News Summary
On December 15, 2025, Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (PEMC) announced initial assay results from the first hole of its 2025 winter diamond drill program at the Trident Copper-Gold Project in British Columbia.
The key intercept from hole DD25-TRI-001, drilled in the historical “A Zone”, includes:
– 183.0 metres of 1.23% Copper Equivalent (CuEq) starting from 9.0 metres depth.
– This includes a higher-grade sub-interval of 71.5 metres of 1.80% CuEq from 21.0 metres.
– The 1.23% CuEq grade consists of 0.772% Copper (Cu), 0.51 g/t Gold (Au), and 3.4 g/t Silver (Ag).
The company confirmed the completion of the planned 2,500-metre drill program, having drilled 2,603 metres across six holes. Assays for the remaining five holes are pending. The trading of the company’s stock was halted pending this news.
Material Impact
The initial drill results from the Trident project are highly positive and materially de-risk the asset. The historical news flow shows the company spent the entire year building up to this specific drill program, which was the first to test newly permitted targets previously inaccessible.
– Exceeds Expectations: The company’s goal was to confirm mineralization at the A Zone and test new porphyry targets to the north. While this first hole was a “confirmation” hole, the reported grade and width (183m of 1.23% CuEq) are exceptional for an initial hole in a porphyry system, especially given it starts near-surface. This significantly exceeds reasonable expectations and validates the company’s geological model that a large mineralized system exists at Trident.
– Progression and Execution: The company successfully permitted the project, raised over $1.5M in a difficult market (albeit at low prices), and executed its drill plan. Preliminary updates in October and November noted the intersection of a mineralized porphyry system with visible sulphides, which built anticipation that has now been confirmed with strong assays.
– Hidden Risks / Critical Factors:
– Aggressive Metal Price Assumptions: The Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculation uses high metal prices of US$5.00/lb Cu, US$3,000/oz Au, and US$35.00/oz Ag. Using more conservative, current spot prices (approx. $4.50 Cu, $2300 Au, $30 Ag), the headline grade recalculates to approximately 1.17% CuEq. While still a very strong result, the use of elevated prices is a promotional tactic that inflates the result.
– One Hole Wonder?: These results are from only the first of six holes. The success of the entire program, and the ultimate size of the discovery, depends on the results of the remaining five holes, particularly those that tested the previously undrilled northern porphyry and breccia targets.
– True Width Unknown: The reported intervals are down-hole lengths and true widths have not yet been determined.
Despite these risks, the news is a significant technical success. It validates the exploration concept, confirms the presence of a high-grade, near-surface copper-gold system, and positions the company to attract further investment for follow-up work. The stock was halted at $0.05; a significant positive re-rating is expected upon resumption of trading.
Catalysts
– Immediate Catalyst: The primary catalyst is the release of assay results from the remaining five drill holes. The market will be watching to see if the company can replicate or improve upon the results from the first hole, especially in the previously undrilled northern target areas.
– 3-6 Months: Look for a comprehensive interpretation of all drill results, including 3D geological modeling. Based on the full set of results, the company will need to announce plans and a budget for a follow-up drill program. This will almost certainly require another financing, and the terms of that financing will be a key indicator of market confidence.
Materiality Conclusion
The announcement of a long, high-grade, near-surface copper-gold intercept in the first hole of a highly anticipated drill program is a materially positive event. It transforms the Trident project from a conceptual target into a legitimate discovery, providing the company with its most significant asset advancement to date.
