Copper Quest Completes AI-Driven Analysis at Kitimat Identifies Large Concealed Conductive Target
CSE: CQX www.copper.quest
COPPER QUEST COMPLETES AI-DRIVEN ANALYSIS AT KITIMAT
IDENTIFIES LARGE CONCEALED CONDUCTIVE TARGET
Vancouver, British Columbia –March 5, 2026 – Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX;
OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) (“Copper Quest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the
completion of its AI-driven geological analysis at its 100%-owned Kitimat Copper-Gold Project
(“Kitimat”) in northwestern British Columbia confirming a large conductive anomaly
consistent with a buried porphyry center.
Brian Thurston, CEO of Copper Quest, stated , “The completion of our AI -driven analysis
marks a significant step forward at Kitimat. The AI generation of this very large conductive
anomaly positioned along a structural magnetic boundary in fertile arc volcanics could very easily
represent a concealed intrusive porphyry center. The historical mineralization drilled nearby
delivered significant near-surface copper-gold intercepts that remain open and conforms with our
geologic interpretation that those intercepts may represent the outer expression of a much larger
porphyry system, perhaps of the AI generated anomaly now observed.”
Copper Quest announced its strategic partnership with U.S. based Exploration Technologies
Inc. (“ExploreTech”) on December 1, 2025, to deploy generative artificial intelligence across
its project portfolio, beginning with the Kitimat Copper –Gold Project in British Columbia.
Using the ExplorTech platform, historical information from the Kitimat project was
integrated and reprocessed, including historical diamond drilling (including 2010 Jeannette
Cu-Au Zone drilling), government airborne magnetics, VTEM conductivity data, structural and
lithological interpretations, 2025 field observations and alteration mapping , as well as s oil
and rock geochemistry. The platform integrated this historical information into a unified
probabilistic 3D geological framework while the AI system generate d thousands of
subsurface geological scenarios, ranking probability clusters for concealed intrusive centers
and sulphide-rich alteration zones.
Alex Miltenberger, PhD, CEO of ExploreTech commented , “Our generative AI platform
evaluates thousands of geological and geophysical permutations to identify the highest -
probability mineralized centers. At Kitimat, the integrated magnetic, VTEM, drilling and geological
datasets produce a coherent target architecture consistent with buried intrusive -related
mineralization. This platform has been successfully applied on multiple porphyry systems
worldwide and we look forward to supporting Copper Quest as they advance this project toward
drill confirmation.”
AI modeling has identified a large, buried conductive body measuring approximately 1.5 km
by 1.5 km in lateral extent. The anomaly demonstrates strong vertical continuity to at least 1
km depth—the maximum limit of the analysis —and begins just 50 meters belo w surface,
concealed beneath sedimentary cover. The conductor is situated within a pronounced
magnetic gradient/dipole corridor, with a spatial relationship suggestive of an intrusive
contact or alteration boundary. It also lies in proximity to documented volcanic-hosted
sulphide mineralization.
The geological setting—Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanics intruded by Coast Plutonic
rocks—further supports the exploration model. Collectively, these characteristics are
interpreted by the Company as indicative of a concealed, sulphide-rich hydrothermal center.
Permitting has been initiated for a 2026 Induced Polarization survey followed by a diamond
drill program to test this compelling target.
These AI results have materially refined and strengthened Copper Quest’s the ory that the
project area hosts a large hydrothermal copper -gold porphyry system. ExploreTech’s
modeling supports the geologic interpretation that the 2010 drilling at the Jeannette Zone
may represent a peripheral expression of a larger concealed intrusive center (Figure 1) ,
represented by the AI interpreted kilometer-scale conductive anomaly.
Figure 1: Presumed geological setting of the Jeannette zone within the larger Kitimat claim block
taken from National Instrument 43 -101 report written on the Kitimat property by Jeremy Hanson,
P.Geo, in 2020.
The Kitimat Project hosts significant historical copper -gold drill intersections, mostly
completed by Decade Resources Ltd. in 2010 at the Jeannette Zone. Notable intervals include
117.07m grading 0.54% Cu and 1.03 g/t Au (Hole J-7), 103.65m grading 0.55% Cu and 1.00 g/t
Au (Hole J -1), 107.01m grading 0.45% Cu and 0.80 g/t Au (Hole J-2), and 112.20 m grading
0.33% Cu and 0.41 g/t Au (Hole J-8).
INFRASTRUCTURE ADVANTAGE
The Kitimat Project is supported by outstanding infrastructure that meaningfully strengthens
its development potential. The property benefits from established road access via historic
logging and exploration roads, proximity to rail infrastructure, access to high -voltage
hydroelectric power, and deep -water port facilities at Kitimat. Located just 10 kilometers
from the city within a stable, mining -friendly jurisdiction, the project is exceptionally well
positioned. Collective ly, this infrastructure base has the potential to materially enhance
project economics in the event of a discovery.
QUALIFIED PERSON
Brian G. Thurston, P.Geo., the Company’s President and 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.
COPPER: GLOBAL SUPPLY DEFICIT & CRITICAL METAL
Global copper demand is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, fueled by electrification,
electric vehicles, renewable energy deployment, expanding data centers, AI infrastructure,
and large -scale grid modernization. At the same time, the industry faces mo unting
constraints while ore grades at existing mines continue to decline, new discoveries become
increasingly rare, permitting timelines are lengthening, and meaningful supply deficits are
projected over the coming decade.
In this environment, advancing new copper discoveries in stable, mining -friendly
jurisdictions such as Canada and the USA has become essential to Western energy security
and long-term economic growth. Copper Quest is strategically positioned to help deliver the
next generation of North American copper discoveries.
ABOUT EXPLORETECH
ExploreTech is a mineral exploration company which specializes in AI -driven exploration
workflows, including geological modeling, geophysical inversion, and drill -target
optimization, to find concealed mineralized systems. ExploreTech is led by Alex Miltenberger,
PhD, and Tyler Hall, PhD, both graduates of Stanford University in Geophysics and Geology
respectively, with professional backgrounds in exploration and mining. The ExploreTech
platform integrates geophysics, drilling, geochemistry, structural interpretation, and satellite
data into a probabilistic 3D geological framework designed to rapidly identify possible
concealed intrusive centers and mineralized systems. ExploreTech has successfully
leveraged their technology on a number of different projects, with a pa rticular strength in
revealing hidden porphyry targets. More information on ExploreTech can be found at
www.exploretech.ai
ABOUT COPPER QUEST EXPLORATION INC.
The company's land holdings comprise 8 projects that span over 4 6,000 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 Compan y’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, 2018)*. 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 ve in 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 5 X 2.5
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 tidew ater, 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 Jeanne tte Cu -Au Zone, and drill intersection
highlights of 1.03 g/t Au, 0.54% Cu over 117.07 m in Hole J-7 from 1.52 m, 1.00 g/t Au, 0.55% Cu over
103.65m in Hole J-1 from 9.15 m, 0.80 g/t Au, 0.45% Cu over 107.01m in Hole J-2 from 6.10 m, and
0.41 g/t Au, 0.33% Cu over 112.20m in Hole J-8 from 11.89 m.
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 an option to earn 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 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
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statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable
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including without limitation, future operations and activities of Copper Quest, are forward -
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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 mine ral 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
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