Andean Silver Cerro Bayo Resource Surges 230% to 136Moz AgEq
Andean Silver Limited has announced significant exploration results that demonstrate the exceptional growth potential at its Cerro Bayo high-grade silver discovery by Andean Silver Ltd in Chile. Recent sampling across multiple vein systems has revealed over 2 kilometres of exposed mineralised veins with grades exceeding 10,000g/t silver and 125g/t gold.
The results showcase extremely high-grade mineralisation across two key districts, with rock chip samples returning values up to 21,282g/t silver equivalent (10,530g/t Ag & 129.5g/t Au). Furthermore, these findings reinforce Cerro Bayo's position as a world-class epithermal silver-gold system with substantial resource growth potential.
The Laguna Verde district has revealed outcropping veins extending up to 100 metres east of the existing Taitao open pit, moving toward the Cristal prospect. This discovery is particularly significant as it sits adjacent to Andean's existing 1,500 tonnes-per-day processing facility.
High-Grade Rock Chip Results from Taitao East:
| Sample Location | Silver (g/t) | Gold (g/t) | Silver Equivalent (g/t) | Gold Equivalent (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taitao East | 10,530 | 129.5 | 21,282 | 256.4 |
| Taitao East | 5,049 | 65.2 | 10,460 | 126.0 |
| Taitao East | 5,633 | 96.7 | 13,707 | 165.1 |
| Taitao East | 1,775 | 20.6 | 3,485 | 42.0 |
The 750-metre corridor between Taitao and Cristal remains unmapped and untested by drilling, presenting a significant near-mine exploration opportunity. In addition, the newly identified veining mirrors the high-grade north-south trending structures that were historically exploited in the open pit.
Recent mapping and sampling at the Cerro Bayo district has extended multiple sub-parallel vein corridors by approximately 1 kilometre northward. Consequently, this materially expands the known footprint of the epithermal vein field system.
High-Grade Rock Chip Results from Guanaco:
| Sample Location | Silver (g/t) | Gold (g/t) | Silver Equivalent (g/t) | Gold Equivalent (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guanaco | 4,011 | 45.4 | 7,777 | 93.7 |
| Guanaco | 2,488 | 46.7 | 6,366 | 76.7 |
| Guanaco | 2,268 | 47.1 | 6,181 | 74.5 |
| Guanaco | 2,378 | 25.6 | 4,502 | 54.2 |
High-Grade Sawn Channel Results:
The most significant channel sample returned 1.7 metres @ 1,031g/t silver equivalent (343g/t Ag & 8.3g/t Au). Meanwhile, another impressive interval graded 0.5 metres @ 6,050g/t silver equivalent (1,129g/t Ag & 59.3g/t Au).
The 1.3-kilometre corridor between the Droughtmaster and Guanaco mines continues under shallow cover. However, geophysical anomalies indicate potential for additional prospective zones that remain untested.
Epithermal deposits form from hot, mineral-rich fluids that circulate near the Earth's surface, typically creating high-grade vein systems in volcanic terrains. These systems are characterised by their exceptional silver and gold grades concentrated in narrow but continuous structures.
Key characteristics of epithermal systems:
At Cerro Bayo, the epithermal system demonstrates textbook characteristics with multiple parallel north-south trending veins hosted in volcanic rocks. The Cerro Bayo high-grade silver discovery by Andean Silver Ltd validates the system's continuity and suggests significant additional potential remains to be defined.
"We have a long pipeline of these well-advanced prospects for exploration which have been identified by sampling and a thorough re-evaluation of the geological data at Cerro Bayo," stated Tim Laneyrie, Chief Executive.
Planned Activities and Timeline:
| Timeline | Activity | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | Drilling Results | Brownfields targets at Laguna Verde and Cerro Bayo |
| Q2 2025 | Resource Update | Growth from current 111Moz AgEq resource |
| Q3 2025 | Greenfields Drilling | New target areas from geophysical campaigns |
| Q4 2025 | Regional Exploration | District-scale mapping and target generation |
| Ongoing | Internal Studies | Restart planning and feasibility work |
Andean has deployed three drill rigs on site for 2025, with consideration for additional rigs as surface exploration generates compelling drill targets. Furthermore, the company's systematic approach combines brownfields resource growth with greenfields discovery potential across its 33,180-hectare district.
The Cerro Bayo Project currently hosts Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources of 9.8Mt at 353g/t AgEq for 111Moz of contained silver equivalent. However, this represents just a fraction of the district's potential, with over 100 million ounces historically mined between 1995 and 2016.
Current Resource Summary:
| Category | Tonnes (Mt) | Ag Grade (g/t) | Au Grade (g/t) | AgEq Grade (g/t) | AgEq (Moz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicated | 1.0 | 331 | 3.1 | 588 | 18 |
| Inferred | 8.8 | 136 | 2.3 | 330 | 93 |
| Total | 9.8 | 151 | 2.4 | 353 | 111 |
The Cerro Bayo high-grade silver discovery by Andean Silver Ltd adds significant strike length to known mineralised systems. Consequently, 2+ kilometres of high-grade veins are now mapped at surface, positioning Cerro Bayo for continued resource growth as systematic drilling defines extensions and new discoveries.
Cerro Bayo presents a compelling investment opportunity combining proven production history, exceptional grade potential, and systematic exploration upside. For instance, key investment highlights include:
Operational Advantages:
Resource Growth Catalysts:
Financial Position:
The combination of exceptional grades, proven system continuity, and existing infrastructure positions Cerro Bayo as one of the most compelling silver-gold development opportunities in South America. Indeed, the Cerro Bayo high-grade silver discovery by Andean Silver Ltd demonstrates exceptional growth potential, with multiple high-grade vein systems now extending over 2+ kilometres.
"Andean Silver has positioned itself as a major player in the epithermal silver-gold space, with the Cerro Bayo high-grade silver discovery by Andean Silver Ltd validating exceptional resource growth potential. With systematic drilling planned throughout 2025, investors should closely monitor this emerging silver-gold story."
As drilling systematically tests these new discoveries, Andean Silver is poised to demonstrate the true scale of this world-class epithermal district.
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