ASX Announcement Wednesday 24th February 2021

Third Rig Boosts Speed of Drilling at
Cortadera Copper-Gold Discovery

Drilling Re-commences at Cortadera North

Highlights

  • A third drill rig has commenced operations at Hot Chili’s world-class Cortadera copper-gold discovery in Chile
  • Two diamond drill rigs operating 24 hours a day are targeting a major upgrade to Cortadera’s 451Mt maiden resource later this year
  • Diamond drilling is currently testing large extensions to high grade cores and the potential for the two largest porphyries to join at depth
  • Reverse circulation drilling has re-commenced testing the exciting 2km long Cortadera North “lookalike” target, located immediately north of Cortadera
  • Results are pending for two wide visual intersections of porphyry mineralisation recorded in CRP0046D and CRP0061D across extensions to the high grade core at Cortadera’s main porphyry (as outlined in ASX announcement “Cortadera Rising RIU presentation”, 16th Feb 2021)

Hot Chili Limited (ASX code HCH) (“Hot Chili” or “Company”) is pleased to confirm it has accelerated its 40,000m drilling programme at the Cortadera copper-gold porphyry discovery, part of the Company’s Costa Fuego copper development in Chile.

A third drill rig is now in operation at Cortadera, meaning two diamond rigs are operating on a 24 hour-basis to deliver a major resource upgrade later this year.

Three Drill Rigs in Operation at Cortadera

The Company’s fully funded 2021 work programme aims to continue building Costa Fuego toward a tier one copper project (+5Mt copper) from its current contained metal resource base of 2.9Mt copper and 2.7Moz gold, 9.9Moz silver and 64kt molybdenum.

Drilling has been significantly accelerated and the Company plans to complete two deep diamond holes every four to five weeks at Cortadera in addition to having the flexibility to drill test large growth projects such as Cortadera North.

Re-Commencement of Cortadera North Drilling

The addition of a third drill rig also coincides with the re-commencement of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at the exciting 2km long Cortadera North “look-alike” target, located immediately north of Cortadera.

Drilling in late 2020 at Cortadera North focussed on testing the strong molybdenum surface anomaly with results confirming the presence of molybdenum and silver enrichment, indicating potential proximity to porphyry mineralisation.

Twelve deep RC holes (utilising five platforms) are designed to test the large Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly at Cortadera North as outlined in Figure 2. This second phase of drilling is expected to be complete by late March.

Results Pending for Two Deep Diamond Holes at Cuerpo 3

The Company looks forward to receiving results for two deep diamond holes (CRP0046D and CRP0061D) completed across Cortadera’s main porphyry (Cuerpo 3).  Both drill holes have recorded very wide visual intersections of porphyry mineralisation (as outlined in ASX announcement “Cortadera Rising RIU presentation”, 16th Feb 2021).

Assay laboratory challenges related to COVID constraints have been resolved and Hot Chili expects a return to normal assay turn-around timeframes for its sample dispatches within the coming week. 

Further updates on Hot Chili’s various workstreams are expected shortly.

This announcement is authorised by the Board of Directors for release to ASX.

For more information please contact:

Christian Easterday Tel: +61 8 9315 9009

Managing Director Email: christian@hotchili.net.au

or visit Hot Chili’s website at www.hotchili.net.au

Figure 1 Location of Productora and the Cortadera discovery in relation to the coastal range infrastructure of Hot Chili’s combined Costa Fuego copper project, located 600km north of Santiago in Chile.
Refer to ASX Announcement “Costa Fuego Becomes a Leading Global Copper Project” (12th October 2020) for JORC Table 1 information related to the Cortadera JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimate by Wood and the Productora re-stated JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimate by AMC Consultants

* Copper Equivalent (CuEq) reported for the resource were calculated using the following formula: CuEq% = ((Cu% × Cu price 1% per tonne × Cu_recovery)+(Mo ppm × Mo price per g/t × Mo_recovery)+(Au ppm × Au price per g/t × Au_recovery)+ (Ag ppm × Ag price per g/t × Ag_recovery)) / (Cu price 1% per tonne). The Metal Prices applied in the calculation were: Cu=3.00 USD/lb, Au=1,550 USD/oz, Mo=12 USD/lb, and Ag=18 USD/oz. For Cortadera (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=56%, Mo=82%, and Ag=37%. For Productora (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=43% and Mo=42%. For Costa Fuego (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=51%, Mo=67% and Ag=23%.

** Reported on a 100% Basis - combining Cortadera and Productora Mineral Resources using a +0.25% CuEq reporting cut-off grade
Figure 2. Plan view displaying the location of the Cortadera discovery zone in relation to the Cortadera North target. The plan displays the location of Cuerpo 1, 2, 3 and 4 tonalitic porphyry intrusive centres (represented by modelled copper envelopes, yellow- +0.1% Cu) in relation to surface molybdenum anomalism and IP chargeability response at 200m depth slice. Cortadera North, located 2km north of Cortadera displays “look alike” characteristics to the Cortadera discovery. Note locations of planned first pass RC drill holes at Cortadera North in a addition to Cuerpo 1 and Cuerpo 4 and the location of planned drilling which is now underway.

Qualifying Statements

Independent JORC Code Costa Fuego Combined Mineral Resource (Reported 12th October 2020)
Reported at or above 0.25% CuEq*. Figures in the above table are rounded, reported to appropriate significant figures, and reported in accordance with the JORC Code - Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Metal rounded to nearest thousand, or if less, to the nearest hundred. * * Copper Equivalent (CuEq) reported for the resource were calculated using the following formula:: CuEq% = ((Cu% × Cu price 1% per tonne × Cu_recovery)+(Mo ppm × Mo price per g/t × Mo_recovery)+(Au ppm × Au price per g/t × Au_recovery)+ (Ag ppm × Ag price per g/t × Ag_recovery)) / (Cu price 1% per tonne). The Metal Prices applied in the calculation were: Cu=3.00 USD/lb, Au=1,550 USD/oz, Mo=12 USD/lb, and Ag=18 USD/oz. For Cortadera (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=56%, Mo=82%, and Ag=37%. For Productora (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=43% and Mo=42%. For Costa Fuego (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=51%, Mo=67% and Ag=23%.

** Note: Silver (Ag) is only present within the Cortadera Mineral Resource estimate

Competent Person’s Statement- Exploration Results

Exploration information in this Announcement is based upon work compiled by Mr Christian Easterday, the Managing Director and a full-time employee of Hot Chili Limited whom is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Mr Easterday has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a ‘Competent Person’ as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (JORC Code). Mr Easterday consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Competent Person’s Statement- Productora Mineral Resources

The information in this Announcement that relates to the Productora Project Mineral Resources, is based on information compiled by Mr N Ingvar Kirchner. Mr Kirchner is employed by AMC Consultants (AMC). AMC has been engaged on a fee for service basis to provide independent technical advice and final audit for the Productora Project Mineral Resource estimates. Mr Kirchner is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Mr Kirchner has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (the JORC Code 2012). Mr Kirchner consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on the source information in the form and context in which it appears.

Competent Person’s Statement- Cortadera and Costa Fuego Mineral Resources

The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources for the Cortadera and combined Costa Fuego Project is based on information compiled by Elizabeth Haren, a Competent Person who is a Member and Chartered Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Elizabeth Haren is employed as an associate Principal Geologist of Wood, who was engaged by Hot Chili Limited. Elizabeth Haren has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves”. Elizabeth Haren consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on her information in the form and context in which it appears.

Reporting of Copper Equivalent

Copper Equivalent (CuEq) reported for the resource were calculated using the following formula: CuEq% = ((Cu% × Cu price 1% per tonne × Cu_recovery)+( Mo ppm × Mo price per g/t × Mo_recovery)+(Au ppm × Au price per g/t × Au_recovery)+ (Ag ppm × Ag price per g/t × Ag_recovery)) / (Cu price 1 % per tonne). The Metal Prices applied in the calculation were: Cu=3.00 USD/lb, Au=1,550 USD/oz, Mo=12 USD/lb, and Ag=18 USD/oz. For Cortadera (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=56%, Mo=82%, and Ag=37%. For Productora (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=43% and Mo=42%. For Costa Fuego (Inferred + Indicated), the average Metallurgical Recoveries were: Cu=83%, Au=51%, Mo=67% and Ag=23%.

Forward Looking Statements

This Announcement is provided on the basis that neither the Company nor its representatives make any warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy, reliability, relevance or completeness of the material contained in the Announcement and nothing contained in the Announcement is, or may be relied upon as a promise, representation or warranty, whether as to the past or the future. The Company hereby excludes all warranties that can be excluded by law. The Announcement contains material which is predictive in nature and may be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known and unknown risks and uncertainties and may differ materially from results ultimately achieved.

The Announcement contains “forward-looking statements”. All statements other than those of historical facts included in the Announcement are forward-looking statements including estimates of Mineral Resources. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, copper, gold and other metals price volatility, currency fluctuations, increased production costs and variances in ore grade recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans, as well as political and operational risks and governmental regulation and judicial outcomes. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any “forward-looking statement” to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the Announcement, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. All persons should consider seeking appropriate professional advice in reviewing the Announcement and all other information with respect to the Company and evaluating the business, financial performance and operations of the Company. Neither the provision of the Announcement nor any information contained in the Announcement or subsequently communicated to any person in connection with the Announcement is, or should be taken as, constituting the giving of investment advice to any person