The company said that porphyry copper grade, thickness and continuity was improving to the north and remains open in all directions.

Results showed that drill hole ECP-045 intersected 181.4 metres of 1.29% CuT, while drill hole ECP-042 intersected 26.2m of 2.26% CuT, which included 8.2m of 4.22% CuT.

The company expected mineralisation to strengthen as it continued along the mine trend and into newly leased land that extends 42m east of drill hole ECP-045.

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (ASCU) is currently undergoing a 12-hole exploration programme at the Parks/Salyer project. A total of approximately 6,700 metres was planned, with the aim of issuing a maiden mineral resource estimate once the drilling programme was completed.

ASCU president and CEO George Ogilvie said the exploration target at the Parks/Salyer project was focused on extending mine life and building scalability.

"We note the drill results illustrate a very similar footprint to Cactus East, with grades in excess of 1% and good thickness," he said. 

The US-based copper developer and near-term producer, which changed its name from Elim Mining in July last year, is the sole owner of the Cactus mine in the Arizona Copper Belt.

ASCU traded on February 10 on the Toronto Stock Exchange at C$2.05/share, which was nearly 10% higher on the day and a three-week high.