Astra drills 500 g/t Silver and 1.46 g/t Gold Over 2.3 metres – Extends West Feeder Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
ASTRA EXPLORATION INC. (TSX-V: ASTR, OTCQB: ATEPF, FSE: S3I)
NEWS RELEASE
Astra drills 500 g/t Silver and 1.46 g/t Gold Over 2.3 metres – Extends West
Feeder Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
Highlights:
• West Feeder of Main Zone
• LMD-137: 2.3 metres grading 500 g/t silver and 1.46 g/t gold from 115 metres
including
o 0.5 metres grading 2,197 g/t silver and 6.23 g/t gold at 116.8 metres
• LMD-137: 1.0 metres grading 310 g/t silver and 0.49 g/t gold from 11.55 metres
• LMD-136: 3.0 metres grading 263 g/t silver and 0.95 g/t gold at 100.0 meters
• Newly drilled block northwest of post-mineral A fault (Figure 1) confirms a group of shallow
Au and Ag-rich veins and veinlets, further opening the system along strike and at depth
• Confirmation of the continuous vein in the Eastern Zone , consistently mineralized with
gold and silver also at depth
• The Company is fully funded for a minimum of 5,000 metres of DDH drilling, for which field
crews and equipment are currently being mobilized
Vancouver, British Columbia – April 15, 2026 – Astra Exploration Inc. (TSX -V: ASTR, OTCQB:
ATEPF, FSE: S3I) (“Astra” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the final batch of assays
consisting of five DDH holes from the Phase II drill program at the La Manchuria Gold and Silver
Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Going forward, t he 5,000 metres completed to date will be
referred to as Phase II and the upcoming 5,000 metre program will be referred to as Phase III.
The Company will be providing a detailed summary update in the coming days to outline the
results of Phase II and the plan for Phase III.
Astra’s CEO, Brian Miller commented:
“High-grade mineralization continues to be intersected along strike and at depth in the Main Zone,
which adds to the prospectivity of the high-grade feeder targets, and continues to expand the
bulk-tonnage system near surface. The lower unit of andesite rocks, previously interpreted to be
barren of mineralization, have again hosted high-grade veins, which provides more evidence that
they may contain a meaningful portion of the mineralized system. Astra has completed ~7,500
metres of drilling at La Manchuria to date, which has more than doubled the near-surface footprint
of the vein system which remains open in all directions. We expect continued rapid growth as we
ramp up drilling in 2026.”
Astra’s Exploration Director, Diego Guido commented:
The ~5,000 metre Phase II drill program at La Manchuria has validated the current geological
model, confirming a low -sulphidation epithermal system consisting of at least four subparallel
mineralized vein sets. Drilling highlights strong continuity of Au -Ag mineralization and suggests
that the West, Central and East feeder structures remain open along strike, including within
downthrown structural blocks, with potential for extension at depth beneath the andesitic sills. The
geometry of these structures indicates possible convergence at depth, representing a key
exploration target. Integration of drilling and 3D geophysics has also identified additional
structurally controlled blocks and parallel vein systems, including the high -grade Basalto Zone,
creating an expanded exploration footprint and reinforcing the potential for deeper, higher -grade
feeder zones.
Program Details
A total of 25 drill holes were completed in late 2025 totaling 5,119 metres. The Phase II drill
program focused on expanding the near-surface footprint of mineralization with shallow (<200m
vertical depth) drill holes.
The five drill holes reported herein were focused on the Main Zone, with one hole in the Eastern
Zone and one hole in the Road Zone (Figure 1 and Table 1).
Figure 1: Phase II holes drilled to date with assays for the five holes in this news release highlighted in yellow. Location
for long section in Figure 3 in dark blue dashed line.
West Feeder at Main Zone
The West Feeder, has been outlined by drilling along a strike length of approximately750 metres
and contains some of the thickest veins and highest grades currently known at La Manchuria. It
remains open in all directions.
LMD-136 and LMD-137 were designed to test the northwestern extension of the West Feeder
beyond the post-mineral A fault (Figure 1) in a downthrown block identified by 3D geophysics
beneath the shallow cover.
LMD-136 intersected multiple intervals of Au-Ag mineralization, including West Feeder-related
mineralization between ~30 and 100 metres below surface within a continuous group of veins
and veinlets hosted in the pyroclastic sequence. The most significant interval returned 3 metres
grading 263.6 g/t Ag and 0.95 g/t Au from 100 metres downhole. This is the furthest step-out to
the northwest and confirms mineralization remains open along strike and down dip.
LMD-137 (Figure 2) intersected multiple intervals of Au-Ag mineralization between 70 and 130
meters below surface and beneath hole LMD-131. The most significant interval in this group of
veins and veinlets returned 2.3 metres grading 500 g/t silver and 1.46 g/t gold, including 0.5
metres grading 2,197.3 g/t silver and 6.23 g/t gold and was hosted in andesites, which was
previously interpreted to be unmineralized. In addition, the hole intersected multiple mineralized
banded quartz veins and veinlets at shallower depth interpreted to be the Central Feeder NW
extension, highlighted by 1 metre grading 310 g/t Ag and 0.49 g/t Au. All of these veins remain
open at depth.
Figure 2: Cross section of hole LMD-137 showing the several mineralized areas at the NW extension of the West and
Central Feeder in the Main Zone. Gold and silver results are in grams per tonne (g/t).
The results from LMD-136 and LMD-137 confirm the shallow system elevation and suggest
strong potential to extend mineralization at depth. They also show that the system remains open
along strike to the northwest, including an unexplored target in an interpreted deeper block as
revealed by the 3D geophysics (Figure 3).
LMD-139 tested the SE extension of the vein beneath the post-mineral breccia and was drilled
75 metres south of the southernmost hole at the West Feeder (Figure 1 and Figure 3). It was
intended to test the resistivity anomaly below the post-mineral breccia. The hole crosscut
several quartz veins and fault breccias with vein clasts, but without economic mineralization.
The most important veins, two parallel veins containing quartz, adularia, bladed calcite and
sulfides, were intercepted at 200 metre deep hosted in andesite rocks. This portion of the
andesite host rock appears to be unproductive, however the lower portion of the hole cut
through the andesite sill and intersected a unit of welded rhyolites, suggesting the potential for
mineralization at depth.
Figure 3: Long section of the West Feeder in the Main Zone (location shown in Figure 1 by dark blue dashed line)
showing Au equivalent grades (squares are holes from Phase II). The section shows interpreted downthrown target
areas effectively extended to the NW and SE. Resistivity values expressed in ohm-m.
Eastern and Road Zone
LMD-140, in the Eastern Zone, was designed to test the main vein at 150 metres below the
surface, and 100 metres below hole LMD-135. LMD-140 intersected two mineralized structures
(Figure 1 & Table 1), the shallower of the two is a parallel structure to the main vein and it is
composed by quartz-oxide veinlets and oxide-rich breccias, and the deeper structure represents
the main vein hosted into the andesitic rocks.
LMD-138, in the Road Zone, was designed to intersect veining 100 metres below previously
drilled hole LMD-122, and also confirm the dip of the vein by drilling from a different direction.
LMD-138 crosscut some calcite infilled hydrothermal breccias, but no significant veining. More
drilling is necessary in this new zone to understand the potential of the parallel vein system.
Table 1: Assays from the last five 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.
Phase II Summary & Expanded Geophysics for Phase III
The 5,000 metre Phase II drill program demonstrates that shallow bulk disseminated
mineralization is open in all directions, with 23 of the 25 Phase II drill holes intersecting potentially
economic gold and silver grades. Many of the high grades intersected in Phase II were
concentrated in the West Feeder of the Main Zone, with initial indications of high grades for
expanding the East Feeder of the Main Zone, as well as the newly discovered vein at the Basalto
Zone. Phase II more than doubled the drilled area at La Manchuria, and expanded the system to
four parallel systems of veins with approximately 750 metres of strike length (Figure 4).
Concurrently with Phase II, field crews completed geophysical surveys to extend the 3D resistivity
model to the south and west beneath post -mineral cover . The s urvey consists of 60 linear
kilometers of gradient IP and 14 linear Km of Pole -Dipole lines, made even below the basaltic
cover (Figure 4). This will provide additional drill targets for the upcoming 5,000 metre (minimum)
Phase III program expected to commence imminently.
Phase III will test the depth extensions of the veins discovered at the West Feeder of the Main
Zone, intending to prove the presence of high-grade veins coalescing below the andesitic sills
(Figure 5).
Hole From (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq AgEq
LMD-136 31.2 0.8 2.21 2.0 2.11 126.34
LMD-136 39 1 1.37 5.0 1.36 81.52
LMD-136 100 3 0.95 263.6 4.63 277.64
LMD-136 106 1 0.50 32.5 0.93 55.83
LMD-137 11.55 1 0.49 310.0 4.85 291.14
LMD-137 31 2 0.13 52.9 0.87 52.30
LMD-137 37.6 0.9 2.22 17.7 2.34 140.25
LMD-137 41.8 1.2 0.87 8.4 0.94 56.21
LMD-137 55 2 5.07 10.9 4.92 295.21
LMD-137 65 1.55 0.34 156.8 2.54 152.46
LMD-137 72.5 0.5 0.72 56.9 1.48 88.97
LMD-137 115 2.3 1.46 500.0 8.46 507.34
including 116.8 0.5 6.23 2197.3 36.98 2219.04
LMD-137 119 2 0.26 49.5 0.95 56.74
LMD-137 190.5 0.5 2.20 2.1 2.10 125.87
LMD-138
LMD-139
LMD-140 83 2 1.30 6.0 1.31 78.42
LMD-140 117 2 0.73 93.8 2.02 120.90
No significant values
No significant values
Figure 4: Left: Manchuria project map with extension of the new 3D geophysics model and the area with drill hole
information. Right: compilation of the best grades from Phase 2 initial part of the program.
Figure 5: Schematic section of the four systems of veins found in Manchuria with Phase II initial drill program.
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 Don Mario (renamed from 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 endowed 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
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