Following a very detailed process, Miramont Resources (CSE: MONT) finally received a drilling permit for its Cerro Hermoso project in southern Peru.
The permit was granted after a series of assessments conducted by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines -known as MEM- to determine if Indigenous groups could be affected by the Canadian miner's activities.
"We are very happy to begin our drill program at this exciting prospect. Our geologists have worked long and hard to advance this project and surface exploration continues to yield more and more evidence of widespread mineralization. It's now time to test it with the drill rig," Bill Pincus, Miramont'sPresident and CEO, said in a media statement. "Miramont also knows that working with the local community is vital. Our team makes a substantial effort in this area and is fortunate to have a positive working relationship with all local parties. We are glad to have their support and will work hard to maintain it."
Had the MEM's assessments found that communities would be affected, it will have asked the company to conduct a process known as consulta previa, which stands for previous consultation and whose purpose is to ensure that the community has been fully informed of the pending exploration activities and that they willfully agree to allow them on their traditional territories.
Cerro Hermoso is located in the southern Puno region, 60 kilometres from the city of Juliaca and 5 kilometres northwest from the supply town of Santa Luc?-a. Historic mining at the site yielded approximately 750,000 tonnes at an average grade of 15 oz/t, Ag, 1% Cu, 2% Zn, 2% Pb and 1.0 g/t Au.
It is a large diatreme-hosted system with various styles of copper, gold and silver mineralization found in a four square kilometer area. Through a combination of geologic mapping, geochemical sampling, and geophysical prospecting, Miramont identified three priority targets, which it plans on drilling in early 2019.