Astra Drills 2,371 g/t Silver and 11.09 g/t Gold Over 0.5m – Extends East Feeder Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
ASTRA EXPLORATION INC. (TSX-V: ASTR, OTCQB: ATEPF, FSE: S3I)
NEWS RELEASE
Astra Drills 2,371 g/t Silver and 11.09 g/t Gold Over 0.5m – Extends East Feeder
Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
Highlights:
• East Feeder of Main Zone
• LMD-130: 0.5 metres grading 2,371 g/t silver and 11.09 g/t gold, and
o 0.5 metres grading 521.7 g/t silver and 2.94 g/t gold
• West Feeder of Main Zone
• LMD-131: 0.5 metres grading 469.4 g/t silver and 6.61 g/t gold
• LMD-132: 0.6 metres grading 255.3 g/t silver and 5.96 g/t gold, and
o 0.5 metres grading 612 g/t silver and 1.48 g/t gold
• LMD-129: 1.5 metres grading 16.4 g/t silver and 9.17 g/t gold, including
o 0.5 metres grading 28.6 g/t silver and 18.32 g/t gold
• Multiple high-grade veins of key importance have been extended along strike and remain
open in all directions
• Confirmation of a continuous vein in the Eastern Zone, consistently mineralized with gold
and silver at a shallow vertical depth
• The Company is fully -funded for a minimum of 5,000 metres expected to commence in
the coming weeks
Vancouver, British Columbia – March 19, 2026 – Astra Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: ASTR, OTCQB:
ATEPF, FSE: S3I) (“Astra” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the third batch of assays
consisting of seven DDH holes from the Phase II drill program at the La Manchuria Gold and
Silver Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Assays remain pending for 5 holes.
Astra’s CEO, Brian Miller commented:
“The mineralized vein system at La Manchuria continues to rapidly expand in all directions with
several new intercepts of high grade silver and gold. And, because drilling has repeatedly shown
that narrow veinlets near surface converge into thicker veins with depth, often with higher grades,
the elevated grades encountered at these shallow depths below surface are very encouraging.
With this set of holes, the West Feeder of the Main Zone has been extended along strike in both
directions, and the East Feeder has been extended along strike to the southeast. These veins are
key high-grade structures of the Main Zone which appear to be c onverging with depth, forming
compelling feeder zone targets. Importantly, the highest grade intercept in LMD-130 is interpreted
to be a possible extension of the Argentum Vein, 220 metres along strike to the southeast of hole
LMD-108A, which returned 1.4 metres grading 35 g/t gold and 8,356 g/t silver in Astra’s Phase I
drill program.”
Program Details
A total of 25 drill holes were completed in late 2025 totaling 5,119 metres (see Mar 2, 2026
news release: “Astra Makes New Discovery, Hitting 6.3 Metres of 837 g/t Silver and 3.32 g/t
Gold at La Manchuria Project, Argentina”). The drill program focused on expanding the near-
surface footprint of the system with shallow (<200 metres vertical depth) drill holes.
The seven drill holes reported herein were focused on the Main Zone, the Eastern Zone and the
Basalto Zone areas (Figure 1), each of which intersected at least one noteworthy gold and/or
silver interval (Table 1).
Figure 1: Phase II holes drilled to date with assays for the seven holes in this news release highlighted in yellow .
Location for long section in Figure 3 in dark blue dashed line.
Field crews are currently completing geophysical surveys to extend the 3D resistivity model to the
south and west beneath post -mineral cover . This will provide additional drill targets for the
upcoming 5,000 metre (minimum) program expected to commence in April.
East Feeder at Main Zone
Drill hole LMD-130 was designed to test the south extension of the East Feeder in an
unexplored area around 70 metres east of the post-mineral E fault (Figure 1). The hole
intersected several intervals of gold and silver mineralization, including a possible extension of
the Argentum Vein approximately 220 metres along strike to the southeast of hole LMD-108A
(see June 10, 2025 news release: “Astra Drills 1.4m Grading 35.3g/t Gold and 8,356 g/t Silver
At La Manchuria Project, Santa Cruz, Argentina”). This interval returned 0.5 metres grading
11.09 g/t Au and 2,371 g/t Ag (Figure 3) within andesite host rocks at a depth of 150 metres
below surface. This interval is further confirmation that the andesitic sills which were previously
thought to be barren, can host high grade gold and silver. The structure remains open in all
directions.
Figure 2: Cross section of hole LMD-130 showing the several mineralized areas at the SE extension of the East
Feeder in the Main Zone. Gold and silver results are in grams per tonne (g/t).
West Feeder at Main Zone
The West Feeder, currently 750 metres in strike length, contains some of the thickest veins and
highest grades currently known at La Manchuria and is open in all directions.
Holes LMD-131 and LMD-132 were designed to test the northwestern extension of the West
Feeder beyond the post-mineral A fault (Figure 1) in a downthrown block, as defined by
geophysics beneath the shallow cover. LMD-131 intersected West Feeder mineralization
between ~30 and 80 metres below surface within a continuous group of veins and veinlets
hosted in the pyroclastic sequence, a host rock which regularly contains high-grade veins. The
thickest vein returned the highest grades, with 0.5m grading 6.61 g/t gold & 469.4 g/t silver.
Hole LMD-132 intersected West Feeder mineralization beneath LMD-126 at about 70 metres
below surface. The hole intersected several veins and veinlets containing sulfide-rich bands with
visible silver sulfosalts from ~20 to 70 metres beneath surface. Two notable intervals include 0.6
metres grading 255.3 g/t silver and 5.96 g/t gold, and 0.5 metres grading 612 g/t silver and 1.48
g/t gold. Silver and gold grades are present at the hanging wall of the West Feeder vein that is
steeply dipping to the SW in this block.
The results from holes LMD-131 and LMD-132 confirm the shallow system elevation and
suggest strong potential to extend mineralization at depth.
Hole LMD-129 was completed in a deeper area of the southeastern portion of the vein system
below the post-mineral breccia and close to LMD-107A (Figure 2 and Table 1). Hole LMD-129
intersected West Feeder mineralization at ~180 metres below surface after crosscutting veins
from the Basalto Zone near the top of the hole. The interval of 0.5 metres grading 18.32 g/t gold
& 28.6 g/t silver within a banded quartz vein, is hosted in the pyroclastic sequence between
andesitic sills.
Figure 3: Long section of the West Feeder in the Main Zone (location shown in Figure 1 by dark blue dashed line)
with interpreted downthrown target areas. Completed Phase II holes: in blue pending assay results, in red previously
published results, and in white the new holes reported in this news release. Resistivity values expressed in ohm-m.
Eastern Zone
Three of the four holes drilled in the minimally explored Eastern Zone are reported herein.
These three holes were designed to test the most continuous vein outcropping at surface at this
shallowly exposed vein system.
All three holes crosscut the southwest dipping primary vein composed by a banded quartz-
adularia vein associated with fault breccia, together with several veins and veinlets in the
hanging wall. All of these holes reported multiple gold and silver intervals and are hosted in
rhyolitic tuffs and andesitic sills (Figure 1 and Table 1). Results at the Eastern Zone increase the
potential of this area to host disseminated mineralization and increase the possibility of a large
structure continuing at depth.
Basalto Zone
LMD-128 (previously released results) at Basalto zone, revealed shallow silver-rich
mineralization hosted in veins and veinlets near the surface. Hole LMD-129 confirms this vein
system strikes west-northwest and dips east, with some veinlets oriented subparallel to the drill
core axis.
Table 1: Assays from an additional seven holes of Phase II drilling at La Manchuria using cutoff grade of 0.5 g/t
AuEq. Ag:Au ratio of 60 using $3,600 Au and $60 Ag. Recoveries of 94% for Au and 85% for Ag is an average based
on three regional mine operations1 and are reflected in AuEq and AgEq values above. Estimated true widths are
approximately 85% of widths reported herein for the holes reported in this news release.
Hole From (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq AgEq
LMD-129 41 1 0.18 168.3 2.55 153.21
LMD-129 254.3 1.5 9.47 16.4 9.14 548.23
including 255.3 0.5 18.32 28.6 17.63 1057.56
LMD-130 71 7 1.22 56.2 1.94 116.58
including 73 1 2.44 111.4 3.87 232.31
LMD-130 88 6 0.86 23.7 1.14 68.65
LMD-130 102 2 0.83 14.4 0.98 59.05
LMD-130 131 1.6 1.22 187.5 3.80 228.18
including 132.1 0.5 2.94 521.7 10.15 609.26
LMD-130 172.5 0.5 11.09 2371.1 44.02 2640.91
LMD-130 184 2 0.76 93.5 2.04 122.34
LMD-130 190 2 1.62 377.7 6.87 412.42
LMD-131 43.2 1.5 1.41 163.7 3.64 218.67
LMD-131 70 2 0.75 105.8 2.20 132.23
LMD-131 75.5 0.5 6.61 469.4 12.86 771.80
LMD-131 89 1 0.92 344.0 5.74 344.27
LMD-131 93.5 0.5 2.15 5.0 2.09 125.51
LMD-131 117 2 5.77 6.6 5.52 331.04
LMD-132 29.7 0.6 5.96 255.3 9.22 553.11
LMD-132 41.5 0.5 1.48 612.0 10.06 603.70
LMD-132 101.4 0.6 0.67 402.3 6.33 379.73
LMD-133 34.1 0.5 0.27 42.1 0.85 51.01
LMD-133 36 2 5.88 15.8 5.75 345.06
LMD-133 39.7 1.3 1.54 20.9 1.74 104.62
LMD-133 55 5 1.02 4.1 1.02 61.05
LMD-133 88 2 0.46 102.3 1.88 112.90
LMD-134 43 2 1.72 5.0 1.69 101.26
LMD-134 59 4 0.89 5.0 0.91 54.40
LMD-134 69 2 0.50 53.9 1.23 74.02
LMD-134 93 2 0.47 21.1 0.74 44.44
LMD-134 123 1 2.40 6.7 2.35 141.06
LMD-135 25.9 0.6 0.69 16.9 0.89 53.28
LMD-135 36 0.5 1.67 8.4 1.69 101.33
LMD-135 57 5.75 1.27 23.5 1.53 91.74
LMD-135 65.5 2.05 0.77 20.1 1.01 60.40
LMD-135 69 3 0.71 21.8 0.98 58.63
LMD-135 93 0.6 0.60 67.1 1.51 90.88
LMD-135 107 2.5 0.45 17.6 0.67 40.36
Sampling Procedures
Drill samples consisted of HQ core which were split in half, sampled, bagged, and tagged by
Astra´s geological team and then delivered to the Alex Stewart International Argentina
laboratory in Mendoza. Drill samples were prepared with P5 code and then analyzed with fire
assay for gold (Au4-50) and multi-elements by ICP (ICP-AR 39). Silver (>200 g/t) over-limits
were analyzed by gravity method (Ag4A-50). A total of 131 Blanks and 154 standards (4
different Au and Ag grades) were used as QAQC for the group of 2,831 samples.
About the Company
Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that
is actively building a portfolio of high -quality projects in some of the most important mining
jurisdictions in Latin America.
The La Manchuria gold -silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina , over which Astra has an
option to acquire 90% interest from the owner, Patagonia Gold Corp , is a high -grade gold and
silver low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) deposit located in the prolific Deseado Massif which hosts
multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro,
Santa Cruz, Argentina.
The 100% owned Pampa Paciencia gold and silver project in northern Chile is located in the
Paleocene mineral province in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra
Gorda. The project shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-
silver deposits including Faride and El Peñón.
The 100% owned Cerro Bayo project in northern Chile is located in the Maricunga belt
approximately 20 km from the Refugio Mine. The project hosts a high sulphidation epithermal
(HSE) +/- porphyry gold system with similarities to the Salares Norte deposit to the north in the
same belt. The Maricunga belt is one of the most en dowed regions in the world for gold and
copper deposits.
Qualified Person
The technical data and information as disclosed in this news release has been reviewed and
approved by Darcy Marud, who is an Independent Director of Astra . Mr. Marud is a Practicing
Member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and is a qualified person as
defined under the terms of National Instrument 43 -101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects.
For further information please contact:
Brian Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Tel. 604.428.0939
Email: [email protected]
Katrina Damouni
Corporate Development
Tel. 604.428.0939
Email: [email protected]
References:
1 Sources:
Steinmann, Michael, March 2006
Manantial-Espejo Project Canadian Standard NI 43-101, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Prepared for Minera Triton Argentina, S.A.
https://panamericansilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Manantial-Espejo-Technical-
Report.pdf
Goldcorp – Third Quarter Report, September 30, 2017
https://s24.q4cdn.com/382246808/files/doc_financials/mda/2017/MD-A-FS-2017Q3-Website.pdf
AngloGoldAshanti – Technical Report Summary, Cerro Vanguardia, A Life of Mine Summary
Report, December 31, 2021
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067428/000162828022007855/a2021_-
xcerroxvanguardia.htm
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities
laws. When or if used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and similar words or expressions identify forward -
looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate
to the Company’s business activities; exploration on the Company’s properties including drilling at
the La Manchuria project. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect
to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that,
while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors,
both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: development of the
industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's
business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside
contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from
operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; the
ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the
implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company;
operating or technical difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market
volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders
of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company’s public disclosure
documents available on the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned
against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated
or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in
circumstances or a ny other events affecting such statements and information other than as
required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.