60.2 Meters at 1.25% Copper Equivalent Feeds Abitibi's B26 Resource Update

• Drilling on the eastern side of the B26 polymetallic deposit in Quebec returned 1.25% copper equivalent over 60.2 meters (m), including 3.72% copper equivalent over 9.2 m.
• Two holes extended the Western Down-Plunge Zone (WDP), returning 1.45% copper equivalent over 14.1 m and 0.66% copper equivalent over 40 m, both starting below 960 m depth.
• Wedge drilling cut 41.1 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver and 1.0% zinc over 20.6 m, and separately 9.54% copper equivalent over 0.5 m.
• A hole on the upper western extension returned 0.32% copper equivalent over 7.0 m, together with the deposit's characteristic alteration signature.
• Continuity along the eastern extension of the WDP could increase overall tonnage in future mineral resource estimates. 

Company Overview 

Abitibi Metals (CSE: AMQ | OTCQB: AMQFF | FSE: FW0) is a Quebec-focused explorer acquiring and advancing base and precious metal assets. Its flagship B26 polymetallic project is located 7 kilometers southeast of the former Selbaie Mine, providing access to established infrastructure for potential mine development. B26 carries an indicated resource of 12.96 million metric tons at 2.08% copper equivalent and an inferred resource of 12.34 million metric tons at 2.20% copper equivalent. The company's portfolio also includes the Beschefer gold project. 

Eastern Zone Results 

The widest interval came from the deposit's eastern side. A hole targeting that area cut 1.25% copper equivalent over 60.2 meters (m) from 548.8 m depth, comprising 1.08% copper, 0.14 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold, 5.04 g/t silver, and 0.03% zinc, over an estimated true width of 52.1 m. Within that interval, 18.8 m graded 2.45% copper equivalent over an estimated true width of 16.3 m, and 9.2 m graded 3.72% copper equivalent, comprising 3.42% copper, 0.26 g/t gold, and 9.86 g/t silver, over an estimated true width of 8.0 m. The hole delivered materially higher-grade results than anticipated, and the result ranks among the strongest of the 2026 drill program at B26. 

A second hole in the eastern part of the deposit returned 1.1% copper equivalent over 3.5 m from 549.0 m depth, over an estimated true width of 2.7 m, and intersected mineralization that extends the known system eastward.  

Western Down-Plunge Zone Extension

Two holes extended the Western Down-Plunge Zone (WDP), the deposit's priority expansion corridor. The first returned 1.45% copper equivalent over 14.1 m, an estimated true width of 10.0 m, from a depth of 985.3 m, including 2.21% copper equivalent over 5.9 m. The second returned 0.66% copper equivalent over 40 m, an estimated true width of 30.6 m, from a depth of 966 m, including 1.65% copper equivalent over 7.6 m, and is the continuation of an earlier hole that was terminated for technical reasons.

A third hole tested an under-drilled area of about 210 m by 215 m at the upper limit of the WDP and intersected mineralization that helps link higher-grade areas in the resource. Drilling into the eastern extension of the WDP demonstrates further continuity of the high-grade plunge, which could add to overall tonnage in future resource updates. The results increase resource confidence within the zone and support further growth potential along it.

Wedge Drilling Results  

Two wedge holes drilled from a parent hole tested the down-plunge extension of the WDP. The first cut 41.1 g/t silver and 1.0% zinc over 20.6 m, including 69.9 g/t silver and 1.7% zinc over 11.1 m and 111.75 g/t silver and 3.0% zinc over 4.5 m. The same hole returned a 0.5 m interval grading 19.2% zinc with 19.4 g/t silver, and a separate gold-copper interval of 0.68% copper equivalent over 5.5 m, comprising 0.23% copper and 0.50 g/t gold. 

The second wedge returned narrow high-grade copper-gold veins. These include 9.54% copper equivalent over 0.5 m, comprising 2.33% copper and 8.08 g/t gold, and 4.32% copper equivalent over 1.8 m.

Western Extension & Step-Out Drilling   

Three holes tested ground west of the deposit, and one tested the system's depth extent. A hole on the upper western extension of the WDP returned 0.32% copper equivalent over 7.0 m at 1,234 m depth, together with the characteristic B26-style alteration signature and narrow copper mineralization. The presence of that alteration confirms the fertile mineralizing system continues into the western part of the deposit, with the higher-grade portion of the corridor interpreted to lie further west, at greater depth, or both.  

Two further holes targeted a lower-grade, under-drilled expansional target west of the deposit, returning 0.50% copper equivalent over 3.3 m and 1.05% copper equivalent over 2.0 m, the second of those carrying 2.96% zinc and 7.70 g/t silver. A step-out hole confirmed the down-dip continuity of the mineralized system at approximately 1,417 m depth, returning 2.5% copper equivalent over 2.0 m.

Grade Calculation & Quality Control 

Copper-equivalent grades are reported using two sets of metal prices. The base calculation uses $4.50 per pound for copper, $1.50 per pound for zinc, $28.00 per ounce for silver, and $3,000 per ounce for gold. A second set uses $5.60 per pound for copper, $75.00 per ounce for silver, and $4,650 per ounce for gold, with zinc unchanged, and both apply recovery factors of 98.3% for copper, 90.0% for gold, 96.1% for zinc, and 72.1% for silver, taken from a metallurgical test.

Intervals were generally composited from a 0.1% copper equivalent cut-off grade, with 0.6% applied to the reported higher-grade subintervals, and up to three consecutive samples below cut-off grade permitted. Reported intervals are not necessarily representative of true width, which the local interpretation puts at 60% to 94% of core length. Core was split in half and sent to AGAT Laboratories Ltd., with sample preparation in Val-d'Or, fire assay in Thunder Bay, and 4-acid digestion and multi-element analysis in Calgary.

Next Steps

Follow-up holes are planned for additional extensions to the WDP, and further drilling is planned in the under-drilled area at its upper limit.

Chief Executive Officer of Abitibi Metals, Jonathon Deluce, set out how the rest of the 2026 program is being run and where its results go: 

"With up to three drill rigs on site for the remainder of 2026, we are simultaneously advancing definition and resource conversion drilling as well as further expanding the limits of the B26 system that remain open. The results in today's release continue reinforcing our confidence in the continued growth and continuity of high-grade mineralization at B26. These results, together with findings from our ongoing program, will be incorporated into a future resource update for the B26 Deposit, enhancing and derisking it as a foundation for long-term value creation."  

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