza, is at a more advanced stage than most others, although still behind El Perdido in the timeline to reach drilling. Given the deadlines and the approaching season, there is little chance that drilling will take place on other projects.
Once a 14-kilometer access road and an exploration camp are built, Kobrea will begin drilling with the Mendoza-based company Conosur Drilling S.A. The drilling program will be the ultimate test to validate the geological model and meet the expectation that the approved projects will translate into the mining development that the province and the country need.
