Astra Intersects 1,286 g/t Silver and 9.0 g/t Gold Over 3.1 Metres; Extends High-Grade at Depth and Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
ASTRA EXPLORATION INC. (TSX-V: ASTR, OTCQB: ATEPF, FSE: S3I)
NEWS RELEASE
Astra Intersects 1,286 g/t Silver and 9.0 g/t Gold Over 3.1 Metres; Extends
High-Grade at Depth and Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina
Highlights:
• Hole LMD-121: 3.1metres grading 1,286 g/t silver and 9.0 g/t gold including
o 0.9metres grading 3,102 g/t silver and 25.1 g/t gold
• Hole LMD-118: 1.4metres grading 16.4 g/t gold and 81g/t silver including
o 0.6metres grading 34.7 g/t gold and 180 g/t silver
• Confirmation of high-grade mineralization in the northwest extension of the West Feeder
Zone – five additional step-out holes pending along northwest strike
• Confirmation of high-grade veins hosted in andesitic sills, previously interpreted to be a
barren host rock
Vancouver, British Columbia – February 10, 2026 – Astra Exploration Inc. (TSX -V: ASTR,
OTCQB: ATEPF, FSE: S3I) (“Astra” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the first batch of
assays consisting of six DDH holes from the Phase II drill program at the La Manchuria Gold and
Silver Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Assays remain pending for 19 holes.
Astra’s CEO, Brian Miller commented:
“New sources of high-grade veins continue to emerge at La Manchuria. Drilling has revealed the
system is open along strike in both directions, at depth below previous drilling, laterally in new
parallel structures, and now we can definitively add additional host rock units to th at list. We’ve
proven that high-grade gold and silver exist beyond nearly every previously interpreted constraint,
which bolsters our original thesis that La Manchuria has the potential to host a multi-million-ounce
high-grade deposit.”
Miller continues:
“It is important to keep in mind that these results are from a small portion of the property, which
itself now has unconstrained potential – and there are numerous regional targets which show
potential for expansion, all centralized within a large project area of spectacular fertility. We are
eager to commence with the fully -funded second half of Phase II to further expand the system.
Applying the knowledge we’ve gained by opening the system locally will improve our odds of
success and reduce dilution as we grow the system regionally.”
Program Details
A total of 25 drill holes were completed in late 2025 totaling 5,119 metres (see Dec 1, 2025 news
release, “Astra Provides Progress Update on Phase II Drill Program at La Manchuria Gold and
Silver Project, Argentina”). The drill program focused on expanding the near-surface footprint of
the system with shallow (<200m vertical depth) drill holes . The Company plans to commence
geophysical surveys in February and commence with the second half of Phase II (~5,000 metres)
in March 2026.
Drill Results and Discussion
The six drill holes reported herein were focused primarily on the Main Zone area (Figure 1), each
of which intersected at least one noteworthy gold and/or silver interval (Table 1). The regular
occurrence of both gold and silver grade demonstrates the fertility of the system even at shallow
system depths.
Figure 1: Phase II holes drilled to date with assays for the first six holes highlighted in yellow. Dashed line in dark blue
shows approximate location of long section in Figure 2.
West Feeder at Main Zone
The West Feeder contains some of the thickest veins and highest grades currently known at La
Manchuria. LMD-121 and LMD-118 extended the high-grade vein at depth and along strike to the
northwest, respectively (Figure 2). LMD-121 returned a significant mineralized interval, beginning
at 224.4m downhole (~170m vertically below surface) of 3.1 metres grading 9.04 g/t Au and 1,286
g/t Ag, including a higher-grade sub-interval of 0.9 metres grading 25.14 g/t Au and 3,102 g/t Ag.
The interval is comprised of two, banded, quartz–adularia–sulphide veins hosted within an
andesitic sill. This interval is of particular importance, being the first intercept of vein hosted, high
grade gold and silver intersected within andesitic host rocks. The andesitic sill is approximately
25 metres thick and is underlaid by a pyroclastic sequence (Figure 3) which is a common host to
high-grade veins. This revelation adds new potential for high-grade veins at depth.
Figure 2: 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. LMD-118 and LMD-121
in red. Resistivity values expressed in ohm-m.
Figure 3: Cross section of LMD-121 showing the depth extension of the veins at the West Feeder. Gold and silver
results are in grams per tonne (g/t). Photo is the sample with 0.9m grading 25.14 g/t Au & 3,101.7 g/t Ag. Hole LMD-
121 deviated upwards and intersected the vein approximately 25m above the targeted depth.
LMD-118 intersected several quartz–adularia–sulphide banded veins and veinlets hosted within
pyroclastic rocks and an andesitic sill (Figure 4) located in an upthrown structural block west of
the Main Zone (Figure 2). The most significant interval was hosted in an andesitic sill underlain
by pyroclastic sequence (similar to LMD-121) and returned 1.4 metres grading 16.44 g/t Au and
81 g/t Ag, including a higher-grade interval of 0.6 metres grading 34.67 g/t Au and 180 g/t Ag
within a quartz–adularia–amethyst banded vein (see Figure 4 photograph). This structure
represents a 60 metre down dip step out of mineralization intersected in LMD-113 which
returned 1.3 metres grading 17.3 g/t Au and 61 g/t Ag.
Figure 4: Cross section of LMD-118 showing the depth extension of the veins at the West Feeder. Gold and silver
results are in grams per tonne (g/t). Photo is the sample with 0.6m grading 34.67 g/t Au & 180.30 g/t Ag.
East Feeder at Main Zone
LMD-119, LMD-120 and LMD-116 were designed to test, from north to south, the eastern
portion of the Main Zone, referred to as the East Feeder, which is now interpreted to dip toward
the southwest. All holes intersected low-sulphidation epithermal (LSE) veins and veinlets,
returning multiple gold and silver intervals along their lengths (Figure 1 and Table 1). These
results further support and refine the shallow bulk disseminated mineralization model for the
Main Zone.
LMD-120 and LMD-119 tested the northern extension of the East Feeder beneath post mineral
cover and intersected at least three zones of shallow LSE-style mineralization with anomalous
precious metal values (>1 g/t AuEq). These results indicate that the mineralized system remains
open to the north within a downthrown structural block and warrants further drill testing at depth,
particularly within underlying pyroclastic host rocks.
LMD-116 intersected multiple massive to banded quartz–chalcedony–sulphide veins and
veinlets between 7 metres and 211 metres downhole, all hosted within rhyolitic tuffs. The most
significant intersection of 1.1 metres grading 2.77 g/t Au and 41.9 g/t Ag corresponds to the
down-dip projection of the Argentum vein at approximately 150 metre vertical depth. LMD-116
demonstrates that shallow disseminated mineralization within the East Feeder remains open in
all directions.
Basalto Zone
LMD-117 was the first drill hole of the current program to test the structurally complex Basalto
Zone and was designed to evaluate mineralization below Phase I drill hole LMD-105. LMD-117
intersected two zones of mineralization associated with shallow-level banded quartz–
chalcedony–amethyst veins and veinlets hosted within an andesitic sill. Anomalous grades
within the andesitic sills are encouraging, giving the possibility for higher grades in the
underlying pyroclastic host rocks.
Table 1: Assays from the first six holes of Phase II drilling at La Manchuri a using cutoff grade of 0.5 g/t AuEq. Ag:Au
ratio of 60 using $ 3,600 Au and $ 60 Ag. Recoveries of 9 4% for Au and 85% for Ag is an average based on three
regional mine operations 1 and are reflected in AuEq and AgEq values above. Table shows results greater than 1 g/t
AuEq. Estimated true widths are approximately 85% of widths reported herein.
Hole From (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq AgEq
LMD-116 7 2 2.57 18.3 2.68 160.50
LMD-116 25 2 1.03 20.2 1.25 75.26
LMD-116 98.5 1 0.71 27.1 1.05 63.08
LMD-116 100.5 1 0.90 14.4 1.05 63.00
LMD-116 111 4.5 0.73 54.8 1.46 87.76
LMD-116 133 8 0.32 37.8 0.84 50.16
LMD-116 151 2 1.14 3.2 1.12 67.02
LMD-116 210.5 1.1 2.77 41.9 3.20 191.80
LMD-116 231.8 0.85 0.27 47.9 0.93 55.94
LMD-117 113.6 0.6 1.29 178.0 3.73 224.06
LMD-117 160.2 1.6 1.75 6.2 1.73 103.97
LMD-117 208 2 0.98 0.7 0.93 55.87
LMD-118 40 4 1.45 14.2 1.56 93.84
including 42 0.6 6.68 20.0 6.56 393.75
LMD-118 49 1 0.39 73.0 1.40 84.05
LMD-118 114 1.4 16.44 80.7 16.60 995.81
including 114.8 0.6 34.67 180.3 35.14 2108.64
LMD-118 124.6 0.65 2.24 45.8 2.75 165.27
LMD-118 165.7 0.6 0.86 15.4 1.03 61.59
LMD-119 94 4 0.45 38.9 0.97 58.45
LMD-119 117 2 0.97 0.7 0.92 55.30
LMD-120 31 2 0.48 140.4 2.44 146.41
LMD-120 91 2.25 1.25 10.9 1.33 79.73
LMD-120 113 2 0.23 58.4 1.04 62.61
LMD-121 38 2 0.68 119.4 2.33 139.84
LMD-121 116 2 0.92 0.9 0.88 52.65
LMD-121 171 4 0.75 193.6 3.45 206.86
including 173.1 0.8 3.53 547.8 11.08 664.72
LMD-121 220 0.6 2.89 2.4 2.75 165.04
LMD-121 224.4 3.1 9.04 1286.0 26.72 1602.92
including 224.4 0.9 25.14 3101.7 67.57 4054.34
LMD-121 262 2 1.19 1.3 1.14 68.22
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]
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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