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. Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, the estimate totals 615 million tonnes grading 0.34% copper equivalent, containing 2.824 billion pounds of copper and 2.88 million ounces of gold, equivalent to approximately 4.55 billion pounds of copper. 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 support low-cost open-pit mining. 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 potential for resource expansion.
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. For full details, see the complete press release.
The announcement matters because it provides the first quantified resource for Zonda, giving investors and industry observers a clearer picture of the project's size and grade. The near-surface nature and low strip ratio could translate into favorable mining economics if the project advances. The presence of a higher-grade core may also improve project viability by allowing selective mining. However, the classification as an Inferred Resource means further drilling and studies are needed to convert it to a reserve and demonstrate economic viability. The open-ended mineralization at depth and laterally indicates room for growth, which could enhance the project's scale over time.
Torino Metals is an Australian company focused on the Zonda copper-gold porphyry project, held through its wholly owned subsidiary Torino Metals Argentina SAS. For more information, visit Torino Metals. The announcement was disseminated through Rocks & Stocks, a specialized communications platform for the mining industry and part of the Dynamic Brand Portfolio at IBN. The platform provides wire solutions via InvestorWire and other services. Readers should review the full terms of use and disclaimers.
