Rugby Resources Ltd. announced that work has commenced at the Mantau iron oxide-copper-gold project in the Metallogenic - Coastal Belt near Antofagasta, northern Chile. This prolific ?Mineral Belt? has a long history of mining and hosts sizable copper deposits linked both genetically and spatially to the Atacama Fault System.

Manto-type copper-silver, porphyry copper and IOCG deposits are present in the district with Mantos Blancos and Antucoya being the closest large-scale active mines. Rugby?s local Chilean geologist recently conducted a site visit to facilitate planning for a drone magnetic survey. A detailed rock sampling program will follow the drone survey to assess existing copper and gold targets identified by earlier reconnaissance programs. Systematic geochemical soil sampling is planned while access routes to existing high-priority drilling targets will be finalized.

Rugby?s Mantau project covers 4,500 hectares. It is located 70 km northeast of the regional capital Antofagasta and 40 km due north of the Mantos Blancos mine. The topography is undulating to moderately steep with elevations rising from 1,200 metres to a maximum of 1,680 m. Mantau is very accessible via both sealed and good-quality gravel roads.

Exploration can be performed year-round. The Mantau project is dominated by Triassic tuffs overprinted by the Atacama Fault System. Widespread specular hematite and lesser albite occurrences are considered indicative of a possible IOCG system.

Most of the area is covered by regolith mixed with caliche. Old artisanal mine workings are present providing for selected samples assaying up to 16.7% copper and 5.91 g/t gold in an earlier reconnaissance program. The Company is in discussions with contractors for the detailed drone magnetic-radiometric surveying of the areas of interest.

This program will be followed by geologic mapping and geochemical sampling of the magnetic targets delineated. Rock sampling will be focussed on creeks, washouts and excavations where bedrock is closer to surface. Favorable targets are expected to be drill tested in 2025.