TSX-V-listed Aldebaran Resources has officially launched its new spin-out company, Centauri Minerals, which will initially focus on copper, gold and silver exploration in northern Argentina.

The spin-out follows the completion of a C$5.7-million seed financing round, providing Centauri with the funds to begin exploration programmes and administrative work ahead of a planned go-public transaction in 2026.

"The outstanding investor interest for this venture has reinforced our plans to conduct modern exploration programmes on this unique portfolio of dormant projects in a mining region of increasing global interest," said Centauri CEO Sam Leung. "The completion of this oversubscribed private seed financing round allows us to get to work immediately, commencing exploration programmes to evaluate and select new drill targets at Rio Grande and Aguas Calientes, solidifying our management team, and commercial preparations to become a public company in 2026."

Centauri’s initial portfolio includes six exploration projects spanning more than 43 000 ha in Argentina’s Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca provinces. The most advanced of these is Rio Grande, which hosts near-surface, open-pittable resources of 71-million tonnes at 0.30% copper, 0.36 g/t gold and 3.2 g/t silver in the indicated category, and 41-million tonnes at 0.23% copper, 0.28 g/t gold and 2.8 g/t silver in the inferred category.

The Aguas Calientes project, meanwhile, features well-mineralised surface boulders with high concentrations of gold and silver along a 6 km strike length, while the remaining four projects – El Camino, Oscara, La Frontera and Catua – are at earlier exploration stages.

Aldebaran plans to distribute its shares in Centauri to its own shareholders once the new company completes its go-public event. The structure will allow investors to retain exposure to Aldebaran’s Altar copper/gold project in San Juan while gaining additional value through Centauri.

Under a definitive transfer agreement, Centauri will acquire all shares of Aldebaran Argentina S.A. and Minera El Toro S.A., which hold the portfolio of projects. In exchange, Aldebaran will receive 40-million shares (78.1%) of Centauri, with the remaining interest owned by seed round investors. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Centauri’s three-member board currently comprises Leung, Mark Wayne (CFO and director of Aldebaran) and Javier Robeto (Aldebaran VP and Argentina country manager). An exploration advisory committee has also been formed, including Dr Kevin Heather and John Black, both of Aldebaran.