Auriginal-IAMGOLD Anik JV Drilling Program Commences in the Nelligan Gold Camp
Auriginal-IAMGOLD Anik JV Drilling Program
Commences in the Nelligan Gold Camp
Highlights:
The Anik JV property is adjacent to IAMGOLD's Nelligan Gold Deposit
Anik straddles the eastern continuation of the Nelligan Deformation Zone (NDZ), host to Nelligan
Gold Deposit and on parallel gold structures immediately to the north of the NDZ.
Drilling is underway in the north-central portion of the Anik property, with a planned program of 8
holes totaling 1,600 metres.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2026) -
Auriginal Mining Corp. (TSXV: AUME)
("
Auriginal
" or the "
Company
"), in partnership with
IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) (NYSE: IAG)
("IAMGOLD"),
is pleased to announce that diamond drilling of the Anik JV property has commenced to
test new high-priority gold targets. The Anik property in immediately adjacent to the northern boundary of
IAMGOLD's prolific Nelligan Gold Project, 40 km SW of Chapais, Quebec.
Access to the property is via
paved Highway 113 N, which links Chapais to Chibougamau, and via forestry gravel roads that reach all
points on the property.
"We are excited to have IAMGOLD as a JV partner to advance the Anik gold project," said Peter
Cashin, Auriginal's Chief Executive Officer. "The property, being adjacent and to the east of the Nelligan
gold project and one of Quebec's premier gold project developments, provides us with an opportunity to
supplement the significant resource potential of the area. We are monitoring IAMGOLD's developments
on their drilling plans and look forward to updates as the drilling progresses."
Figure 1 - 2026 Anik JV Project Exploration Drilling Program Proposal
Anik Project Exploration History
The Anik property has been the subject of a comprehensive geological, geophysical, rock and soil
geochemical, and diamond-drilling programs between 2014 and 2025. The property straddles the
eastern continuation of the geology and structure that hosts IAMGOLD's Nelligan Gold Deposit
1
. The
focus of historical work was on drill-testing gold potential of the eastern continuation of the Nelligan
Deformation Zone. To date, the best intersections on the property were retuned from the Opawica West
target area, which intersected 2.82 g/t Au over 6.3 m, including 9.76 g/t Au over 1.5 m (BH ANK-22-29)
and
1.46 g/t Au over 6.6 m, including 4.84 g/t Au over 0.6 m (ANK-24-39).
2026 Proposed Drill Program
IAMGOLD, as operator of the program, has commenced a 8-hole, 1,600 m drill program to test gold
targets in the North central part of the Anik property (
see
Figure 1
). The program is designed to test
important geophysical, geological and structural targets identified on this part of the property. Drilling is
progressing well and has commenced the third hole of the program. Drilling is expected to be completed
in February.
Terms of the Auriginal-IAMGOLD Anik Joint Venture
The ANIK Project was an Earn-In and Joint Venture Agreement between IAMGOLD Corporation
(IAMGOLD) and Kintavar Exploration Inc. (currently Auriginal) comprising a total of 96 designated cells
for a total surface area of 5,374.56 hectares (or 53.75 km²). Under the terms of the Agreement signed on
May 26, 2020, Kintavar granted IAMGOLD an option to earn up to an 80% interest in the Project.
IAMGOLD had a First Option to acquire 75% undivided interest in the Anik project in consideration of:
(a) staged cash payments totalling $600,000, and (b) the completion of $4,000,000 in exploration
expenditures on the Project over a period of 5 years. All the option terms were met by IAMGOLD for the
5th and last Year of the Option Agreement on May 26, 2025. IAMGOLD has exercised its First Option to
acquire a 75% undivided interest in the property. The ANIK project is now owned 75% by IAMGOLD and
25% by Auriginal.
About Auriginal Mining Corp.
Auriginal is a Quebec-focused copper and gold company with one of the province's largest and most
diversified exploration portfolios. Its 100%-owned flagship Roger Project, located in the Chibougamau
district, hosts a known gold-copper deposit with strong potential to host volcanic-hosted polymetallic
massive sulphide deposits. With a diversified pipeline of greenfield projects across Quebec's best-
known mining regions and backed by the Ore Group's proven exploration and capital markets team
Auriginal has a clear focus on discovery and growth for copper, zinc and gold. The company is well-
positioned to immediately execute an aggressive exploration and acquisition strategy and attract
broader market attention. Further details on Auriginal are available on the company website at
https://auriginal.ca/
.
Qualified Person Statement
The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles
Beaudry, P.Geo (1202) and géo. (311), a Director of Auriginal and a Qualified Person as defined in "NI
43-101".
For further information, please contact:
Peter Cashin, P.Geo
Chief Executive Officer
Tel:
416-644-1567 Ext. #9
www.auriginal.ca
Cautionary Statement
Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information
("forward-looking statements)", including details about the business of Auriginal Mining. All
statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or
developments that Auriginal Mining expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. By their nature,
forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are
beyond the Auriginal Mining's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry
conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks,
competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes
that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements
have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be
inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those
stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to
future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other
factors that could affect actual results are discussed in Auriginal Mining's public disclosure
documents available at
www.sedarplus.ca
. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in
this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law,
Auriginal Mining does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The
forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Figure 1 - 2026 Anik JV Project Exploration Drilling Program Proposal
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