ATEX Announces Additional High-Grade Assays from the B2B Zone Significantly Increasing Size of Previously Announced Interval New results from ATXD26B deliver improved size and grade of 186 meters of 2.13% CuEq including 88 Meters of 2.70% CuEq
ATEX Announces Additional High-Grade
Assays from the B2B Zone Significantly
Increasing Size of Previously Announced
Interval
New results from ATXD26B deliver improved size and grade of
186 meters of 2.13% CuEq including 88 Meters of 2.70% CuEq
with results for 400 meters still pending
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 13, 2026) -
ATEX Resources Inc. (TSXV: ATX) (OTCQB:
ATXRF)
("
ATEX
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce a second set of assay results for Phase
VI drill hole ATXD26B, the second hole from the current campaign at the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project
("
Valeriano
" or the "
Project
") located in Atacama Region, Chile. Drilling commenced in September
with six rigs operational on site and has already achieved over half of the 25,000 meters guided for
Phase VI. As noted in prior releases, while the drill program is advancing ahead of schedule, assay
laboratory turnaround times continue to be longer than expected due to elevated seasonal demand
across the industry.
"The continuation of drill results from ATXD26B has improved both the thickness and grades of the
B2B breccia, reinforcing the continuity and growth potential of this high-grade zone,"
commented Ben
Pullinger, President and CEO of ATEX.
"The robustness of this high-grade system continues to be
shown through repeated intersections of consistent, high-grade mineralization, underscoring its
potential to support further resource growth. We now see a zone with approximate dimensions of 400
meters of strike, up to 200 meters in horizontal width and a vertical extent of 500 to 600 meters. We
see potential to further add high-grade tonnes in the porphyry and other breccia targets at Valeriano.
Our focus in 2026 is to aggressively advance these targets."
Highlights include:
ATXD26B
, targeting the
B2B Zone
reported an additional 224 meters of assays, resulting in an
intercept of
88 metres (
"
m
"
) of 2.70% copper equivalent (
"
CuEq
"
)
(1.61% copper "
Cu
", 0.99
g/t gold "
Au
") within broader intervals of
186m of 2.13% CuEq
(1.32% Cu, 0.72 g/t Au) and
448m
of 1.50% CuEq
(0.93% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au).
Increase of 34m including 8% higher CuEq grade
compared to previously reported 54m
of 2.50% CuEq (1.58% Cu, 0.88 g/t Au);
40m and 7% CuEq grade
increase
compared to
previously reported broader interval of 146m of 2.00% CuEq (1.30% Cu, 0.67 g/t Au) and
224m and 1% CuEq grade
increase
compared to previously reported broader interval of
224m of 1.52% CuEq (1.02% Cu, 0.49 g/t Au).
i
Confirms extension
of the current limits of the B2B Zone by
100 meters down dip
.
Chalcopyrite and bornite
mineralization with associated brecciation,
characteristic of
the B2B Zone
was intersected from approximately
1,050m to 1,400m downhole,
before
entering well mineralized early porphyry associated with the high-grade trend until the end of
the hole.
Approximately 400m of assay results for ATXD26B are outstanding.
Table 1 - Updated Partial Results for ATXD26B
Hole ID
From
To
Interval
Cu
Au
Ag
Mo
CuEq %
MRS
(1)
(m)
(m)
(m)
(%)
(g/t)
(g/t)
(g/t)
ATXD26B
1,014
1,462
448
0.93
0.51
-
-
1.50
Incl.
1,076
1,262
186
1.32
0.72
-
-
2.13
Incl.
1,174
1,262
88
1.61
0.99
-
-
2.70
Incl.
1,332
1,394
62
1.12
0.69
-
-
1.84
(1) CuEq calculated using recoveries assumed in 2025 MRE (see Company news dated September 23, 2025) using the formula: Cu (%) +
1.04991243188302 x Au (g/t) + 0.00824244819238401 x Ag (g/t) + 0.000357909627766355 * Mo (g/t).
(2) CuEq reported assuming metal prices of US$2,750/oz Au, US$3.80/lb Cu, US$27/oz Ag, and US$22/lb Mo.
(3) CuEq reported assuming recoveries of Cu 94%, Au 95%, Ag 80% and Mo 64%.
(4) ATXD26B was composited at a cut-off of 0.3% CuEq.
(5) Ag and Mo are pending for 226m within the 1,014m to 1,462m intersection, 8m within the 1,076m to 1,262m intersection, 8m within the 1,174m to
1,262m intersection and 62m within the 1,332 to 1,394m intersection. 402m of assays are pending to the end of the hole.
(6) 4m of drill core was not recovered in a fault zone between 1,140m and 1,144m.
(7) Reported intervals are drill intersections and do not necessarily represent true widths.
Figure 1. Long-Section of B2B and Porphyry Models
ii
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Figure 2. Plan Map of Phase VI Drill Holes
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Phase VI Drill Program Update
The Phase VI drill program has six diamond drill rigs currently active on site and has already achieved
over half of the targeted 25,000 metres of exploration drilling prioritizing the high-grade B2B Zone and
similar nearby high-grade breccia targets. Details of drill holes currently in progress as part of the
ongoing exploration program are provided below. Assay results will be reported as they are finalized and
received from the laboratory.
B2B Zone
ATXD31
is evaluating northwest lateral continuity at lower elevation within the B2B Zone, with
potential to extend into the high-grade core of the porphyry system.
Assays pending.
ATXD32
is testing the B2B Zone approximately 70-80m north of ATXD23A, extending high-grade
mineralization along strike.
Assays pending.
ATXD25D
is testing the northwest strike extension of the B2B Zone in the upper part of the breccia
system.
In progress.
ATXD26C
is testing the northeast extent of the B2B Zone and southwest extent of a B2B-like
target, "
B3B
", approximately 175m northeast of drill hole ATXD25C.
In progress
.
New Breccia Targets
ATXD34A
is testing the B3B target for potential high-grade mineralization approximately 130m
east of the B2B Zone.
Assays pending.
ATXD35
is testing the B3B target for potential high-grade mineralization 190m east of the B2B
Zone.
In progress.
ATXD30
is testing B2B-like mineralization at a newly defined "
B4B
" magnetic anomaly, located at
the northern boundary of the property approximately 600m northeast of the B2B Zone.
Assays
pending.
ATXD36
is evaluating a newly defined "
B5B
" magnetic anomaly, targeting a potential breccia
body located northeast of ATXD30.
In progress.
ATXD33
is targeting an untested B2B-like geophysical anomaly approximately 1 km southeast of
the mineralized center.
Assays pending.
Quality Control & Quality Assurance
Drill holes are collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill holes
progressed deeper. Drill core produced by the drill rigs was extracted from the core tubes by the drill
contractor under the supervision of ATEX employees, marked for consistent orientation and placed in
core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being
transported by ATEX personnel to the Valeriano field camp. Core at the field camp is processed, quick
logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for specific gravity, geotechnical studies and
for assays. From camp, the core is transferred to a secure core-cutting facility in Vallenar, operated by
IMG, a third-party consultant. Here, the core trays are weighed before being cut using a diamond saw
under ATEX personnel oversight. ATEX geologists working at this facility double-check the selected
two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the
core is consistently sampled. Reference numbers are assigned to each sample and each sample is
weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core are weighed and photographed. Additionally, core
logs are updated, and specific gravity and geotechnical samples are collected. The remaining core is
stored in racks at the Company's secure facility in Vallenar.
From Vallenar samples are sent to an ALS preparation facility in Copiapo. ALS is an accredited
laboratory which is independent of the Company. The prepared samples were sent to the ALS assay
laboratories in either Santiago, Chile or Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA24), copper (Cu-AA62), molybdenum
(Mo-AA62) and silver (Ag-AA62) assays as well as and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data
quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.
Qualified Person
Mr. Ben Pullinger, P.Geo., registered with the Professional Geoscientists Ontario, is the Qualified
Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, for the
Valeriano Copper Gold Porphyry Project. Mr. Pullinger is not considered independent under NI 43-101
as he is President and CEO of ATEX. He has reviewed and approved the disclosure of the scientific
and technical information contained in this press release.
About ATEX
ATEX is exploring the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project which is located within the emerging copper gold
porphyry mineral belt linking the prolific El Indio High-Sulphidation Belt to the south with the Maricunga
Gold Porphyry Belt to the north, located in the Atacama Region, Chile. This emerging belt, informally
referred to as the Link Belt, hosts several copper gold porphyry deposits at various stages of
development including, Filo del Sol (Lundin Mining/BHP), Josemaria (Lundin Mining/BHP), Lunahausi
(NGEx Minerals), La Fortuna (Teck Resources/Newmont) and El Encierro (Antofagasta/Barrick).
Valeriano hosts a large, high-grade, copper-gold porphyry Mineral Resource: an Indicated Resource of
475 Mt at 0.88% CuEq (0.58% Cu, 0.25 g/t Au, 1.39 g/t Ag and 70.4 g/t Mo) at a cutoff grade of 0.35%
Cu, and an Inferred resource of 1,511 Mt at 0.75% CuEq (0.50% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au, 1.16 g/t Ag and 70.6
g/t Mo) at a cut-off grade of 0.35% Cu, as reported on September 23, 2025.
For further information, please contact:
Ben Pullinger,
President and CEO
Email:
Aman Atwal,
Vice President, Business Development and Investor Relations
Email:
1-647-398-9405
or visit ATEX's website at
www.atexresources.com
.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including predictions, projections, and
forecasts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such
as "plans", "planning", "expects" or "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or describes a "goal", or variation
of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might"
or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection,
forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements include, among others: statements regarding plans for the evaluation of
exploration properties including the Valeriano Copper Gold Project; the success of evaluation plans; the
success of exploration activities especially to the significant expansion of the high-grade corridor; mine
development prospects; potential for future metals production; changes in economic parameters and
assumptions; all aspects related to the timing and extent of exploration activities, including the Phase V
and Phase VI programs contemplated in this press release; timing of receipt of exploration results; the
interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities and mineralization; changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined; the results of regulatory and permitting processes; future
metals price; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; the results of economic
and technical studies; delays in obtaining governmental and local approvals or financing or in the
completion of exploration; timing of assay results; as well as those factors disclosed in ATEX's publicly
filed documents.
Although ATEX has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or
accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
i
See news release titled "ATEX Intersects 146 Meters Of 2.00% CuEq At B2B Zone with Over 600 Meters Of Results Still Pending", reported on
December 18, 2025.
ii
See news release titled "ATEX Completes Phase V Program Ending in High-Grade B2B Mineralization - Strategic Objectives Achieved With
Resource Update Expected in 2H 2025", reported on July 30, 2025, for ATXD23A and ATXD29A details; see news release titled "ATEX
Demonstrates Scalability and Discovers Overprinting High-Grade System in Phase IV Drill Program", reported on June 25, 2024, for ATXD26
details.
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