Ero Copper announces new regional discovery south of Vermelhos Mine – Siriema
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
JULY 30, 2019 NR:19-10
Ero Copper announces new regional discovery south of Vermelhos Mine – Siriema
Vancouver, British Columbia – Ero Copper Corp. (the “Company”) (TSX: ERO) is pleased to
announce the first regional discovery based upon the Company’s targeting exercise incorporating
the result of the airborne survey completed in late 2018. The new discovery, named Siriema, is
located approximately 1.5 kilometers south of the Vermelhos Mine.
To date, copper mineralization at Siriema has been defined by both core drilling (11 holes) and
reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling (22 holes) totaling 8,566 meters and has been interpreted as a
mineralized zone extending approximately 400 meters in strike -length, approximately 20 to 50
meters in width, and from surface to a depth of approximately 250 meters. The zone is interpreted
to contain multiple sub-vertical mineralized lenses and remains open to depth and to the east. While
the mineralization encountered to date is predominately disseminated, drilling following down-
hole electromagnetic (“EM”) anomalies continues to intercept a shallow-plunging east-dipping
zone of high-grade massive-sulphide breccia mineralization trending to t he north-northwest.
Follow-up drilling as well as additional down-hole EM surveys along this massive-sulphide zone
remain ongoing. Results received to date are highlighted by:
• Drill hole CRN5 -06 that intersected 32.0 meters gra ding 1.81% copper including 13.0
meters grading 2.57% copper from 43.0 meters downhole;
• Drill hole CRN5 -12 that intersected 21.0 meters grading 1. 74% copper including 5.0
meters grading 3.93% copper from 146.0 meters downhole;
• Drill hole FSI-37 that intersected 29.7 meters grading 1.13% copper, including 3.0 meters
grading 5.25% copper from 261.9 meters downhole.
Commenting on the discovery, David Strang, President & CEO, stated , “ We are absolutely
delighted with the Siriema discovery. As the first target to be drilled following our targeting
exercise, Siriema validates our data-driven exploration methodology particularly as Siriema had
several historic holes that were drilled in the opposite orientation missing the main mineralized
trend. Our geology teams’ data-driven approach gives us confidence in our regional exploration
program as we continue to step- out away from our existing mining operations towards the more
than fifty regional target clusters identified to date during this work . The Siriema discovery
confirms that the Vermelhos mineralized system continues to extend , remains open to the South
and has significant expansion potential that will remain a key area of exploration for the Company
for the foreseeable future.
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
At Siriema specifically, with mineralization extending from surface and higher-grade intercepts
occurring at depth, we will continue to work on delineating the extent of mineralization , move
towards delineating a mineral resource and reserve for the project and follow -up on several
promising EM anomalies between Siriema and the Vermelhos Mine.”
There are currently two core drill rigs continuing to test the extent of mineralization at Siriema.
The results for both core and RC exploration drill holes drilled to date are shown in the following
tables. Please see Figures 1 and 2 for plan maps detailing collar locations and Figure 3 for a north-
south long-section of the Siriema discovery.
Siriema Core Drill Results
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FSI-28 205.4 207.6 2.2 2.38
FSI-29 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FSI-30 50.3 106.8 56.5 0.74
including 70.3 74.3 4.0 1.41
including 95.0 97.0 2.0 3.24
including 103.3 106.8 3.5 1.11
FSI-31 226.3 235.6 9.3 1.38
including 226.3 228.5 2.2 3.89
FSI-32 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FSI-33 216.9 228.5 11.6 0.85
including 226.3 228.5 2.9 1.50
FSI-34 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FSI-35 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FSI-36 152.8 160.9 8.0 1.42
including 153.8 156.8 3.0 2.30
and 164.9 187.7 22.8 0.34
FSI-37 195.2 199.9 4.8 1.07
and 244.9 249.6 4.7 1.18
and 261.9 291.6 29.7 1.13
including 261.9 264.9 3.0 5.25
FSI-38 NSI NSI NSI NSI
NSI indicates no significant intercept, based on cut -off grade of 0.18% copper for near-surface intervals and 0.68%
for intervals below 200 meters down hole . Drill holes were drilled from surface. The length of intercept may not
represent the true width of mineralization. Values may not add up due to rounding. From, to and mineralized intercepts
are rounded to the nearest tenth of a meter.
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
Siriema RC Drill Results
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
CRN5-01 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-02 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-03 77.0 109.0 32.0 0.93
including 77.0 96.0 19.0 1.25
CRN5-04 82.0 140.0 58.0 0.20
CRN5-05 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-06 43.0 75.0 32.0 1.81
including 56.0 69.0 13.0 2.57
CRN5-07 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-08 69.0 96.0 27.0 0.59
including 81.0 87.0 6.0 1.01
and 126.0 134.0 8.0 0.32
CRN5-09 73.0 97.0 24.0 0.50
including 92.0 97.0 5.0 0.94
and 121.0 147.0 26.0 1.14
including 137.0 143.0 6.0 1.62
CRN5-10 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-11 59.0 68.0 9.0 0.38
CRN5-12 146.0 167.0 21.0 1.74
including 152.0 157.0 5.0 3.93
CRN5-13 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-14 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-15 165.0 187.0 22.0 1.46
including 176.0 184.0 8.0 2.40
and 224.0 228.0 4.0 0.79
CRN5-16 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-17 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-18 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-19 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-20 NSI NSI NSI NSI
CRN5-21 189.0 199.0 10.0 0.34
CRN5-22 NSI NSI NSI NSI
NSI indicates no significant intercept, based on cut -off grade of 0.18% copper for near-surface intervals and 0.68%
for intervals below 200 meters down hole . Drill h oles were drilled from surface. The length of intercept may not
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
represent the true width of mineralization. Values may not add up due to rounding. From, to and mineralized intercepts
are based on RC drilling, which are composited every meter.
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
ABOUT ERO COPPER CORP
Ero Copper Corp, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., is focused on copper production growth from
the Vale do Curaçá Property, located in Bahia, Brazil. The Company’s primary asset is a 99. 6%
interest in the Brazilian copper mining company, Mineração Caraíba S.A. (“MCSA”), 100% owner
of the Vale do Curaçá Property with over 39 years of operating history in the region. The Company
currently mines copper ore from the Pilar underground mine, the R22W open pit mine and the
Vermelhos underground mine. In addition to the Vale do Curaçá Property, MCSA owns 100% of
the Boa Esperanҫa development project, an IOCG-type copper project located in Pará, Brazil and
the Company, directly and indirectly, owns 97.6% of the NX Gold Mine, an operating gold and
silver mine located in Mato Grosso, Brazil . Additional information on the Company and its
operations, including Technical Reports on the Vale do Curaçá , Boa Esperanҫa and NX Gold
properties, can be found on the Company’s website ( www.erocopper.com) and on SEDAR
(www.sedar.com).
QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL
Vale do Curaçá Property
The Company is currently drilling on surface and underground with core and RC drill rigs using a
combination of owned and third-party contracted drill rigs. Drill rigs at Siriema were operated by
Major Drilling, Mackay Drilling Inc., Layne Christensen Co., and DrillGeo Geologia e Sondagem
Ltda., all of whom are independent of the Company. Drill core is logged, photographed and split
in half using a diamond core sa w at MCSA’s secure core logging and storage facilities . Half of
the drill core is retained on site and the other half core is used for analysis, with samples collected
on one-meter sample intervals unless an interval crosses a geological contact. All core sample
preparation is performed in MCSA’s secure on-site laboratory. Total copper is determined using
a nitric-hydrochloric acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry (“AAS”) and/or titration.
Oxide copper values are determined using sulfuric acid digestion followed by AAS. All sample
results have been monitored through a QA/QC program that includes the insertion of certified
standards, blanks, and pulp and reject duplicate samples . Regular check-assays are submitted to
ALS Brasil Ltda’s facility located in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil, at a rate of approximately
5%. ALS Brasil Ltda is independent of the Company.
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
RC drill sampling occurs at the drill- site using a rig -mounted Metz ke Exploration Cyclone
containing a cone splitter that collects both primary and duplicate sample s for each one -meter
intervals. Each one-meter interval is sampled twice with each sample weighing approximately 4
kilograms. The cyclone is cleaned at the end of every six meter drill rod. Samples are collected,
bagged, weighed, and labeled on site prior to being sent to ALS Brasil Ltd a’s facility located in
Vespasiano, Minas Gerais , Brazil where they are dried, crushed and subjected to four acid
digestion. Assay values for 48 elements are determined using ICP -AES and ICP -MS. Platinum,
palladium and gold values are determined using fire -assay with ICP -AES. ALS Brasil Ltda is
independent of the Company
Rubens Mendonça, MAusIMM, Chartered Professional – Mining, has reviewed and approved the
scientific and technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Mendonça is a Qualified
Person and is independent of the Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
TSX: ERO
Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
ERO COPPER CORP.
Signed: “David Strang” For further information contact:
David Strang, President & CEO Makko DeFilippo, Vice President, Corporate Development
(604) 429-9244
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS This Press Release contains “forward -looking information” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes statements that use forward -looking terminology such as “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”,
“should”, “intend”, “target”, “plan”, “expect”, “budget”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “schedule”, “anticipate”, “believ e”, “continue”, “potential”, “view” or the negative or
grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements with
respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the significance of any particular exploration program or result and the Company’s expectations
for current and future exploration plans including, but not limited to, planned areas of additional exploration, expansion of mineralization near the Company’s existing
operations and throughout the Curaçá Valley including the Company’s plans to focus on, and the potential significance of EM plates, the significance of any zone of
massive sulphide mineralization or the extension of any portion of the Vermelhos Mine and District.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of
management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant
and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this Press Release including, without limitation, assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets;
the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the production, development and explorat ion of the Company’s properties and
assets; future prices of copper and other metal prices; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of any mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates; the geology of the Vale do Curaçá Property, NX Gold MIne and the Boa Esperanҫa Property being as described in the technical reports for these
properties; production costs; the accuracy of budgeted exploration and development costs and expenditures; the price of other commodities such as fuel; future
currency exchange rates and interest rates; operating conditions being favourable such that the Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner;
political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; obtaining required
renewals for existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; requirements under applicable laws; sustained labo ur stability; stability in financial and
capital goods markets; availability of equipment; positive relations with local groups and the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under its agreements with such
groups; and satisfying the terms and conditions of the Company’s current loan arrangements. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, the
assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and
other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-
looking information. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to
be correct.
Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans,
intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward -looking information. Such risks include, without limitation the risk factors listed under the head ing “Risk
Factors” in the Annual Information Form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018, dated March 14, 2019.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those described in forward -looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, conditions, results, performance or
achievements to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.
The Company cautions that the foregoing lists of important assumptions and factors are not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to
differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information contained herein. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-
looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
GENERAL Information of a scientific or technical nature in respect of the Vale do Curaçá Property included in thi s press release is based upon the Vale do Curaçá
technical report entitled “2018 Updated Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Statements of Mineração Caraíba’s Vale do Cura çá Mineral Assets, Curaçá Valley”,
dated October 17, 2018 with an effective date of August 1, 2018, prepared by Rubens Jose De Mendonça, MAusIMM, of Planminas and Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodrigues,
MAIG, Fábio Valério Cãmara Xavier, MAIG, and Bernardo Horta de Cerqueira Viana, MAIG, all of GE21 Consultoria Mineral, whom a re independent qualified persons
under NI 43-101.
Please see the relevant Technical Reports filed on the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com, for details regarding the data verification undertaken with respect to the
scientific and technical information included in this press release regarding the Vale do Curaçá Property.
Cautionary Notes Regarding Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates In accordance with applicable Canadian securities regulatory requirements, all mineral reserve
and mineral resource estimates of the Company disclosed or incorporated by reference in this press release have been pr epared in accordance with NI 43-101 and
are classified in accordance with the CIM Standards.
Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Pursuant to the CIM Standards, mineral resources have a higher
degree of uncertainty than mineral reserves as to their existence as well as their economic and legal feasibility. Inferred mineral resources, when compared with
Measured or Indicated mineral resources, have the least certainty as to their existence, and it cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred mineral resource
will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource as a result of continued exploration. Pursuant to NI 43-101, Inferred mineral resources may not form
the basis of any economic analysis. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be co nverted into a
mineral reserve, or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.
8973880m N
398121m E
Figure 1
Vermelhos System Plan View
395565m E
8968706m N
LEGEND
Siriema Exploration, 2019
Completed Development
Surface Projection of Current Mineral Reserve
Geophysical & Soil Geochemistry Anomalies
Ground Gravity
Inverted density anomaly above 0.06 gram / cubic centimeter
Copper above 90th percentile
Nickel above 90th percentile
Cobalt above 90th percentile
Chrome above 90th percentile
Special Note: Geophysical and soil geochemistry anomalies shown to demonstrate
future area of exploration within the Vermelhos District. The projection is based on
data compilation work which includes review of geological controls, structural
analysis and copper mineralization identified during the Company’ s technical
programs. The interpretation and boundary limits do not imply continuity of
mineralization, or actual thickness of mineralization that has yet to be defined. For
additional scientific information related to the Vermelhos Mine, please refer to the
Company’ s Vale do Curaçá Property Technical Report dated October 17, 2018.
Vermelhos East Zone Interpretation
Interpreted Vermelhos System Trend
Vermelhos Main Orebodies
Current Mineral Reserve
Outline
N8 Deposit
Current Mineral Reserve Outline
Siriema Discovery
Vermelhos North