China Base Metal Output Data in April 2017, SMM Exclusive Data

AusQuest (ASX:AQD) has released results of a Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (CSAMT) survey at its 100%-owned Cangallo porphyry copper-gold project in southern Peru, carried out by Quantec Geoscience. The survey outlines an interpreted mineralised porphyry footprint of at least 2.5 km by 1 km and identifies two additional high-priority targets east and west of the known system whose resistivity signatures resemble the main Cangallo porphyry. Deeper low-resistivity anomalies (250-400 ohm-metres) beyond 500 m at the northern and southern margins point to untested porphyry centres now ranked as priority drill targets. Cangallo spans about 60 km2 near the coast; prior RC drilling confirmed mineralisation over 1,500 m of strike, 250-500 m wide and beyond 400 m depth, with broad intervals around 0.5% copper. Follow-up drilling begins once Stage 4 permits are secured.

Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) reported national copper output of 1,599,115 tonnes in the first seven months of 2026, up 2.2% year on year, with July production of 236,515 tonnes rising 3.7% on higher output at Antamina (+83%) and Cerro Verde (+18%). On a mine basis, Antamina produced 297,145 tonnes through July, a 54% jump and a 14.3% national share, held by BHP, Glencore, Teck and Mitsubishi. MMG's Las Bambas yielded 245,610 tonnes (-1.1%; 14.83% share), ranking as the No. 2 copper mine, while Freeport's Cerro Verde produced 231,023 tonnes and Southern Copper's Peruvian unit 218,213 tonnes (-10.3%). Antamina and Las Bambas lead on a mine-level basis, underscoring a steady recovery in Peruvian supply that buffers a globally tight concentrate market.

Aldebaran Resources (TSX-V:ALDE) has closed out the 2025-2026 infill and geotechnical campaign at its Altar copper-gold project in San Juan, Argentina, with hole ALD-26-260 returning 1,728.9 m (close to 2 km) of continuous mineralisation grading 0.45% CuEq from 141 m, including 756 m at 0.68% CuEq at depth. CEO John Black said the more-than-1.7-km interval in a single hole underscores the enormous scale of the Altar system. Since the late-2024 resource estimate, over 40,000 m have been drilled at the main deposit, with about 30,000 m at the adjacent Pórfido Radio target still outside any resource. The infill work is designed to upgrade Inferred resources to Measured and Indicated categories and to feed a 2026 resource update and the 2027 pre-feasibility study. Altar comprises several copper-gold porphyry deposits; Aldebaran holds an 80% interest.