Aftermath Silver begins drilling at Berenguela copper target and Chile's Challacollo project
Last updated: 10:25 22 Jul 2026 EDT, First published: 08:35 22 Jul 2026 EDT
Aftermath Silver Ltd (TSX-V:AAG, OTCQX:AAGFF, FRA:FLM1) announced that it has started drilling at the eastern edge of its Berenguela project in Peru to test for high-grade copper mineralization beyond the current mineral resource estimate, while also launching a drill program at its Challacollo silver-gold project in northern Chile.
The company said the Berenguela program will initially include up to 1,000 metres of core drilling targeting an eastern copper zone, following previous drill results that intersected high-grade copper and silver mineralization. The program may be expanded depending on results.
Shares of Aftermath gained 6.2% in Toronto on Wednesday morning.
Aftermath Silver CEO Ralph Rushton said the company is investigating the potential for additional high-grade copper mineralization outside the current resource area after encouraging drilling results from 2024 and 2025.
"Our previous drilling in 2024/2025 on the eastern margins of the MRE was extremely positive and with the copper spot price close to its all-time high I look forward to reporting on the results of the drilling later this year," Rushton said in a statement.
At the Challacollo project in Chile's Region I, Aftermath has begun an initial five-hole, approximately 800-metre diamond drilling program aimed at expanding the existing silver-gold resource and testing additional exploration targets.
The company said the program will target extensions of known veins, previously identified but untested veins, and selected reverse circulation holes to gather additional geological and metallurgical information. Drilling will focus on the Lolón North, Lucy North and Palermo North target areas.
Rushton said the Challacollo campaign is intended to increase the company's exposure to silver alongside its flagship Berenguela project. "Our objective at Challacollo is to expand and increase the mineral resource and this is the first step toward that goal," he said.
According to a 2020 NI 43-101 technical report, the Challacollo project hosts indicated mineral resources of 6.64 million tonnes containing 35.15 million ounces of silver and 58,000 ounces of gold, along with inferred resources of 2.8 million tonnes containing 11.14 million ounces of silver and 15,000 ounces of gold.
