Los Andes Announces Final Results of 2017 Drill Program at the Vizcachitas Deposit

Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV:LA) i is very pleased to announce the results of drill holes V2017-08, V2017-09B, V2017-10 and V2017-11. Following the results already published for the 2017 campaign, these results provide support to the extension to the north of the current central core, with some of the highest grade intersections in the deposit being encountered in V2017-10, the northernmost hole of this campaign. Results also provide further support to the continuity of higher grade mineralization near surface in the project’s central core, over an area of 350 metres north-south by 400 metres east-west.
The key results from these holes are:
V2017-09B:

• 77.6 m @ 0.52 % Cu, 153 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag (0.57 % CuEq) from 64.4 m downholeIncluding:
  22.0 m @ 0.60 % Cu, 248 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag (0.68 % CuEq) from 108.0 m downhole

V2017-10:

• 506.0 m @ 0.57 % Cu, 357 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag (0.67 % CuEq) from 486.0 m downholeIncluding:
  76.0 m @ 0.69 % Cu, 522 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (0.84 % CuEq) from 514.0 m downhole
  Including within, 30.0 m@ 0.95 % Cu, 337 ppm Mo and 1.6 g/t Ag (1.05 % CuEq) from 558.0 m downhole
  88.0 m @ 0.70 % Cu, 278 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag (0.78 % CuEq) from 684.0 m downhole
  60.0 m @ 0.73 % Cu, 341 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (0.83 % CuEq) from 924.0 m downhole
  Including within, 22.0 m@ 0.94 % Cu, 392 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (1.05 % CuEq) from 924.0 m downhole

Cautionary Statement: All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Background
Historical drilling was carried out on the Vizcachitas project in three exploration campaigns during 1993, 1996/1997 and 2007/2008. However, the higher grade central core had only been drilled in the 1990’s campaigns and with generally shallower drill holes, therefore not properly reflecting the potential of this core area.
During 2014, a complete review of the historical information was performed to better understand the project, including re-logging all of the 146 drill holes located within the property. The re-logging was led by Gonzalo Saldias, a Chilean geologist and one of the most recognized experts in Chilean porphyry systems. This detailed review showed that the historical logging and geological model had not properly identified the importance of the higher grade early diorite porphyry and hydrothermal breccias. The re-logging showed that these higher grade geological units extend over a distance of 1,400 metres north-south and 700 metres east-west. The mapping showed that these breccias have grades increasing with depth and demonstrates the potential for higher grades below the historical drilling.
In 2015, Los Andes began a drill program to confirm a new geological model and to demonstrate the extent of the central core mineralisation. A first stage of this exploration campaign was completed in 2015/2016, with eight diamond drill holes totaling 3,661 metres. During 2017, Los Andes has carried out a second stage of this campaign with the purpose of demonstrating the northern and southern extension of the high grade core.
Location of Drill Holes:

 
All coordinates are in UTM WGS84
A drill hole location plan is available on our website: www.losandescopper.com
Summary of Drill Holes
Drill Hole V2017-08
V2017-08 was drilled in a northerly direction from the same platform as V2017‑05. The aim of the drill hole was to test the covered area between the two outcropping un-mineralised diatreme breccias. The hole was speculative in that there are no nearby drill holes and no outcrop. If the drill hole showed that there was mineralised material between these two outcrops, this would have opened up a large area to the west. In the end, the hole encountered only diatreme indicating that the two outcrops are connected at depth.
Drill Hole V2017-09B
V2017-09B was drilled in a south-east direction from the same platform as the drill hole V2015-02. The hole was designed to test the southern extension of the mineralisation identified in drill holes V2015-03 and V2015-05. The top of bedrock was at a depth of 64.4 metres, where a sequence of andesites and hornfels continued to a depth of 570.9 metres. The drill hole then entered a tonalite until the end of the hole at a depth of 804.2 metres. From the top of bedrock, at a depth of 64.4 metres, the drill hole intersected 77.6 m @ 0.52 % Cu, 153 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag (0.57 % CuEq). This intersection demonstrates the southern continuity of the good supergene mineralisation identified in the drill holes to the north and further extends it to the south.
Key intersections from drill hole V2017-09B:

 
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (%), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz (same reference prices as in reporting of 2015/2016 results). All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2017–10
V2017-10 was drilled in a north-east direction to check the northern extension of the mineralisation that had been identified in the drill hole V2017-05. The top of bedrock was intersected at a depth of 50.5 metres. The drill hole cut a sequence of fine and medium grained diorites and occasional hydrothermal breccias to a depth of 486 metres. From a depth of 486 metres, the drill hole entered a long sequence of hydrothermal breccias, with 506 m @ 0.57 % Cu, 357 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag (0.67 % CuEq). Within this run there some higher grade sections with 30 m @ 0.95 % Cu, 337 ppm Mo and 1.6 g/t Ag (1.05 % CuEq) from 558 metre downhole and also 88 m @ 0.70 % Cu, 278 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag (0.78 % CuEq) from 684 metre downhole.
The grades improve with depth as the chalcopyrite-pyrite ratio increases and, from a depth of 920 metres, bornite was identified in drill hole with up to 20 percent of the sulphides being bornite. This mineralisation shows the potential for the grade to increase with depth.
This good mineralisation is open to the north. This drill hole and V2017-05 have transformed the northern part of the project, with high grade mineralisation within the hydrothermal breccias and the early diorite porphyry. In the 2014 PEA, this area was classified as waste.
Key intersections from drill hole V2017-10:

 
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (%), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz (same reference prices as in reporting of 2015/2016 results). All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2017–11
V2017-11 was drilled 150 metres to the south of V2017-10, to find the southern extension of the mineralisation identified in drill holes: V2017-05 and V2017-10. This hole was also intended to check the northern extensions of the mineralisation identified in V2015-01 and V2015-08. The top of bedrock was intersected at a depth of 86 metres in a fine grained diorite which continued to a depth of 632 metres. Within this run there some higher grade sections with 26 m @ 0.55 % Cu, 253 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag (0.63 % CuEq) from 488.0 metre downhole. From a depth of 600 metres, bornite mineralisation was identified with up to 10 percent of the sulphides being bornite. The bornite mineralisation, like in drill hole V2017-10, demonstrates the potential for increasing grades with depth. From a depth of 632 metres, the drill hole entered a post mineral dacite dyke and diatreme.
Key intersections from drill hole V2017-11:

 
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (%), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz (same reference prices as in reporting of 2015/2016 results). All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
QA/QC
Quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of duplicate and standard samples in to the sample stream. Drill core samples were sawn in half, labelled, placed in sealed bags and were shipped directly to the preparatory laboratory of ALS Minerals in Coquimbo, Chile. All geochemical analyses were performed by ALS Minerals in Lima Peru. All samples were assayed using the method ME-MS61, a four-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Copper samples with grades above 0.6 % Cu were reanalysed using ALS method Cu-OG62, a four-acid digestion with an AAS finish.
Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is the Qualified Person responsible for the preparation of this news release.
Team Credentials
Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is a geologist who is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines, London, has an MSc. from University College and is also a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London. He has close to 30 years of diverse experience having worked in Asia, Africa and South America for both multinational and junior companies. He began his career in 1986 working with Anglo American in South Africa before moving on to an exploration position with Severin-Southern Sphere. In 1990 Mr. Amberg moved to Chile where he first worked with Bema Gold on the Refugio project before taking up a position with Rio Tinto. At Rio Tinto he was involved in exploration programs in the Atacama and Magallanes Regions and managed the Barreal Seco (now part of Las Cenizas) exploration program. In 1996 he joined Kazakhstan Minerals Corporation in Kazakhstan, setting up and managing offices for the drilling and resource estimation for JORC compliant feasibility studies on three large projects that are now operating mines. He became General Director for two joint ventures in KazMinCo where he managed all technical and local issues. In 2001 he returned to Chile where he started a geological consulting firm specialising in project evaluation and NI 43-101 technical reports. Mr. Amberg’s clients included Rio Tinto, Barrick, Codelco, Anglo American, Pan Pacific Copper and various junior mining companies. He joined Los Andes Copper in 2012 as Chief Geologist and is now also the President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
Gonzalo Saldias is a geologist who is a graduate of Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. He has over 35 years of experience working within Chile and internationally; mainly on copper porphyry, epithermal gold silver and iron-oxide copper gold systems. For the last seven years, he worked for Antofagasta Minerals evaluating copper porphyry projects within Chile, assessing their geological and economical potential. Prior to that he had worked for ten years with Placer Dome Latin America, generating and evaluating exploration projects within the region. Prior to Placer Dome, he worked for Codelco as head of exploration geology for the El Salvador Division, developing the prospective areas near to the mine. He also worked for Northern Resources, Homestake, Utah, Anaconda and as an independent consultant.
For more information please contact:
Antony J. Amberg, President & CEO
Tel: +56 2 2954-0450
Aurora Davidson, CFO
Tel: 604-697-6207
E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com
Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) (“Forward-Looking Information”). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect” and “intend”; statements that an event or result is “due” on or “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, or might” occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information; including, without limitation, the achievement and maintenance of planned production rates, the evolving legal and political policies of Chile, the volatility in the Chilean economy, military unrest or terrorist actions, metal and energy price fluctuations, favourable governmental relations, the availability of financing for activities when required and on acceptable terms, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, current and future environmental and regulatory requirements, the availability and timely receipt of permits, approvals and licenses, industrial or environmental accidents, equipment breakdowns, availability of and competition for future acquisition opportunities, availability and cost of insurance, labour disputes, land claims, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s financial statements. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company’s assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy, and the Company’s production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company’s future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parametres as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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