Ero Copper intercepts 39.8 meters grading 5.57% Cu including 21.9 meters grading 9.43% Cu in step-out drilling at the Vermelhos Mine
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Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
JUNE 6, 2018 NR:18-7
Ero Copper intercepts 39.8 meters grading 5.57% Cu including 21.9 meters grading 9.43% Cu
in step-out drilling at the Vermelhos Mine
Vancouver, British Columbia – Ero Copper Corp. (the “Company”) (TSX: ERO) is pleased to
provide a quarterly update on the ongoing exploration and resource definition drilling programs at
its Pilar, Vermelhos and Surubim mineral districts, all part of its 9 9.6% owned Vale de Curaçá
Property located in Bahia State, Brazil. Significant new drilling results are highlighted below:
• At the Vermelhos mine, h ole FVS -212 intersected 39.8 meters grading 5.57% copper
including 21.9 meters grading 9.43% copper . This hole is the first to test the south
extensions of the main Vermelhos deposit and was drilled approximately 25 meters south
of the main Vermelhos ore bodies. The newly identified extension remains open to the
south.
• At the Pilar mine, holes FC4884 intersected 18.0 meters grading 6.28% copper and FC4986
intersected 6.9 meters grading 5.82% copper and 15.4 meters grading 3.71% copper. These
two holes are the deepest intercepts yet of copper mineralization and were drilled
approximately 235 meters below the extent of all previously known mineralization. They
represent down-dip extensions of copper mineralization on the East Limb of the Pilar Mine
with the zone remaining open along strike and at depth.
Other notable drilling highlights include:
• Hole FC5331 that intersected 4 4.7 meters grading 1.56% copper including 19.4 meters
grading 2.24% copper (part of the Pilar North Extension - R22 Underground program);
• Hole CRN7-64 that intersected 11.0 meters grading 7.70% oxide copper ( 12.06% copper
total) (part of the Vermelhos oxide program).
This update encompasses results received for the various exploration drill programs from February
through to the end of April 2018. While drilling and assaying remains ongoing, data collection for
the Company’s mid- year National Instrument 43 -101 (“NI 43- 101”) update, expected to be
released during the third quarter of 2018, has been cut-off as at the end of May.
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Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
PILAR DISTRICT
The Pilar District encompasses the area surrounding the Pilar underground mine, Caraíba mi ll
complex and the past producing open pit Pilar and R22 mines. S even drill rigs are currently
operating within the district.
During the period, down-dip continuity of the East Limb was tested below the previous extent of
all known mineralization at the Pilar Mine. Through the end of the period, complete results ha d
been received for two drill holes (FC4884 and FC4986 – results highlighted earlier in this news
release and detailed in the table below). Mineralization has now been identified on the East Limb
of the Pilar Mine to level -1200, approximately 1,650 meters below surface, and 235 meters below
the previously known extent of mineralization. Copper mineralization at the Pilar Mine’s East
Limb has now been mined, delineated or identified over a vert ical extent of 1,650 meters. Th e
newly identified zone on the East Limb remains open along strike and to depth.
Other drilling activities in the district during the period focused on infill and step-out drilling of
the previously announced Deepening Extension (where 4 underground core rigs are operating) and
North Extension zone (where one surface drill rig is operating). The remaining rigs are evaluating
the extent of the newly discovered W est Limb (see the Company’s press release dated May 17,
2018 for the announcement of the West Limb discovery).
The Deepening Extension program has been targeting a zone of mineralization on the East Limb
between level -750 and level -900 approximately 1,200 meters to 1,350 meters below surface and
approximately 100 meters laterally from the current level of the primary ramp (completed to level
-850). During the period from February through April 2018, assays were receiv ed for 22 holes
comprising 6,887 meters drilled. To date, the program focused on upgrading known resources and
newly identified mineralization between sections 40 and 49 (approximately 400 meters in
combined strike length). The most continuous and highest-grade copper mineralization has been
delineated over a north-south strike length of approximately 180 meters between sections 45 and
49. The results of the East Limb Deepening Extension program s, including the aforementioned
discovery holes drilled to depth, are shown in the following table. Please see Figures 1a, 1b and 2
for collar locations and a cross section of the Pilar East Limb showing the new discovery at depth.
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FC42218 46.6 54.3 7.7 0.73
FC42220 40.9 46.4 5.5 0.85
and 134.1 151.2 17.1 0.66
FC42221 72.4 75.9 3.5 1.03
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Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FC42222 219.2 240.6 21.4 1.82
including 225.0 234.5 9.5 2.24
FC42223 280.7 311.7 31.0 1.04
including 280.7 277.4 5.0 3.50
FC42224 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FC42225 202.5 212.6 10.1 2.06
and 280.7 295.3 14.6 1.12
FC42226 138.2 144.7 6.5 1.33
FC44182 166.3 175.8 9.5 3.52
FC44183 202.3 207.0 4.7 0.64
FC44184 250.7 255.5 4.8 2.02
FC44185 146.2 166.2 20.0 2.00
FC44186 232.6 243.8 11.2 0.84
FC44187 149.0 172.7 23.7 1.52
including 155.7 166.5 10.8 2.02
FC44189 188.0 196.2 8.2 0.83
FC44196 129.2 154.9 25.7 2.85
including 129.2 145.5 16.4 3.48
FC4883 291.4 304.9 13.6 1.89
including 291.4 295.4 4.0 3.72
FC4884 385.4 403.4 18.0 6.28
FC4984 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FC4986 514.2 521.8 6.9 5.82
and 531.1 546.5 15.4 3.71
FC5133 242.8 246.0 3.2 2.77
FC5135 278.0 284.4 6.4 2.85
The drill holes were drilled from the -674, -709 and -722 levels. 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. NSI: no significant intercept.
All North Extension drilling during the period focused on the previously announced mineralization
beneath the past producing R22 open pit mine (“R22 Underground” ) located approximately 100
meters west of the current m ineral reserves and scheduled mining area of P1P2NE , and
approximately 250 meters from the main ramp. Please refer to the Company’s press release dated
February 22, 2018 for the announcement of this discovery.
The zone occurs at approximately 300 meters depth below surface, strikes approximately 225
meters in a north-south direction and remains open both up- dip and to depth. As was detailed in
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the announcement, the discovery’s proximity to the P1P2NE mineral reserves, already included in
the Company’s mine plan, is potentially significant as material from the new discovery may
increase the total amount of production forecast to be mined from the shallow underground portion
of the Pilar Mine. Work remains ongoing to test potential continuity of P1P2W, P1P2NE , the
North Extension, the East Limb and the recently announced West Limb discovery.
During the period from February through April 2018, assays were received for 12 holes comprising
4,883 meters drilled. These holes were drilled from surface into the R22 Underground target and
serve to further delineate the continuity of copper mineralization within the North Extension zone.
The results are shown in the following table (see Figure 3 for drill collar locations):
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FC4981 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FC4982 429.2 447.5 18.3 1.41
FC4983 313.0 330.4 17.3 1.36
including 320.4 330.4 10.0 1.94
FC5026 383.2 421.7 38.5 0.69
including 383.2 389.9 6.7 1.95
FC5031 377.5 383.5 6.0 1.13
and 410.5 426.6 16.1 1.15
including 416.5 426.6 10.1 1.66
FC5132 334.5 358.9 24.4 0.84
including 348.8 358.9 10.7 1.01
FC5134 347.3 362.5 15.2 1.81
FC5331 283.7 328.4 44.7 1.56
including 300.8 320.2 19.4 2.24
FC5332 290.4 293.8 3.4 1.08
FC5333 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FC5407 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FC5408 240.4 244.6 4.2 1.10
The 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. NSI: no significant intercept.
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Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
Exploration drilling at the Pilar Mine is being transitioned to focus on infill, extensio n and twin-
hole drilling of the recently announced West Limb discovery, including to depth and the newly
discovered extensions to depth of the Deepening Extension zone.
VERMELHOS DISTRICT
The Vermelhos District is located approximately 80 kilometers to the north of the Caraíba mill
complex and includes the high-grade Vermelhos copper mine currently under construction. Four
surface core drill rigs, as well as one reverse circulation “RC” rig , are currently operating in the
district.
From February through April 2018, 11 step- out holes were drilled to test both northern and
southern extensions to the main Vermelhos ore bodies. To the south, two drill holes were drilled
25 and 50 meters from the ore bodies during the period. Complete assay results were received for
the first hole, FVS212, drilled approximately 25 meters to the south, that intersected 39.8 meters
grading 5.57% copper including 21.9 meters grading 9.43% copper. Assay results for the second
hole are pending. Mineralization remains open to the south. To the north, 6 holes were drilled 10,
25 and 75 meters north- northwest of the main ore bodies. As at the end of the period, complete
assay data was pending for these holes.
The majority of drilling at Vermelhos during the period remained focused on upgrading mineral
resources and definition drilling for mine planning. F rom February through April 2018, assays
were received for 27 drill holes comprising 6,952 meters of drilling in and around the main
Vermelhos deposit. The results of these assays are shown in the table below (see Figure 4 for drill
collar locations):
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FVS-183 152.8 163.5 10.7 1.03
FVS-184 63.6 68.6 5.0 1.51
FVS-185 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-186 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-192 161.5 171.0 9.5 6.50
FVS-194 182.1 186.1 4.0 1.07
and 222.1 227.7 5.6 1.29
FVS-196 139.2 146.6 7.5 0.61
FVS-201 215.0 234.3 19.3 7.45
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Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%)
FVS-202 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-203 231.1 247.0 15.9 9.89
FVS-204 177.7 206.2 28.5 8.36
FVS-205 182.6 193.8 11.2 5.33
and 205.9 226.4 20.5 10.14
and 237.4 246.9 9.5 4.06
FVS-206 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-207 148.9 153.2 4.3 2.23
and 157.7 164.6 6.9 3.09
and 183.0 186.4 3.3 2.57
FVS-208 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-209 129.6 139.6 10.0 1.19
FVS-210 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-211 215.8 243.8 28.0 7.21
FVS-212 134.8 174.5 39.8 5.57
including 135.8 156.7 21.9 9.43
FVS-213 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-217 54.5 79.5 25.0 0.86
and 69.5 79.5 10.0 1.09
FVS-218 NSI NSI NSI NSI
FVS-220 80.5 94.9 14.4 1.67
FVS-222 68.1 71.9 3.8 1.38
FVS-225 65.3 74.3 9.0 1.29
FVS-226 84.0 104.0 20.0 2.06
including 88.7 98.7 10.0 3.11
FVS-227 NSI NSI NSI NSI
The 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. NSI: no significant intercept. Listed holes include infill program with available assay results. Holes not
included are either pending assay results or are not part of the Vermelhos infill program.
In addition, at the Vermelhos Mine, in-ore stope development within the UG1 mining area has
resulted in the Company building a coarse ore stockpile on surface. To date, approximately 9,802
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Ero Copper Corp
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tonnes of material grading 4.37% copper ha s been mined and stockpiled on surface as a result of
gallery development within the UG1 mining area.
The 15,000 meter copper oxide program at Vermelhos is designed to drill a 25 meter by 25 meter
grid pattern from surface to a depth of approximately 40 meters along an open northeast trending
zone, approximately 100 meters to 200 meters wide, of anomalous copper in soil samples located
to the immediate north -northeast of the mine portal. During the period from February through
April 2018, 138 holes have been drilled totaling 4,446 meters of drilling. T o date, drilling has
identified two distinct zones of oxide mineralization. Additional drilling will focus on the north-
eastern most zone which remains open. During the period, c omplete results from 13 additional
holes (in addition to the 17 holes previously announced) returned assay results grading above
0.20% copper oxide. The results from the 13 holes are shown in the table below (see Figure 5 for
drill collar locations):
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu Oxide (%) Cu Total (%)
CRN7-56 1.0 8.0 7.0 0.83 0.86
CRN7-57 9.0 12.0 3.0 3.50 4.19
CRN7-64 0.0 10.0 11.0 7.70 12.06
CRN7-65 5.0 11.0 6.0 1.50 1.62
CRN7-73 12.0 16.0 4.0 0.55 0.66
CRN7-79 19.0 23.0 4.0 1.78 2.77
CRN7-87 6.0 27.0 21.0 2.17 2.78
CRN7-90 17.0 20.0 3.0 0.63 0.63
CRN7-96 7.0 28.0 21.0 0.48 0.52
including 24.0 28.0 4.0 1.45 1.58
CRN8-06 18.0 26.0 8.0 0.63 0.94
CRN8-08 24.0 30.0 6.0 1.00 1.29
CRN8-11 22.0 25.0 3.0 0.74 0.84
CRN8-13 18.0 23.0 5.0 0.59 0.59
The 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. Listed holes include Vermelhos oxide program with assay results above 0.20% copper oxide.
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Ero Copper Corp
625 Howe Street | Suite 1050 | Vancouver | BC | V6C 2T6 | Canada
SURUBIM DISTRICT
The Surubim District is located approximately 40 kilometers to the north of the Caraíba mill
complex and comprises the Surubim open pit mine and past producing Angi cos open pit mine.
Five surface drill rigs are operating within the Surubim District.
One drill rig is currently focused on extension drilling at the Surubim mine as part of a mine
planning program to evaluate extensions to zones of mineralization currently being mined. The
remaining drill rigs are currently evaluating new exploration targets adjacent to the Surubim Mine.
REGIONAL EXPLORATION
The Company has commenced its airborne electromagnetic and gravity geophysical survey of the
Curaçá Valley targeting high-grade mineralization. To date, approximately 7% of the survey has
been flown. Data processing and target identification commenced with the start of the program.