It took a while, but Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) and JV partner Sandfire MATSA finally intercepted a substantial mineralized interval at Sesmarias, after the discovery hole from 2014 intersected 7.95m @ 2.21% Cu, 4.82% Zn, 3.05% Pb and 89.8g/t Ag from 150m.

After a period of relative quietness for Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF), things are becoming more active again as Alvalade drilling is completed with results coming from the labs soon.  Exploration planning including first drilling on the first Finnish project will be commencing in June, as the company was recently granted permits.

Although the markets are giving back some of the recent gains after the Fed indicated we aren’t done yet with the high inflation, combined with the slow escalation of the Russia invasion of the Ukraine and the strange incident with the shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon hovering over the US, sentiment for metals and miners seems to be in a recovering trend after a disastrous H2 of 2022.

After raising C$1.25M in March this year, and acquiring several early stage copper-zinc and gold projects in Finland, Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) didn’t have spectacular news to report this summer, as it had to wait on Sandfire (new owner of JV partner MATSA) scheduling/financing covenants for further exploration and upgrade of the Alvalade copper-zinc VMS project in Portugal.

After announcing a strong and potentially game changing drill result (60.4m @ 2.25% CuEq) at Sesmarias on January 25, 2022, followed by a C$1M private placement on February 8, 2022, Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) managed to increase this amount, and raised C$1.25M on March 2, 2022.  

After a year of slow progress for Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) and JV partner MATSA at the Sesmarias target, part of their flagship Alvalade project in Portugal, it is refreshing to see Avrupa somewhat diversifying away by acquiring four exploration properties in Finland, with some of them even having a historic resource.