10:51 AM EDT, 04/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Luca Mining ( LUCMF ) was edging up on Tuesday after it reported analytical results from six of the first seven underground diamond drill holes of an ongoing 5,000 metre phase 1 exploration drill program at the Camp Morado Polymetallic VMS mine in Guerrero State, Mexico.

In addition, the company said it had reached a milestone of over 1 million hours worked without a Lost-Time Incident (LTI).

Among highlights, it said first drilling at Campo Morado since 2014 delivered "encouraging" results, including 5.6m at 2.3 g/t Au, 150 g/t Ag and 3.71% Zn in a new mineralized zone within the G9 Deposit; and added 14 underground drillholes were completed to date as part of a 5,000m Phase 1 program targeting near-mine resource expansion.

It also cited: untapped mineral potential identified in underexplored zones, results to inform updated mineral resource and mine plans; and surface drilling now underway to test district-wide targets including Reforma and El Rey, first exploration there since 2010.

Drillhole CMUG-25-01, targeted a previously untested zone, about 25m below the active mine workings of Area 9 of the G9 Deposit and intersected a mineralised zone that returned 5.6 m of 2.3 g/t gold, 150 g/t sliver, 0.56% copper, 0.74% lead and 3.71% zinc.

Drillholes CMUG-25-06 and CMUG-25-07 intersected another mineralised zone that returned 6.3 m of 0.19 g/t gold, 7 g/t sliver, 0.80% copper, 0.01% lead and 5.10% zinc and 11.9 m of 0.13 g/t gold, 8 g/t sliver, 0.77% copper, 0.07% lead and 4.78% zinc.

The company said "these results highlight the existence of mineralization yet to be captured in the Campo Morado mine plan - continued drilling efforts will target additional similar, near-mine areas." 14 underground drillholes have been completed to date as part of a 5,000m Phase 1 program targeting near-mine resource expansion.

Luca VP of Exploration Paul D. Gray commented: "In conjunction with the ongoing underground drill program, Luca has now initiated a surface drilling campaign focused on the larger Campo Morado District - these efforts will include a comprehensive assessment of the Reforma and El Rey deposits; neither of which has seen any exploration since 2010."

Shares have turned positive, last seen up $0.01 at $1.17 on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Price: 1.17, Change: +0.01, Percent Change: +0.86