The El Pilar project is 100% owned by Falconbridge's Mexican subsidiary and has been the subject of periodic exploration programs since its discovery in 1999 when conglomerate hosted copper oxide mineralization was first discovered. A drill program in 2000–2001 identified an inferred resource of 210 million tonnes of 0.34% total copper over a 2 kilometre length. Copper oxide and copper wad mineralization that had undergone both clastic and hydromorphic transportation is hosted by a distinct conglomerate horizon containing porphyry and intrusive clasts. A further drill program in 2004 targeted other anomalies on the claim group and one of the holes identified additional mineralization along trend indicating that the resource could be significantly expanded with additional drilling. Preliminary metallurgical work was completed in 2004 and the project is undergoing a preliminary economic evaluation.

For more information, please contact exploration@falconbridge.com.