Looking at the area in Google Earth (easily located) it seems the Cerro Verde is hilly and will be able to be effectively tested by stream sediment and soil sampling. I am sure that where they have started is to systematically sample every stream and gully, in hilly areas across the property, leaving the pediment covered ground for later, maybe some BLEG samples were taken from the larger drainages. This is an enormous job, take a look at the terrain up close in Google Earth images... this IS a big job... come on +1300 sq. miles?

So now they have announced their broad-brushed description of initial findings of this phase 1 stream sediment campaign. More work needs to be done before rolling a drill-rig onto the target. Soil samples on a 50 meter grid is how to locate initial drill sites, put that over 7km by 13 km area and you collect 36,000 samples. If you have any chance of hitting on a "few" drills holes better take a few more (no, lots more) surface samples first... they have just begun AND this takes time.

With the new target areas identified more focused work is now being done IMO. They have had these results for some time and their release indicates to me that second round sampling and planning is well underway for these targets.

These broad first-pass sniffs of mineralization are no guarantee that the anomalies will ever be drilled, we are looking for rare occurrences, anemic and weak siblings abound... so don't expect each "sniff" to become a Represa. That said a 13 km by 7 km is a broad anomaly.

Some will cry "foul" with no news or word of drilling at Cerro Verde in the next 6 months... boys, this takes time, science/systematic sampling results must drive the selection of potential first drill-hole locations. Add to that the time for geophysical surveys on closely spaced lines over the target, THIS should be a careful process that will TAKE TIME. Remember... 1300 Sq. Miles!

These identified anomalies have made Canplats much more attractive as a take-out target IMO... seems a no brainer.

Not investment advice.