Certain operational conditions, including a restricted drilling plan for the first 12 months proposed by the company, will need to be implemented.

"This plan will allow the company to pursue its original programme of illuminating and defining extensions of the mineralized body which still remains open," Los Andes said.

"The company will continue to expand its previous successful drill programme while pursuing the larger goal of completing a Prefeasibility Study in Q4 2022," it added.

The revision was made on July 20 by the Second Environmental Court in Chile. It followed the March injunction that related to a local rabbit habitat, which forms part of the food chain of the protected Andean Cat.

Los Andes said that since the injunction it has prepared and filed several scientific reports, technical studies, and legal opinions to the court, which supported its view that the drilling programme is compatible with the protection of the cat, as well as the overall environment.

Current resources at Vizcachitas are Measured Resources of 254.4 million tonnes grading 0.489% copper equivalent and Indicated Resources of about 1.03 billion tonnes grading 0.442% CuEq.  

Los Andes share price was C$14.25 (US$11.06) on July 21. The company has a market capitalization of C$388.69 million.