ATEX Acquires 8,600 Hectares Adjacent to Valeriano Project in Chile

• Nuevo Horizonte acquisition increases land holdings from 16,500 hectares to 25,000 hectares
• Pachuy target shows 6-kilometre surface alteration footprint with three historical drill holes intersecting mineralisation within 350 metres of surface
• Chollay target displays 2.5-kilometre surface signature with no previous drilling
• Combined targets establish exploration corridor spanning 10 kilometres near Valeriano
• Geophysical surveys commenced with evaluation of exploration programmes underway

ATEX Resources Inc. (TSXV: ATX) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on developing the Valeriano copper-gold project in Chile's Atacama Region. The project sits within the Link Belt, a mineral corridor between the El Indio High-Sulphidation Belt and the Maricunga Gold Porphyry Belt. Neighbouring projects in this belt include developments by Lundin Mining/BHP, Teck Resources/Newmont, and Antofagasta/Barrick. Valeriano hosts an indicated resource of 475 million tonnes at 0.88% copper equivalent and an inferred resource of 1.5 billion tonnes at 0.75% copper equivalent.

Nuevo Horizonte Claims Expand Land Package

ATEX acquired the 8,600-hectare Nuevo Horizonte claims through staking and public auction. The claims adjoin the Valeriano property to the west. Previous operators conducted regional exploration including imaging, magnetic surveys, and seven diamond drill holes on the property. The acquisition brings ATEX's total land position to approximately 25,000 hectares.

The claims contain structural features similar to Valeriano. Historical exploration data from previous operators provides baseline information for the property. ATEX will operate regional exploration from its existing camp and infrastructure at Valeriano.

President and CEO Ben Pullinger stated: 

"The addition of the Nuevo Horizonte claims significantly increases our chances of a new discovery in this highly prospective district. The size, scale and surface characteristics of these new targets is analogous to where we started with Valeriano and in the case of the Pachuy target, significantly bigger than the Valeriano surface footprint."

Pachuy and Chollay Targets

The Pachuy target displays surface alteration extending approximately 6 kilometres. A major mining company previously conducted geophysical surveys and drilling at Pachuy. Three historical drill holes intersected high-grade mineralisation within 300 metres of surface, confirming a porphyry system. The surface footprint at Pachuy exceeds Valeriano's original surface expression.

The Chollay target shows a 2.5-kilometre alteration signature at surface. Surface geochemistry and mapping indicate alteration patterns associated with porphyry systems, including breccia bodies. No drilling has been completed at Chollay. Both targets show clay and iron oxide minerals at surface typically associated with porphyry alteration.

President and CEO Ben Pullinger noted: 

"ATEX has established Valeriano as the largest high-grade porphyry project in Chile in over a decade and initial exploration of these new targets has identified similar features including the potential for breccia bodies that will be explored as part of initial exploration."

District Consolidation

The acquisition consolidates a trend extending approximately 10 kilometres. The Nuevo Horizonte claims lie between Valeriano and two other projects in the district: El Encierro operated by Antofagasta and El Torrente operated by Codelco. The claims show structural and surface alteration features comparable to Valeriano.

ATEX has commenced geophysical surveys over Pachuy and Chollay. The company is evaluating near-term exploration plans for both targets. Regional mapping and geophysical data will guide prioritisation of drilling targets.

Next Steps

ATEX will advance Pachuy and Chollay towards drill-ready status over the coming months and years. The company plans to use its Valeriano camp and infrastructure to support regional exploration. Geophysical survey results will inform decisions on initial drilling programmes at both targets.

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