Copper Quest Announces 2026 Exploration Programs Beginning with Drilling on the Rip Copper-Molybdenum Project
CSE: CQX WWW.COPPER.QUEST
Copper Quest Announces 2026 Exploration Programs Beginning
with Drilling on the Rip Copper-Molybdenum Project
April 21, 2026
Vancouver, British Columbia – Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX)
(“Copper Quest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it plans to advance several of its
properties in 2026 starting with drilling on the Rip Copper-Molybdenum Project (the “Project” or “RIP”)
in early May. Copper Quest has signed a Drilling Services Agreement with APEX Diamond Drilling Ltd.
out of Smithers, BC, and has commenced preparations for drilling a minimum of 2,000 meters. The
RIP Project is in the Stikine region of British Columbia, situated approximately 33 km northeast of
Imperial Metals Corporation’s past producing Huckleberry copper-molybdenum (“Cu-Mo”) mine and
Surge Copper’s advanced stage Ox/Seal/Berg projects, and 30 km southeast of Vizsla Copper Corp’s
Poplar copper-gold Project. Imperial Metals Corporation is exploring Huckleberry and its surrounding
claims for additional Cu-Mo resources.
Copper Quest planned 2026 Exploration:
● Early-May to mid-June – minimum 2,000 meters drilling at Rip Copper-Molybdenum Project.
● Mid-May to early-July - induced polarization (“IP”) survey on the STARS Copper-
Molybdenum Property to be followed by the Company’s inaugural drilling campaign.
● Late-May to late-June - refurbishment of the access road for the past-producing Alpine Gold
mine followed by reopening of the underground workings and assessment of the
stockpile of run-of-mine material at site.
● Mid-July to early-September – drilling on the Alpine Property to confirm and expand upon
historical resource estimates.
● Early-August to early-September - induced polarization (“IP”) survey on the Kitimat Copper-
Gold Project to be followed by the Company’s inaugural drilling campaign. Permitting is
expected to be completed by late summer based on the BC Government’s new guidelines.
● September to October - STARS Copper-Molybdenum Property inaugural drilling campaign.
Highlights of the Rip Copper-Molybdenum Project:
● First phase drill testing at Rip has confirmed that largely covered geophysical targets define a
multi-phase Cu-Mo mineralized porphyry system.
● Zones of anomalous Cu-Mo mineralization are hosted in porphyritic intrusions and associated
vein stockwork. Drill Intersection highlights include (*Table 1):
▪ 0.102% CuEq over 126.6 m* in drill hole RP24-001 from 21.4 m
- Including 0.268% CuEq over 24.6 m* from 21.4 m
▪ 0.112% CuEq over 114.3 m* in drill hole RP24-002 from 33.6 m
● The northern, approximately 1 X 1 kilometre (“km”), annular geophysical anomalies remain
largely untested, while the southern anomaly of similar size has yet to be drill tested.
● most assays from the 2024 drill campaign are anomalous in Cu-Mo and the presence of
intense quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration and strongly developed vein sets resembling D veins
indicates the presence of a significant porphyry system that has only been partially tested.
● The Rip represents an opportunity for the Company to drill an untested but known multi-
phase Cu-Mo porphyry system in the Bulkley Valley that is one of BC’s most prospective areas
for porphyry exploration and discovery.
Brian Thurston, CEO of Copper Quest, stated, “Copper Quest staff and contractors are excited to be
getting an early start to what we anticipate will be a busy field season. We aim to advance several of our key
properties, beginning with a drill program at RIP that will fulfill the terms for our acquisition of a 60% interest
in this high-potential asset. Phase One drilling in 2024 demonstrated that a blind, multi-phase Cu-Mo
mineralized porphyry system is responsible for at least one of the two compelling geophysical ‘bullseye’
targets outlined on the property. While the 2024 program successfully validated the target concept, most of
the northern target and all of the southern target remain untested by drilling. It is a rare opportunity to get
to explore road-accessible, validated porphyry targets in British Columbia that have seen so little previous
drilling, particularly within an established porphyry district such as the Bulkley Valley. Copper Quest has
assembled a dominant land position in the Bulkley Porphyry Belt, including the STARS, RIP and Stellar
properties, providing shareholders with a district -scale copper porphyry exploration and discovery
opportunity.”
APEX Diamond Drilling Ltd. out of Smithers, BC, has been contracted for this second phase drill
program comprising a minimum of 2,000 metres. The project will be run out of Houston, BC, located
approximately 60 km north of the Rip property. The drilling will target both the northern and untested
southern anomalies defined by Copper Quest’s geophysical surveys, airborne magnetics and 3D IP,
detailed by the Company in its July 31, 2024, press release. The geophysical surveys define two
porphyry Cu-Mo mineralized centres (Figure 1). The northernmost centre coincides with outcropping
porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization and comprises a coincident magnetic/resistivity high, surrounded by
a large “doughnut” shaped chargeability high (>35 mV/V) with a diameter of approximately 1 km. The
second potential porphyry Cu-Mo centre is situated approximately 1.1 km to the south, comprising a
similar magnetic high surrounded by a “doughnut” shaped chargeability high (>35 mV/V). This
southern potential porphyry centre is entirely covered by overburden with a diameter of
approximately 850 metres.
In summary, the 2024 mag, IP and drill program successfully resolved the original Rip anomaly into
two separate porphyry systems and demonstrated that the northern target contains multiple intrusive
phases and long intervals of low-grade Cu-Mo mineralization. This northern target has been partly
defined as a 600m wide subvertical cylindrical mineralized zone between a magnetic barren core and
a chargeable pyrite halo. The northern target has only been tested by three diamond drill holes (two
by Copper Quest in 2024, one historical in 1975). The southern geophysical target is equivalent in size
to the northern anomaly and has no diamond drill testing.
Figure 1: RIP Chargeability and Magnetic Survey Results
Technical Details of 2024 Exploration and Drill Program
Copper Quest drilled 1033 metres in two holes in 2024 at the Rip Cu-Mo porphyry project. The Rip
project is interpreted as a highly underexplored porphyry Cu -Mo system that is predominantly
covered by overburden. A small outcrop area contains variably altered porphyritic intrusions which
cut strongly hornfelsed Hazelton Group volcano-sedimentary rocks. Porphyritic intrusions and
hornfelsed country rock are both host to porphyry style stockwork, including magnetite-chalcopyrite
and quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite veins. Historical exploration drilling on the project included
shallow, predominantly percussion holes targeting a large IP anomaly; within the IP anomaly, the
holes intersected predominantly quartz -sericite-pyrite altered lithologies (including altered
porphyritic intrusions) with anomalous Cu-Mo mineralization. Multiple holes failed to reach bedrock.
An airborne magnetic survey flown in 2024 revealed for the first time two separate circular magnetic
highs within the historical chargeability high, suggesting that Rip contains two porphyry centers. The
southern mag high is significantly larger than the northern one but does not crop out. Following the
airborne mag survey, a 3D-DCIP induced polarization and resistivity survey was completed over the
Rip target in 2024. The new IP survey resolved the original 1980 chargeability anomaly into two
chargeability “donuts” around the two separate magnetic highs, the classic “pyrite halo” signature of
porphyry systems, providing more evidence for the interpretation that Rip contains two adjacent
porphyry systems.
Two drill holes were completed on the northern geophysical target from a single setup, both
intersecting anomalous to low-grade Cu-Mo porphyry mineralization from surface, and at depths
>400m in RP24-001 (Figure 2). Mineralization in both holes is hosted in three distinct phases of
porphyritic intrusions with potassic to phyllic alteration and multistage veining (e.g., magnetite -
chalcopyrite; quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite, pyrite-chalcopyrite with sericite haloes).
Table 1. Summary of assay results*
DDH From To Interval
(m)
Cu
ppm
Mo
ppm
Au
g/t
Ag
g/t
CuEq
%
RP24-001 21.40 148.00 126.60 514 43.2 0.026 0.50 0.102
RP24-001 incl 21.40 94.00 72.60 659 63.4 0.035 0.69 0.137
RP24-001 incl 21.40 46.00 24.60 1285 109.0 0.074 1.55 0.268
RP24-001 and 464.00 532.00 68.00 665 38.1 0.018 0.46 0.107
RP24-001 incl 500.00 516.00 16.00 886 36.8 0.022 0.57 0.134
RP24-002 33.60 147.90 114.30 615 49.8 0.023 0.48 0.112
RP24-002 incl 33.60 106.00 72.40 724 63.9 0.029 0.57 0.136
Notes on Table 1: CuEq values are length-weighted averages calculated using metal prices of US$5.50/lb Cu, US$25.00/lb Mo,
US$4,500/oz Au and US$70/oz Ag, with assumed metallurgical recoveries based on average reported recoveries from five
regional porphyry deposits. See footnote * below for details.
RP24-001 drilled eastwards towards the core of the geophysical anomaly, targeting the magnetic high
within the high chargeability ring. Between upper and lower mineralized zones lies a central barren
zone of strongly magnetic crowded porphyry (148-284m), major quartz pods and segregations (284-
334m) and unidirectional solidification textures (“USTs”) (369-374m). These coincide with the magnetic
high and are interpreted to comprise a central magmatic cupola near the magmatic-hydrothermal
transition.
RP24-002 drilled westwards away from the core of the geophysical anomaly, targeting the strongest
portion of the high chargeability ring. Below an upper zone of weak Cu-Mo mineralization, the lower
portions of the hole intersected strong to intense sericite-pyrite alteration with D-style veins but
negligible Cu-Mo. This abundant pyrite alteration explains the chargeability ring and is interpreted to
be a portion of the pyrite halo of the northern target.
Drill hole locations
Table 2: 2024 drill hole locations (NAD83 Zone 10)
DDH Easting Northing Elevation
(m)
Total Depth
(m)
Azimuth Dip
RP24-001 647857 5967278 1065 533.40 75 -60
RP24-002 647857 5967278 1065 499.87 270 -60
Figure 2 – Plan view of 2024 drilling, overlain on northern geophysical target. (Data from drill hole
A75-1 is included from historical sources that have not been verified by Copper Quest)
Figure 3: Cross section across the northern target (looking north), showing chargeability and CuEq
drill intercepts.
Copper Quest Option Agreement and Claims Acquisition
In December 2023, the Company announced its option agreement with ArcWest Exploration Inc.
(“ArcWest”) to acquire up to an 80% interest in the Rip Cu-Mo Project. Copper Quest can earn the first
60% tier of its interest in the project by completing staged exploration work totalling C$2.0 million and
direct payment of C$100,000 and annual share payments over four years until the end of 2027. In
2024 ArcWest and Copper Quest added five additional claims to the option agreement, acquired by
staking, more than doubling the initial 2,308.81 ha road accessible property to its current 4,770.65 ha.
Notes:
* Detailed CuEq Methodology: Copper equivalent (“CuEq”) values represent length-weighted averages
of selected contiguous assay intervals with values continuously greater than 500 ppm CuEq, with
allowance for inclusion of single-sample gaps below 500 ppm CuEq. These intervals are intended to
illustrate the extent and continuity of the mineralizing system and are not necessarily indicative of
economic grades. CuEq calculations incorporate assumed metallurgical recoveries based on average
publicly reported recoveries from five regional porphyry deposits: Huckleberry, Poplar, Seel, Ox and
Berg. Average recoveries used were 91.2% Cu, 85.8% Mo, 73.1% Au and 70.1% Ag, normalized to
copper. CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 0.000428 × Mo (ppm) + 0.957 × Au (g/t) + 0.01425 × Ag (g/t). Metal price
assumptions were US$5.50/lb Cu, US$25.00/lb Mo, US$4,500/oz Au and US$70/oz Ag. Recovery
references include Christensen et al. (2011) Huckleberry Mine Technical Report; Ashton and Robb
(2021) Poplar Project Technical Report; Stacey and Grey (2022) Seel metallurgical testwork disclosure;
Boyce and Giroux (2014) Ox metallurgical study; and Murray et al. (2023) Berg PEA Technical Report.
Qualified Person
Brian Thurston, P.Geo., the Company’s President, CEO and a qualified person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the
technical information in this news release.
About Copper
Copper is an essential industrial metal at the heart of the global energy transition and modern
infrastructure. It plays a critical role in electrification, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, data
centers, and smart technologies. With global demand rising and new supply challenged by declining
grades, complex permitting, and underinvestment, the copper market faces persistent deficits and
growing geopolitical scrutiny. Recent U.S. policy announcements, including import tariffs and
initiatives to secure domestic and allied supply chains, underscore copper’s strategic importance and
the need for resilient, localized resource exploration, development, production and processing
capacity.
About Copper Quest Exploration Inc.
The company's land holdings comprise 8 projects that span over 46,000 hectares in great mining
jurisdictions of Canada and the USA. Copper Quest is committed to building shareholder value
through acquisitions, discovery-driven exploration, and responsible development of its North
American portfolio of assets. The Company’s common shares are principally listed on the Canadian
Stock Exchange under the symbol “CQX”. For more information on Copper Quest, please visit the
Company’s website at www.copper.quest.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the past-producing Alpine Gold Mine located approximately 20
kilometers northeast of the City of Nelson British Columbia, spanning 4,611.49 hectares with a 2018
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects historical inferred resource
of 268,000 tonnes, estimated using a cut-off grade of 5.0 g/t Au and an average grade of 16.52 g/t Au,
that represents an inferred resource of 142,000 oz of gold* (*McCuaig & Giroux, March 6, 2018, NI43-
101 Technical Report for the Alpine Property, BC, Canada. Further drilling is necessary by the Company to
upgrade/verify the estimate. The QP has not done sufficient work to make the resource current and the
Company is not treating the estimate as current.). Apart from the Alpine Mine itself the property hosts
4 other less explored significant vein systems including the past -producing King Solomon vein
workings, the Black Prince and the Cold Blow veins system, and the Gold Crown vein system. *The
Company has not yet completed sufficient work to verify the 2018 historic inferred resource results.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Stars Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum
Property, spanning 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt with Tana Zone
discovery drill intersection highlights of 0.466% Cu over 195.07m in drill hole DD18SS004 from
23.47m, 0.200% Cu over 396.67m in drill hole DD18SS010 from 29.37m, and 0.205% Cu over 207.27m
in drill hole DD18SS015 from 163.98m. This highly prospective, approximately 5X2.5 -kilometer
annular magnetic anomaly is interpreted to represent an altered monzonite intrusion and
surrounding hornfels.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Kitimat Copper-Gold Property, spanning
2,954 hectares within the Skeena Mining Division of northwestern British Columbia located northwest
of the deep-water port community of Kitimat, British Columbia. The property benefits from
exceptional infrastructure, being within 10 km of tidewater, 1.5 km of rail, and 6 km of high-voltage
hydroelectric transmission lines. Exploration on the Kitimat property dates to the late 1960s, with the
most significant historical work conducted by Decade Resources Ltd. (2010), which completed 16
diamond drill holes totaling 4,437.5 meters in the Jeannette Cu -Au Zone, and drill intersection
highlights of 0.54% Cu and 1.03 g/t Au over 117.07 m in Hole J-7 from 1.52 m, 0.55% Cu and 1.00 g/t
Au over 103.65m in Hole J-1 from 9.15 m, 0.45% Cu and 0.80 g/t Au over 107.01m in Hole J-2 from
6.10 m, and 0.33% Cu and 0.41 g/t Au over 112.20m in Hole J-8 from 11.89 m.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the past-producing, road accessible Auxer Gold Mine, spanning
1,087 hectares located in Bonner County, Idaho, USA. This orogenic gold opportunity is positioned
along one of the region’s most significant structural corridors located within the prolific Hope Fault
system. Historical exploration has demonstrated exceptional gold grades, with the 1936 Platts report
documenting up to 21.0 g/t Au in surface samples and underground workings showing consistent
mineralization over 4.3-meter widths averaging 9.42 g/t Au at an 18-meter depth.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Nekash Copper-Gold Project, a porphyry exploration
opportunity located in Lemhi County, Idaho, USA, along the prolific Idaho-Montana porphyry copper
belt that hosts world-class systems such as Butte and CUMO. The project is fully road-accessible via
maintained U.S. highways and forest service roads and consists of 70 unpatented federal lode claims
covering 585 hectares.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Stellar Property, spanning 5,389-hectares
in British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt contiguous to the Stars Property.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern
British Columbia spanning over 20,658 hectares with 10 priority targets identified demonstrating
significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.
Copper Quest has an earn-in option of up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the road accessible
Rip Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Project, spanning 4,700-hectares located in the Bulkley
Porphyry Belt in central British Columbia.
On behalf of the Board of Copper Quest Exploration Inc.
Brian Thurston, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 778-949-1829
For further information contact:
Investor Relations
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, future operations and activities of
Copper Quest, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always,
identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, and
similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, or “should” occur or be
achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements
are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these
factors. Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks
associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated
geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company
may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's
exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business
plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the
Company's business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements
and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any
obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should
they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release,
and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.