ATEX Drills New Highest-Grade Intercept in First Phase VI Drill Hole Hitting 164 Metres of 2.72% CuEq Including 40 Metres of 4.73% CuEq in the B2B Zone Six Rigs Currently Targeting Further B2B Expansion and New B2B-Like Discoveries
ATEX Drills New Highest-Grade Intercept in
First Phase VI Drill Hole Hitting 164 Metres of
2.72% CuEq Including 40 Metres of 4.73% CuEq
in the B2B Zone
Six Rigs Currently Targeting Further B2B Expansion and New
B2B-Like Discoveries
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 21, 2025) -
ATEX Resources Inc. (TSXV: ATX) (OTCQB:
ATXRF)
("
ATEX
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce initial results for drill hole ATXD25C, the
first hole from its Phase VI drill campaign at the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project ("
Valeriano
" or the
"
Project
") located in Atacama Region, Chile. Drilling commenced in late September with six rigs
operational on site.
"Phase VI is off to an exceptional start with the first hole of the program returning the best drill results
reported at Valeriano to date," Stated Ben Pullinger, President and CEO of ATEX. "These results
further confirm the high-grade nature and continuity of mineralization within the B2B Zone which we
seek to expand and further delineate as a priority in Phase VI. Similar to the Phase V program, this
campaign is off to an outstanding start with new record-setting results. Drilling within the B2B Zone and
in adjacent areas prospective for new high-grade breccia discoveries remains a key strategic
objective of the Phase VI program. Results to date continue to highlight the potential for an
economically robust, conceptual starter operation closer to surface, as well as strong evidence for
further Mineral Resource expansion. With six rigs now turning, the Phase VI program is fully
operational, and we look forward to delivering more exciting results in the weeks ahead."
Highlights include:
ATXD25C
is an infill hole testing the B2B Zone and intersected
164 metres (
"
m
"
) of 2.72%
copper equivalent (
"
CuEq
"
)
(1.69% copper "
Cu
", 0.97 g/t gold "
Au
") including
86 metres of
3.77% CuEq
(2.28% Cu, 1.41 g/t Au) and
40 metres of 4.73% CuEq
(2.76% Cu, 1.88 g/t Au)
starting at 1,558m downhole.
Results follow on from and include previously reported intercept of 8m at 2.26%
CuEq
(1.69% Cu, 0.80 g/t Au, 5.0 g/t Ag and 30 g/t Mo) starting at 1,558m downhole in
Phase V.
i
The
reported intervals are contained within a broader intercept of 528m at 1.32%
CuEq
(0.87% Cu, 0.41 g/t Au) from 1,302m downhole.
The
results exceed the average grade estimated
, within the area tested by ATXD25C, in
the 2025 Mineral Resource estimate indicating the
potential to increase the grade
currently estimated in the B2B Zone
.
This breccia zone hosts the highest-grade mineralization encountered in the B2B
Zone at Valeriano to date
and the B2B target remains open in all directions.
ATXD25C was re-entered and continued from where it left off at the end of Phase V with
drilling continuing from 1,566m and was extended an additional 320m to a final depth of
1,886m
ending in mineralization
.
The hole was flattened out to approximately 15 degrees using directional drilling ultimately
drilling sub-horizontally across the full width of the B2B Zone and confirming the contacts and
width of the zone.
56m of assays still pending
from 1,830m to end of hole at 1,886m.
Table 1 - Summary Results for ATXD25C
Hole ID
(4)
From
To
Interval
Cu
Au
Ag
Mo
CuEq %
MRS
(1,2,3)
(m)
(m)
(m)
(%)
(g/t)
(g/t)
(g/t)
ATXD25C
1,302
1,830
528
0.87
0.41
-
-
1.32
Incl.
1,558
1,722
164
1.69
0.97
-
-
2.72
Incl.
1,558
1,644
86
2.28
1.41
-
-
3.77
Incl.
1,604
1,644
40
2.76
1.88
-
-
4.73
(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) ATXD25C was composited at a cut-off of 0.3% CuEq with a maximum internal dilution of 18m representing 26m of late-porphyry dykes
intersected at 1,532m.
(5) Ag and Mo are pending for 1565.5m to 1,830m with all assays pending from 1,830m to 1,886m.
(6) True width of mineralized intersection not known.
Figure 1. Long-Section of B2B and Porphyry Models
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Figure 2. Plan Map of Phase VI Drill Holes
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Phase VI Drill Program Update
ATEX is fully operational with its Phase VI drill program and six diamond drill rigs currently active on site.
The program targeting approximately 25,000 metres of high-impact, cost-efficient exploration utilizing
directional drilling techniques. Drilling commenced six weeks earlier compared to the previous Phase V
program, reflecting material gains in operational efficiency. A primary objective of Phase VI is to further
define the high-grade B2B Zone, which has again returned record initial results from drill hole ATXD25C.
Ongoing success in this zone has the potential to significantly expand the volume of high-grade
mineralization at Valeriano, thereby improving the Project's overall grade profile and reinforcing the
strategic significance of the B2B Zone within the larger porphyry system.
Details of drill holes in addition to ATXD25C, 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.
ATXD26B
(kick-off from 763m) is a daughter hole targeting the B2B Zone and testing between
drill holes ATXD26 and ATXD23A and testing the vertical extent of the high-grade B2B
intersections above the current zone elevation.
Assays Pending.
ATXD23A intersected 152m of 2.12% CuEq (1.52% Cu, 0.75 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag, 161 g/t Mo)
within a broader interval of 342m of 1.52% CuEq (1.05% Cu, 0.47 g/t Au, 3.0 g/t Ag, 326 g/t
Mo) from 1,226m downhole.
ii
ATXD26 intersected 68.0 metres of 2.02% CuEq (1.39% Cu, 0.60 g/t Au, 3.81 g/t Ag and
473 g/t Mo) within 356.0 metres of 0.98% CuEq (0.7% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au, 1.49 g/t Ag and 180
g/t Mo).
iii
ATXD30
is a new discovery target testing B2B-like mineralization. The drill hole is collared
approximately 600 metres to the northeast of the B2B Zone.
Assays Pending.
ATXD31
is targeting potential extension of the B2B Zone by 300 metres to the north-north-west.
Assays Pending.
ATXD32
is testing the B2B Zone approximately 65m north of ATXD23A to confirm high-grade
mineralization along strike.
Assays Pending.
ATXD33
represents a new discovery hole targeting an untested geophysical anomaly located
approximately 400 metres south-east of the southern extent of the Valeriano Porphyry.
Assays
Pending.
ATXD34
is testing a B2B-like target for potential high-grade mineralization 130m to the east of
B2B.
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 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.
ii
See news release titled "ATEX Extends High-Grade Porphyry Trend Intersecting 220 Metres of 1.00% CuEq Within Broader Intercept With
Remaining Assays Still Pending", reported on February 24, 2025.
iii
See news release titled "ATEX Demonstrates Scalability and Discovers Overprinting High-Grade System in Phase IV Drill Program", reported on
June 25, 2024.
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