Interview with David Kelley, President & CEO of Chakana Copper Corp.
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chakana-copper-tsxvperu-drilling-points-to-significant-copper-mineralization-5654
Recording date: 31st August 2024
Chakana Copper's recent announcements regarding its Soledad project in Peru have unveiled significant potential for investors interested in early-stage mineral exploration. The company's latest findings, including high-grade silver discoveries and indications of a large porphyry system, position Soledad as a promising exploration play with multiple avenues for success.
Key highlights from the project include:
High-grade silver discovery: The La Joya prospect has yielded impressive results, with silver grades exceeding 1 kilogram per ton near the surface. This high-grade mineralization, located just 58 meters below the surface and extending over a 700-meter footprint, presents an attractive near-term target for resource development.
Geological breakthrough: Chakana has made significant strides in understanding the controls on mineralization in the district. The identification of a large precursor intrusion and its relationship to subsequent mineralization provides a roadmap for more targeted and efficient exploration efforts.
Porphyry potential: The Mega Gold target area shows promising signs of a porphyry system, including pyrite shells and geophysical signatures typical of such deposits. While still in the early stages, this target offers substantial long-term potential.
Multiple deposit types: The Soledad project encompasses various deposit types, including high-grade breccia pipes, epithermal systems, and porphyry targets. This diversity increases the chances of making an economic discovery and provides multiple paths to success.
Resource growth potential: Chakana aims to increase its resource base from the current 6.7 million tons to 10 million tons in the near term, with several promising targets yet to be fully explored.
The company's exploration strategy focuses on systematically testing these various targets, balancing near-term resource growth potential with longer-term, larger-scale opportunities. Upcoming drilling programs at La Joya, Ceiro breccias, and the Mega Gold target area are expected to provide significant news flow and potential catalysts for the stock.
Investors should note that Chakana Copper, as a junior exploration company, presents both high risk and high reward potential. The company will require ongoing funding to support its exploration efforts, which may lead to dilution for existing shareholders. However, the project's geological merit, the company's systematic approach to exploration, and the experienced management team led by CEO David Kelley provide some mitigation to these risks.
The macro environment for copper exploration remains favorable, driven by increasing demand from the green energy transition and electric vehicle production. Additionally, precious metals like silver continue to attract interest as safe-haven assets.
For investors willing to accept the inherent risks of early-stage mineral exploration, Chakana Copper offers exposure to a project with district-scale potential in a well-established mining jurisdiction. The company's recent discoveries and geological breakthroughs have significantly de-risked the project, while still offering substantial upside potential if further exploration success is achieved. As CEO David Kelley states, "We're looking for a trillion dollar asset... if we're successful, the type of wealth and financial benefit that a new discovery of the kind of scale that we're going after is enormous." While such outcomes are rare in the mining industry, Chakana Copper's Soledad project demonstrates the geological potential to support such ambitious goals.
View Chakana Copper's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/chakana-copper
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What is Company Interviews?
An insight into junior mining and opportunities to invest.
Company Interviews, a Crux Investor show, exists to cut through the jargon, bias and bluster.
Matthew Gordon, and guest host Merlin Marr-Johnson hone in on the important factors that indicate a company's strong footing for growth and success.