Exploration drilling at Santana during 2008-2011 totalled 30,000  m and outlined significant gold mineralization associated with hydrothermal breccias hosted in stocks and batholithic intrusions in the Nicho Main Zone target area. The drill holes were shallow (<150  m depth) and results indicated that the mineralization was open along strike and to depth.

Several other mineralized satellite targets were identified within the project area via surface sampling and limited drilling. The most significant of these was the Nicho Norte area located approximately 500  m northwest of the Nicho Main Zone. Drilling intersected mineralization similar to Nicho Main in shallow holes (<150  m) over a strike length of approximately 200  m to the limit of the then owner’s (Corex Gold) northern claim boundary. The mineralization is open along strike northwards onto the contiguous Minera Alamos Los Verdes concessions. Heap leach test mining activities have just been successfully completed at Nicho Norte.