Fitzroy Minerals Inc. (TSXV: FTZ, OTCQX: FTZFF, FSE: C3Y) has provided an update on drilling at the Buen Retiro Copper Project in Copiapo, Chile, reporting continued high-grade mineralization and an expansion of the drill program to approximately 22,000 meters for 2026. Drilling is ongoing with three diamond drill rigs on site, and a reverse circulation rig will be added shortly. The company has released results from nine drill holes in the Southwest Area, including significant intercepts such as 59.0 meters at 1.73% copper from 92.0 meters in hole BRT-DDH052, which includes 12.0 meters at 5.39% copper. Hole BRT-DDH062 returned 76.0 meters at 0.74% copper from 69.0 meters, including 13.0 meters at 3.62% copper.
Merlin Marr-Johnson, President and CEO of Fitzroy, commented on the results: 'I am delighted that we continue to see good results from Buen Retiro. This time the intersections close to surface at Buen Retiro include intercepts of 59 metres at 1.73% Cu in drill hole 52 and 76.0 m at 0.74% Cu in drill hole 62.' He emphasized that the near-surface, leachable material near infrastructure in Chile offers a route to near-term copper cathode production with reduced capital requirements and permitting timelines. One plan being evaluated involves producing a soluble copper sulphate concentrate at site, which could be trucked to one of three electro-win plants within a 90 km radius.
Fitzroy has completed 67 drill holes totaling 10,583 meters since February 2026, comprising 49 infill holes, six geotechnical holes, and 12 exploration holes. The work aims to define mineralization for a maiden mineral resource estimate, but continued discoveries have extended the timeline. Two rigs are testing extensions of the Southwest Area with step-outs to the northwest and southeast. To mitigate laboratory turnaround delays of up to three months, Fitzroy plans exploration holes based on visual estimation and has contracted SGS Laboratories for samples from the Pit Area.
The detailed results include hole BRT-DDH054 with 80.2 meters at 0.65% copper from 20.8 meters, including 22.0 meters at 1.32% copper, and hole BRT-DDH062 with 76.0 meters at 0.74% copper from 69.0 meters, including 13.0 meters at 3.62% copper. Cross-sections show that holes 22, 50, and 52 intersect a high-grade body truncated by a fault, with hole BRT-DDH022 previously reported with 110 meters at 1.94% copper. Assays from hole 88 are pending.
The company's QA/QC procedures include insertion of blanks, standards, and duplicates at a rate of about 12% of total samples. The qualified person, Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans, has reviewed and approved the technical information. Fitzroy Minerals is focused on copper and gold projects in the Americas, including the Buen Retiro, Caballos, and Taquetren projects. The company's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under FTZ and on the OTCQX under FTZFF.
