VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 19,
2025 /CNW/ - Libero
Copper & Gold Corporation (TSXV: LBC) (OTCQB: LBCMF)
(FRA: 29H) ("Libero
Copper" or the "Company") is pleased
to announce the appointment of Mr. Frank
Balint as Strategic Advisor, a role in which he will be
actively engaged in guiding the Company's ongoing exploration and
growth at its flagship Mocoa copper-molybdenum project in
Colombia.
Mr. Balint is a highly respected mining executive and
Professional Geologist (P.Geo) with over 40 years of industry
experience—most notably at Inmet Mining Corporation, where he
served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Vice
President of Exploration. Under his leadership, Inmet's market
capitalization grew from under $200
million to over $5 billion,
culminating in its acquisition by First Quantum Minerals. He was
instrumental in advancing Cobre Panama, one of the world's largest
porphyry copper deposits, and contributed to multiple exploration
initiatives and M&A transactions globally.
Beyond Inmet, Mr. Balint has held directorships at Wolfden
Resources (TSX, sold to Zinifex for CAD $363
million), GoldQuest Mining Corp., and Doré Copper Mining
Corp. He holds a P.Geo (Retired) designation in Ontario and earned an HBSc in Geology from
Lakehead University.
"Frank's proven track record—from discovery and financing to
readying world-class porphyry mines for construction—makes him the
ideal strategic advisor as we advance our flagship Mocoa
copper-molybdenum project in Colombia," said Ian
Harris, President & CEO of Libero Copper. "His geological perspective
complements the strong technical expertise we already have, and
he'll be actively involved on the ground—helping interpret new data
and guide the design of upcoming drill holes."
Accelerating Mocoa's Growth
In his new role, Mr. Balint will work closely with Libero's
geology and technical teams to review and rank newly identified
porphyry centers, advising on how best to refine each target for
future drilling. He will also provide critical input on hole
planning for the ongoing 14,000-meter program, aiming to maximize
resource expansion and explore potential extensions of the known
deposit. By guiding the refinement of geological models and
interpreting new data, he will offer fresh perspectives on managing
geological complexities while enhancing Mocoa's long-term
potential.
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 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
