Astra Exploration’s Chilean subsidiary has received EIA approval for the Pampa Paciencia project in northern Chile.

Pampa Paciencia is an LSE gold-silver project located less than 15km from the operational Sierra Gorda and Spence mines and approximately 5km from the Faride LSE mine.

Astra conducted extensive exploration activities, including drilling, mapping, sampling, geophysical surveys, and trenching at the site.

These efforts have led to the confirmation of a substantial gold-silver epithermal vein system and the identification of a vein boulder field covering around 75% of the project area.

The EIA permitting process commenced following two successful drill programmes in 2022, which uncovered three high-grade gold shoots from roughly 7,000m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling across 45 holes.

Notable assay results included 14.48 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold and 39.7g/t of silver over three metres, and 3g/t of gold with 121g/t of silver over nine metres.

Previously, the company was constrained to a maximum of 39 drilling platforms, utilised in a limited portion of the project area, representing less than 10%.

The newly granted permit allows for the construction of up to 330 new drill platforms and the execution of comprehensive geophysical surveys.

Astra Exploration CEO Brian Miller said: “Securing the approved EIA is an important milestone for Astra, which allows us to extensively explore the gold-silver epithermal system and focus on expanding its size.

“Importantly, Astra is readily able to conduct geophysical surveys and drilling operations on the entirety of the Paciencia District claim group, which hosts several kilometres of untested epithermal vein targets and a large porphyry copper target.

“The permitting process went as expected and concluded on schedule, and we are excited to proceed with further geophysics and drilling as soon as possible.”