Aya Gold & Silver Acquires Strategic Exploration Portfolio in Morocco Adds 259 km² of Prospective Exploration Ground Across Three Distinct Exploration Projects
Aya Gold & Silver Acquires Strategic Exploration
Portfolio in Morocco
Adds 259 km² of Prospective Exploration Ground Across Three Distinct
Exploration Projects
Montreal, Quebec, August 6, 2026 - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA; NASDAQ: AYA) (“Aya” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a strategic exploration portfolio comprising three
mining licenses and 18 exploration permits covering approximately 259 km² of land across thr ee distinct
exploration projects, within highly prospective and underexplored mineral belts in Morocco (the
"Portfolio").
The acquisition complements the Company's existing asset base, further consolidating its exploration
footprint in Morocco, including the regional area surrounding the Zgounder operation and beyond it. It
strengthens the Company's district-scale exploration strategy while expanding its exposure to precious,
base, and critical metal opportunities.
Project Highlights
Portfolio Acquisition: 259.1 km² of prospective ground across three exploration projects
• Zagora project: 158.6 km² across 11 exploration permits, prospective for Ni-Co-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au
mineralization.
• Agadir-Melloul project: 68.5 km² across three mining licenses and five exploration permits, prospective
for Cu-Ag-Au and rare earth element mineralization.
• Goulmim project: 32.0 km² across two exploration permits, prospective for Pb-Ag-Cu-Au mineralization.
• Phased greenfield exploration program designed to rapidly assess discovery potential and prioritize
targets for follow-up work.
“This acquisition reinforces Aya’s first-mover advantage in Morocco and advances our strategy of
building one of the largest exploration portfolios in the country.
"In 2026, we have expanded our land package from approximately 732 km² to more than 991 km²,
representing an increase of 35.4%. We continue to secure district-scale positions early, consolidate
highly prospective mineral belts and build a pipeline of exploration opportunities that have the potential
PRESS RELEASE
to unlock future discoveries and support Aya’s next phase of long-term growth.” said Benoit La Salle,
President & CEO.
Portfolio Overview
The Portfolio comprises three mining licenses and 18 exploration permits covering approximately 259
km² across three distinct exploration projects (Figure 1) with significant potential for mineralization and
for further land consolidation. The following sections summarize the geology and exploration potential of
each project area.
Figure 1: Localization of the different projects of Aya Gold & Silver
Zagora
Located 40 km South of the Bou-Azzer Inlier, the Zagora permit block comprises Lower and Upper
Ordovician sedimentary rocks separated by an east-west to northeast-trending contact and crosscut by a
northeast-trending Triassic dolerite dyke (Figure 2 and 3). The geological setting presents potential for Ni,
Co, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au mineralization, supported by field observations of pentlandite, galena, sphalerite,
chalcopyrite and historical cobalt showing in the district. The land package consists of 11 research
permits totalizing an area of 158.6 km2.
Figure 2: Zagora project with Regional Geology
Figure 3: Zagora project with Aster Bare Earth Mineral Ratios
Agadir-Melloul
The Agadir-Melloul property consists of three mining licenses and five research permits, covering
68.5 km2 separated into two distinct blocks (Figure 4 and 5). The northern block comprises Adoudounian
dolomites overlain by the Taliwine Formation, both covered by Lower Cambrian sedimentary rocks and
limestones. The Adoudounian formation hosts significant Cu-Ag mineralization across the Anti-Atlas,
including the Tizert deposit. The southern block comprises Paleoproterozoic felsic intrusions surrounded
by schists and gneisses and crosscut by northeast- and east-west-trending mafic dykes. The felsic
intrusions belong to an alumino-potassic magmatic suite described as Tazenakht-type, host rocks of the
Açdif gold mineralization within the Zenaga Inlier. The district present potential of sedimentary hosted
copper mineralization, vein type Cu-Au-Ag as well as REE in the intrusive bodies.
Figure 4: Agadir-Melloul project with Regional Geology
Figure 5: Agadir-Melloul project with Aster Bare Earth Mineral Ratios
Goulmim
The Goulmim project of 32 km 2 in two contiguous research permits, located east of the Bas Drâa Inlier,
comprises a Lower Ordovician sedimentary sequence in the central area, surrounded by Middle Cambrian
volcano-sedimentary rocks (Figure 6 and 7). The contact between these units is comparable to the
geological framework of the Elios target at the Boumadine Project and indicates potential for Pb, Ag, Cu,
and Au mineralization.
Figure 6: Goulmim project with Regional Geology
Figure 7: Goulmim project with Aster Bare Earth Mineral Ratios
Next Steps
Over the next 18 to 24 months, we will engage with greenfield exploration to quickly access the potential
for discoveries. We will be carrying, some stream sediments geochemistry, high resolution hyperspectral
study as well as some mapping and prospecting. Results from this phase will inform the need for further
work like geophysics and drilling.
Transaction
The Portfolio was acquired for a total consideration of MAD 10 million , consisting of cash and an
assumption of debt. In addition, the sellers are entitled to milestone payments based on future
resource and development milestones, and a 2% net smelter return royalty on future commercial
production from the Portfolio, which may be repurchased in whole or in part by the Company under
certain predetermined conditions. Certain customary post-closing administrative formalities in Morocco
remain in progress.