Southern Hemisphere Mining has reported broad copper mineralisation from fresh diamond drilling at its Llahuin copper-gold-molybdenum project in central Chile, including an intercept stretching 180 metres from surface.
The Perth-based explorer said hole 24LHRD056, drilled at the northern end of the Cerro zone, returned 180 metres grading 0.39 per cent copper equivalent. The same hole also intersected a further 30-metre mineralised section grading 0.31 per cent copper equivalent from 214 metres. ([shmining.com.au](https://www.shmining.com.au/2026/09/further-large-zones-of-copper-mineralisation-from-drilling-results-from-llahuin-copper-project-in-chile/))
A second hole at the Ferro zone, about 1.7 kilometres to the south, produced a similar result, with 170 metres grading 0.37 per cent copper equivalent from only four metres below surface.
The latest assays were designed to test beneath reverse-circulation holes drilled in 2024, which had been halted early because of water ingress. Southern Hemisphere said the diamond extensions had now confirmed that mineralisation continues at depth.
The results add to a series of wide intersections reported from Llahuin in recent months. They include 241 metres at 0.42 per cent copper equivalent from 18 metres, including 143 metres at 0.51 per cent, and 154 metres at 0.66 per cent from surface. ([shmining.com.au](https://www.shmining.com.au/2026/09/further-large-zones-of-copper-mineralisation-from-drilling-results-from-llahuin-copper-project-in-chile/))
Llahuin drilling points to potential resource expansion
Southern Hemisphere is seeking to expand Llahuin’s existing 218 million-tonne JORC mineral resource, which has an average grade of 0.38 per cent copper equivalent. The company has outlined a separate exploration target of between 260 million and 340 million tonnes, although that estimate is not yet a mineral resource and will require further drilling to be converted. ([shmining.com.au](https://www.shmining.com.au/investor-centre/llahuin-project/))
Chairman Mark Stowell said the latest drilling was strengthening the case for a much larger copper operation.
“The initial results extending Llahuin Copper-Gold south with intersections to 241m are rewarding and proving that there is a lot more to Llahuin than ever previously thought,” he said.
Mr Stowell said a follow-up diamond drilling programme was due to begin in September, with work initially focused on near-surface and deeper targets at Ferro South. The company is also planning beneficiation test work aimed at increasing the grade of material sent for processing. ([shmining.com.au](https://www.shmining.com.au/2026/09/further-large-zones-of-copper-mineralisation-from-drilling-results-from-llahuin-copper-project-in-chile/))
Llahuin lies in Chile’s Coquimbo region, close to Illapel and about 250 kilometres north of Santiago. The project is about eight kilometres east of the El Espino copper-gold development operated by Chilean producer Pucobre. ([shmining.com.au](https://www.shmining.com.au/investor-centre/llahuin-project/))
Southern Hemisphere has defined a multi-phase porphyry system along a roughly seven-kilometre copper corridor. Historical drilling has also pointed to stronger mineralisation at depth, including a 106-metre interval grading 1.69 per cent copper equivalent.
The company is combining drilling with artificial intelligence, drone magnetic surveys and audio-frequency magnetotelluric work to identify higher-grade zones. Surface rock-chip sampling outside the known resource has returned copper grades of up to 17.5 per cent.
Southern Hemisphere said all recent drilling results had now been reported, with the next programme intended to test potential higher-grade starter-pit areas as well as deeper extensions of the Llahuin system.
