“Collective Mining has delivered its most impressive drill intercept to date at the Apollo system’s Ramp Zone, with hole APC143-D3 yielding 58.10 meters at 21.33 g/t gold and 13 g/t silver, including a high-grade core of 27 meters at 43.13 g/t gold and 25 g/t silver. This northeasternmost and deepest hit expands the zone’s dimensions significantly, underscoring Apollo’s potential as a major gold-silver-copper-tungsten deposit in Colombia, backed by strong cash reserves for aggressive 2026 exploration.”
Collective Mining’s Ramp Zone Breakthrough Signals Major Expansion Potential
The latest drilling campaign at Collective Mining’s flagship Apollo system in Colombia’s Guayabales project has yielded groundbreaking results, pushing the boundaries of the high-grade Ramp Zone further than previously known. Hole APC143-D3, a directional drill from Pad 19, intersected a remarkable 58.10 meters grading 21.33 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 13 g/t silver starting from 187.80 meters downhole. Within this interval, a standout 27-meter section averaged 43.13 g/t gold and 25 g/t silver, marking the highest-grade accumulation ever recorded in the Ramp Zone at 1,239 gram-meters of gold.
This intercept not only represents the deepest mineralization encountered to date—reaching approximately 1,410 meters below surface—but also extends the Ramp Zone’s strike length northeastward. The updated envelope now measures 300 meters along strike, 100 meters in width, and 310 meters vertically, with mineralization remaining open in all directions for further expansion. The Ramp Zone, situated at the base of the Apollo system starting around 1,000 meters above sea level, is characterized by a reduced intrusion-related gold system featuring pyrite, pyrrhotite, and minor bismuth-tellurium-arsenopyrite assemblages hosted in veinlet stockworks and breccia matrices.
A companion hole, APC140-D4 from Pad 29, targeted the central breccia body and encountered sporadic high-grade zones, including 15 meters at 5.00 g/t gold and 10 g/t silver from 107 meters, interpreted as a transition into Ramp-style mineralization. Additional intercepts included 3.65 meters at 4.91 g/t gold and 6 g/t silver from 547.35 meters, and 3.35 meters at 3.51 g/t gold from 648.55 meters. While central breccia testing was considered a lower-probability play, these results affirm the system’s pervasive mineralization.
Geological Insights and Emerging Model
The Ramp Zone’s mineralization style is predominantly marginal to the funnel-shaped Apollo breccia body, with drilling to date focusing on the southeast edge. At deeper levels around 750 meters above sea level, the breccia’s circumference spans about 1.6 kilometers, yet only a 300-meter by 100-meter section along the southeast margin has been systematically tested—yielding multiple broad intercepts up to 75 meters long. This leaves over 1.2 kilometers of untested perimeter, presenting substantial upside for discovering additional high-grade Ramp-style domains.
Alteration in the Ramp Zone is dominated by muscovite, albite, and sericite, with gold-silver enrichment occurring in porous crackle breccia matrices that enhance fluid permeability. Compared to nearby analogs, the Ramp Zone exhibits superior gold grades, attributed to its favorable host rock characteristics. The system’s vertical extent now exceeds 1.4 kilometers from surface, highlighting Apollo’s scale as a partially reduced intrusion-related deposit enriched in gold, silver, copper, and tungsten.
Assay Details from Key Intercepts
The following tables outline the assay results for the primary holes, with true widths estimated at 85-98% of reported lengths and no grade capping applied. Internal dilution up to 15% below 0.30 g/t gold is included, not exceeding 5% continuously.
| Hole # | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APC143-D3 | 187.80 | 245.90 | 58.10 | 21.33 | 13 |
| Incl. | 187.80 | 214.80 | 27.00 | 43.13 | 25 |
| Incl. | 187.80 | 193.75 | 5.95 | 165.72 | 90 |
| APC140-D4 | 107.00 | 122.00 | 15.00 | 5.00 | 10 |
| Incl. | 119.00 | 121.05 | 2.05 | 28.87 | 26 |
| and | 547.35 | 551.00 | 3.65 | 4.91 | 6 |
| and | 648.55 | 651.90 | 3.35 | 3.51 | – |
For a high-resolution view into the exceptional grades within APC143-D3’s core interval, individual sample assays reveal extreme values, including peaks over 363 g/t gold:
Drilling Momentum and Financial Strength
| From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187.80 | 189.00 | 1.20 | 95.30 | 47 |
| 189.00 | 190.30 | 1.30 | 363.00 | 192 |
| 190.30 | 191.35 | 1.05 | 6.29 | 12 |
| 191.35 | 192.60 | 1.25 | 68.90 | 33 |
| 192.60 | 193.75 | 1.15 | 267.00 | 150 |
| 193.75 | 195.50 | 1.75 | 4.31 | 2 |
| 195.50 | 197.00 | 1.50 | 0.26 | – |
| 197.00 | 198.75 | 1.75 | 0.15 | – |
| 198.75 | 200.00 | 1.25 | 44.20 | 13 |
| 200.00 | 201.55 | 1.55 | 0.17 | – |
| 201.55 | 202.70 | 1.15 | 0.46 | – |
| 202.70 | 203.85 | 1.15 | 0.14 | 1 |
| 203.85 | 204.90 | 1.05 | 1.15 | 2 |
| 204.90 | 206.00 | 1.10 | 0.49 | 1 |
| 206.00 | 207.10 | 1.10 | 2.15 | 1 |
| 207.10 | 208.25 | 1.15 | 10.75 | 11 |
| 208.25 | 209.35 | 1.10 | 18.15 | 17 |
| 209.35 | 210.60 | 1.25 | 0.13 | 3 |
| 210.60 | 212.00 | 1.40 | 0.10 | 1 |
| 212.00 | 213.40 | 1.40 | 22.20 | 23 |
| 213.40 | 214.80 | 1.40 | 33.00 | 26 |
| Weighted Average | 27.00 | 43.13 | 25 |
Collective Mining is ramping up operations with three deep-capacity rigs currently active at the Ramp Zone, and two more expected in the first quarter of 2026. To date, over 166,500 meters of diamond drilling have been completed across Guayabales and the adjacent San Antonio project, with 109,500 meters focused on Apollo. The company plans an ambitious 100,000-meter program for 2026, potentially deploying up to 14 rigs by quarter’s end.
Bolstered by $135 million in cash reserves as of early December 2025, Collective is well-positioned to advance Apollo toward production. The system’s strategic location in an infrastructure-rich, mining-friendly district aligns with visions of a large-scale underground operation, potentially supplying gold and critical minerals like copper, tungsten, and silver to meet global demand.
Market Context and Investor Implications
Shares of Collective Mining (NYSE: CNL) closed at $16.78 yesterday, reflecting a 0.90% gain amid broader market stability in the precious metals sector. With gold prices holding firm above $2,600 per ounce driven by geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures, discoveries like this bolster the case for junior miners in stable jurisdictions. The Ramp Zone’s expansion enhances Apollo’s resource profile, potentially elevating its status among emerging gold deposits in South America.
Strategic Positioning in Colombia’s Mining Landscape
The Guayabales project’s proximity to established operations underscores its operational advantages. The Ramp Zone’s mineralogy draws parallels to regional analogs but stands out with elevated gold grades, likely due to enhanced host rock permeability. As exploration progresses, focus will shift to untapped margins, where similar high-grade intercepts could further delineate a world-class deposit.
Ongoing assays from multiple high-priority holes are anticipated to provide additional clarity on the system’s scale. With a clear path to resource growth and de-risking, Collective Mining’s efforts at Apollo position it as a key player in Colombia’s evolving mining narrative, contributing to national economic security while addressing Western supply chain needs for essential metals.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an endorsement of any securities. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions. All data and opinions are based on publicly available information.