VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 12,
2025 /CNW/ - Libero
Copper & Gold Corporation (TSXV: LBC) (OTCQB: LBCMF)
(FRA: 29H) ("Libero
Copper" or the "Company") is pleased
to announce the completion of the Montclar Bridge, a pivotal
infrastructure milestone at the Mocoa porphyry copper molybdenum
project in Putumayo, Colombia.
Fully permitted prior to construction, the Montclar Bridge now
serves as the final link in an access corridor that begins at
Montclar and extends 2,100 metres to the deposit area—a corridor
that was fully rehabilitated during mobilization at the end of
2024.
Highlights
- Cost-Reducing Infrastructure Achievement: The fully
permitted Montclar Bridge marks a critical milestone by providing
safe, efficient ground access to the deposit area—eliminating
costly helicopter support and enhancing overall operational
efficiency.
- Strategic Community Partnership: Co–designed with the
local Montclar community—the last community at the start of the
access corridor before the uninhabited deposit area—the bridge was
built to address shared economic development needs. It exemplifies
a collaborative effort that delivers mutual value, enhancing local
connectivity and project efficiency.
- Foundation for Expanded Exploration: By streamlining the
transport of drills and supplies, this access supports accelerating
the 14,000–metre drilling campaign and sets the stage for further
exploration expansion.
"I'm proud to announce the completion of the Montclar
Bridge—a milestone achieved through close collaboration with the
Montclar community and a key element of our Mocoa exploration and
development strategy," said Ian
Harris, President and CEO of Libero
Copper. "This new access not only supports the community's
economic development and enhances our operational efficiency, but
it also paves the way for expanded ground–based exploration. Our
strong partnership with Montclar has been essential to reaching
this milestone, and it positions us well for the next phase of our
drilling program."
New Montclar Walking Bridge
The design, planning, and construction of the new Montclar
walking bridge were executed under the Mutual Benefit Agreement
signed between Libero and the local Montclar community (see news
release November 29, 2022) . Spanning
approximately 60 metres in length and 2.5 metres in width, the
bridge provides a safe crossing over the Mocoa River for community
members and ensures uninterrupted support for project operations
(Figure 1). An efficient permitting process by regional agencies
facilitated its timely realization, reflecting a strong local
commitment to sustainable resource development in Putumayo.
This jointly planned bridge not only supports the economic
development of the Montclar community—the last settlement at the
start of the access corridor—but also enhances safety for personnel
and equipment. Moreover, by enabling efficient, ground–based
transport of drills and supplies (Figures 2 and 3), it eliminates
the need for costly helicopter support. The construction of the
walking bridge exemplifies the core principles of the Mutual
Benefit Agreement, ensuring both community development and overall
project success.
About the Mocoa Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum
Deposit
The Mocoa deposit is located in the department of Putumayo, 10
kilometres from the town of Mocoa. Libero
Copper's district scale holdings cover over 1,000
km2 through titles and applications, encompassing most
of the Jurassic porphyry belt in southern Colombia. Mocoa was discovered in 1973 when
the United Nations and the Colombian government conducted a
regional stream sediment geochemical survey. Between 1978 and 1983,
an exploration program was carried out that consisted of geological
mapping, surface sampling, ground geophysics (IP, magnetics), 31
diamond drill holes totaling 18,321 metres and metallurgical test
work B2Gold subsequently executed diamond drill programs in 2008
and 2012.
The Mocoa deposit appears to be open in both directions along
strike and at depth. Current work on the property has identified
additional porphyry targets including the possible expansion of
known mineralization. The Mocoa deposit is situated in the Central
Cordillera of Colombia, a
30-kilometre-wide tectonic belt underlain by volcano-sedimentary,
sedimentary and intrusive rocks that range in age from
Triassic-Jurassic to Quaternary and by remnants of Paleozoic
metasediments and metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age. This belt
hosts several other porphyry-copper deposits in Ecuador, such as Mirador, San Carlos, Panantza
and Solaris' Warintza. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is
associated with dacite porphyry intrusions of the Middle Jurassic
age that are emplaced into andesitic and dacitic volcanics. The
Mocoa porphyry system exhibits a classical zonal pattern of
hydrothermal alteration and mineralization, with a deeper central
core of potassic alteration overlain by sericitization and
surrounded by propylitization. Mineralization consists of
disseminated chalcopyrite, molybdenite and local bornite and
chalcocite associated with multiphase veins, stockwork and
hydrothermal breccias. The Mocoa deposit is roughly cylindrical,
with a 600-metre diameter. High-grade copper-molybdenum
mineralization continues to depths in excess of 1,000 metres.
1 For further information refer to
National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects ("NI 43-101") Technical Report, entitled "Technical Report
on the Mocoa Copper-Molybdenum Project, Colombia", dated January 17, 2022, prepared by Michael Rowland
Brepsant, FAusIMM, Robert Sim,
P.Geo, and Bruce Davis, FAusIMM.
with an effective date of November 01,
2021.
About Libero Copper
Libero Copper is led by a team
with rare experience—having advanced projects from post-resource
discovery to the path of construction, including some of the few
large copper projects built in the last 20 years. This real-world
expertise drives Libero Copper's
focus on relationships, responsibility, trust, and a relentless
commitment to sustainable progress.
At the core of Libero Copper's portfolio is the Mocoa
copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit in Putumayo, Colombia—a
cornerstone asset where the Company is actively drilling. In a
market increasingly hungry for new copper supply, Libero is focused
on systematically expanding and de-risking Mocoa's resource
base.
Now, with the Fiore Group's bold company-building vision
behind it, Libero Copper is uniquely
positioned to fill a crucial gap in the copper industry—advancing
large-scale projects toward construction. Through this approach,
Libero Copper is committed to
creating lasting value for all stakeholders while positioning
itself at the forefront of meeting the growing global demand for
copper—the metal driving progress in the modern economy.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
This news release includes forward-looking statements that
are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within,
other than statements of historical fact, including statements
regarding the actual rock sample results will lead to significant
mineralization, anticipated drilling and expected results, the
resulting other activities and achievements of the Company,
including but are not limited to: the timing and success for the
advancement of the Mocoa Project, are to be considered forward
looking. Although Libero Copper
believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements include market
prices and volatility with the Company's common shares,
exploitation and exploration successes, uncertainty of reserve and
resource estimates, risks of not achieving production, continued
availability of capital and financing, processes, permits and
filing requirements, risks related to operations in foreign and
developing countries and compliance with foreign laws and including
risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies
related to mining and local ownership requirements in Colombia, and general economic, market,
political or business conditions and regulatory and administrative
approvals. There can be no assurances that such statements will
prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their
own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Libero Copper & Gold
Corporation
