Marimaca Copper Achieves Major Breakthrough with Ultra High-Grade Discoveries at Pampa Medina

• Marimaca Copper discovered exceptional copper grades at Pampa Medina, including 12.0% copper over 6 meters and multiple high-grade intersections across a large 600m x 1,000m area.
• The discovery represents Chile's first stratiform, sediment-hosted copper system, more similar to international deposits like Kupfershiefer than typical Chilean copper occurrences.
• Pampa Medina sits 28km from the flagship MOD project with excellent infrastructure access, low permitting risk, and proximity to major mining operations and ports.
• Management believes the discovery could significantly expand copper cathode production profiles and extend mine life beyond what's contemplated in the upcoming MOD Definitive Feasibility Study.
• The company maintains focus on bringing the flagship MOD into production while simultaneously advancing a 14-hole, 10,000-meter drilling program to define Pampa Medina's full potential.

Marimaca Copper Corp. (TSX:MARI, ASX:MC2) has announced significant high-grade copper discoveries at its Pampa Medina deposit, marking a potential transformation in the company's development trajectory. The Vancouver-based copper exploration and development company operates primarily in Chile's Atacama Desert, with its flagship Marimaca Oxide Deposit (MOD) approaching production readiness. The company's strategic focus centers on advancing multiple copper projects in one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions, positioning itself to become a significant copper producer in the coming years.

The latest drilling results from Pampa Medina, located 28 kilometers east of the MOD, have revealed what management describes as a unique sediment-hosted copper system in Chile. These discoveries come at a critical juncture as the company prepares to release its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the MOD and positions itself for near-term copper cathode production.

Geological Significance & Discovery Scale

The Pampa Medina drilling program has identified a stratiform, sediment-hosted copper system that management believes is unprecedented in Chile. The discovery encompasses high-grade copper mineralization across a 600-meter east-west by 1,000-meter north-south area, with potential extensions reaching 1.4 kilometers by 1.2 kilometers.

Sergio Rivera, VP Exploration of Marimaca Copper, emphasized the geological importance of the discovery: "Pampa Medina appears to be a Tier 1 prospect. Our exploration model, which is unconventional in Chile, has been proven correct. Firstly, the sedimentary units, which host Pampa Medina, are extensive and mineralized over many square kilometers and, secondly, the potential is confirmed for significant, very high grade, sulphide mineralization in these units."

The geological characteristics suggest similarities to major international copper deposits rather than typical Chilean copper occurrences. The company notes that the system appears "more analogous to the Kupfershiefer or African sediment hosted Cu deposits" rather than traditional Chilean copper deposits.

Outstanding Drill Results & Grade Distribution

The recent drilling campaign has produced exceptional results, with multiple holes intersecting ultra high-grade copper mineralization. The standout intersection came from hole SMRD-13, which returned 6 meters of 12.0% copper from 594 meters downhole, contained within 26 meters of 4.1% copper from 580 meters, and part of a broader 100-meter intersection of 1.3% copper from 580 meters.

Additional significant intersections include hole SMD-02, which returned 40 meters of 2.1% copper from 282 meters downhole within 132 meters of 1.0% copper from 278 meters. Hole SMD-01, located approximately 600 meters northwest of SMD-13, intersected 68 meters of 1.2% copper including 20 meters of 2.3% copper from 298 meters downhole, plus an additional 22 meters of 1.7% copper from 602 meters downhole.

The consistency of high-grade intersections across multiple drill holes separated by significant distances suggests substantial continuity of mineralization. Rivera noted the remarkable scale of the discovery: "This is the first time in my 40-year career that I have seen stratiform, sediment hosted, ultra high-grade copper in Chile of this potential scale. The intensity of bornite and chalcopyrite mineralization is truly remarkable."

Strategic Location & Infrastructure Advantages

Pampa Medina's location in the Atacama Desert provides significant strategic advantages that mirror those of the company's flagship MOD. The deposit sits at low altitude in a flat "pampa" valley, offering optimal conditions for future mining operations and infrastructure development.

The proximity to established mining operations and infrastructure presents compelling economic benefits. Pampa Medina lies within 28 kilometers of the MOD, 64 kilometers from Sierra Gorda (South32/KGHM), 40 kilometers from Mantos Blancos (Capstone Copper), 77 kilometers from Spence (BHP), and 54 kilometers from Antucoya (Antofagasta Minerals).

This positioning provides access to existing powerlines, water pipelines, major ports, and regional populations. The absence of private land ownership and limited human impact, combined with the extremely arid location, indicates low permitting risks comparable to or potentially superior to those associated with the MOD.

Management's Strategic Vision

President and CEO Hayden Locke outlined the transformative potential of the Pampa Medina discovery for the company's overall strategy: "These results add a new dimension to our strategy and, we believe, strengthens our potential to be a globally significant copper producer in time. Our assessment is that the Pampa Medina and Madrugador oxide deposits already give us the potential to expand our copper cathode production profile and extend our mine life meaningfully from the nominal rates we are contemplating in the MOD DFS."

The discovery has prompted management to reassess the scale and development strategy for Pampa Medina. Locke emphasized the capital efficiency potential: "With these thick, high-grade, sulphide intersections we now see the potential for a much larger scale copper system. Importantly, the location of Pampa Medina means it benefits from the same characteristics as our flagship MOD, such as access to first class infrastructure, proximity to workforces, lower permitting risk, and therefore any new discovery brought into development should be extremely competitive on a capital intensity basis."

Hayden Locke, CEO of Marimaca Copper

Exploration Program & Future Development

The company has responded to the discovery by adding a second diamond drill rig at Pampa Medina and budgeting for a 14-hole follow-up program targeting extensions and delineation of the mineralized manto. This expanded program totals 10,000 meters of drilling designed to define the limits of the prospective sedimentary units and understand the full potential of the Pampa Medina opportunity.

Rivera outlined the exploration objectives: "We are completing 10,000m of drilling across 14 diamond holes in the next phase. Our objective is to try to define the limits of the prospective sedimentary units, to understand the full potential of the Pampa Medina opportunity. We look forward to updating the market as we progress exploration on this exciting discovery."

The previously announced Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Pampa Medina has been paused as the company assesses the implications of these drilling results for the scale and development strategy of the deposit.

Impact on Corporate Development Timeline

Despite the significant discovery at Pampa Medina, management has maintained its focus on advancing the flagship MOD toward production. The DFS for the MOD is described as near-complete, undergoing final review, and scheduled for release in the near-term.

Locke emphasized the company's dual-track approach: "Our primary objective remains to bring the MOD into production as quickly as is feasible and, in this respect, our DFS is largely complete and undergoing final peer reviews in preparation for release. Additionally, our permitting is progressing well with encouraging interactions across all of our stakeholder groups in Chile."

The company's strategy balances immediate production goals with longer-term exploration potential:

"Our strategy remains two-fold: we will continue to advance the exciting exploration potential, both at Pampa Medina and other targets, whilst also transitioning, in the near-term, into a copper cathode producer."

Broader Exploration Portfolio

The Pampa Medina discovery highlights the potential within Marimaca Copper's broader exploration portfolio. Management describes the exploration portfolio as "vast and virtually untested," suggesting significant additional discovery potential across the company's land holdings.

Locke noted the district-scale opportunity: "Our exploration portfolio is vast and virtually untested. This extensional discovery highlights the ongoing opportunity for copper discoveries on a district scale."

The systematic exploration approach that led to the Pampa Medina discovery may be applicable to other targets within the company's portfolio, potentially leading to additional discoveries that could further enhance the company's resource base and production profile.

For Investors

The Pampa Medina discovery represents a potentially transformative development for Marimaca Copper, significantly expanding the company's resource base and production potential. The ultra high-grade copper intersections, combined with the strategic location and infrastructure advantages, position the company for enhanced long-term value creation.

The discovery's scale and grade characteristics suggest Pampa Medina could become a cornerstone asset alongside the flagship MOD. The sediment-hosted nature of the mineralization, unique in Chile, provides geological diversity that may offer operational and risk management benefits.

For investors, the key considerations include the company's ability to advance multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining focus on bringing the MOD into production. The strategic location advantages and infrastructure access suggest potential for capital-efficient development, while the extensive exploration portfolio indicates additional discovery potential.

The company's dual-track strategy of advancing immediate production goals while developing longer-term exploration potential provides multiple pathways for value creation. The upcoming DFS for the MOD and continued exploration results from Pampa Medina will be critical catalysts for investor evaluation of the company's near-term and long-term prospects.