Auro Metals Inc. (TSX.V: AURO) (OTCQB: AURFF) has announced assay results from the fifth batch of its 2026 Phase I drill program at the wholly owned Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project in Ecuador, highlighted by drill hole DSB-68, which intersected 905.22 meters grading 0.60 grams per tonne gold and 0.12% copper from 56.5 meters. This intercept represents the longest and deepest hole drilled at Santa Barbara to date, reaching a total depth of 1,282 meters while remaining mineralized to the end of the hole. The continuity of mineralization over such a substantial length suggests a robust porphyry system with significant depth potential.
Additional results from the batch include DSB-70, which returned 262.5 meters at 0.71 g/t gold and 0.10% copper, including a higher-grade interval of 100.45 meters at 1.01 g/t gold and 0.11% copper. DSB-69 intersected 200.55 meters at 0.59 g/t gold and 0.08% copper, including 57.83 meters at 1.06 g/t gold and 0.10% copper. These results, combined with DSB-68, demonstrate consistent mineralization across multiple holes and support the potential for a large-scale deposit.
Auro has completed its Phase I program with 11,047.35 meters drilled across 22 holes. Results have been reported for 17 holes, with assays pending for five. The company has continued directly into its 20,000-meter Phase II program, which will test gaps between known portions of the deposit, new targets, and extensions of mineralization at depth, while conducting additional infill drilling ahead of a future resource update. Three additional drill rigs capable of reaching depths greater than 1,000 meters are expected to be mobilized. Auro is also preparing samples for initial metallurgical test work covering gravity concentration, comminution, flotation, and cyanide leaching. For full details, see the press release.
The Santa Barbara Project is a large-scale porphyry system in the Zamora Copper-Gold Belt of southeastern Ecuador. According to the company’s mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 by SRK Consulting, effective March 23, 2026, the project hosts Indicated resources of 29.8 million tonnes grading 0.73 g/t gold and 0.1% copper, containing 697,000 ounces of gold and 68 million pounds of copper, and Inferred resources of 205.7 million tonnes grading 0.52 g/t gold and 0.09% copper, containing 3,418,000 ounces of gold and 426 million pounds of copper. For more information, visit Auro Metals’ website.
For investors in the mining and raw materials sector, these results underscore the importance of ongoing exploration in established copper-gold belts. The long intercepts at Santa Barbara not only validate the deposit model but also highlight the potential for resource growth. As the global demand for copper and gold continues to rise, driven by electrification and renewable energy technologies, projects like Santa Barbara could play a crucial role in future supply. The Phase II program’s focus on depth extensions and new targets, coupled with metallurgical test work, positions Auro to potentially expand its resource base and advance the project toward development. This news matters because it demonstrates the continued viability of large porphyry systems in Ecuador, a region that has attracted increasing attention from major mining companies. Successful exploration here could lead to economic benefits for the local community and strengthen Ecuador’s position in the global copper-gold market. Industry observers will be watching the pending assays and Phase II results closely, as they could significantly impact Auro’s valuation and the broader mining landscape.
