Eagle Plains Reports Significant High-Grade Copper, Gold and Silver Mineralization at the Theory Project, Toodoggone District
Eagle Plains Reports Significant High-Grade Copper, Gold and Silver
Mineralization at the Theory Project, Toodoggone District
Cranbrook, B.C., January 21, 2026: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:EPL) (OTCQB: EGPLF)
(“EPL” or “Eagle Plains”) is pleased to announce that partner Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (TSX -V:
SMN; OTCQB: SMREF) (“Sun Summit”) has received final analytical and petrographic results from
the 2025 field program at Eagle Plains’ Theory copper-gold project (the "Theory Project"), north-central
British Columbia. The property is owned 100% by Eagle Plains, with 122 hectares of the property subject
to an underlying 0.5% Net Smelter Royalty held by a third party.
The Theory Project borders Thesis Gold’s Ranch Project to the north and is located within 10 km to the
northwest of Sun Summit’s JD Project. Sun Summit has an exclusive option agreement with Eagle Plains
to earn up to a 100% interest in the project, located in the highly prospective Toodoggone Mining District.
2025 Highlights
New high grade copper discovery: Saboteur Zone
• 3km length zone of copper mineralization associated with coincident magnetic high transition
zone and strong radiometric potassic alteration anomaly
• 15 of the rock samples collected returned over 1% Cu
• Grab sample LSTHR040: 4.78% copper, 0.635 g/t gold, 49 g/t silver;
Fred-DM-DMR Zone:
• 1.6 km x 3km zone of copper mineralization associated with barite veining
• Grab sample BLTHR051: 6.42% copper, 0.088 g/t gold, 99 g/t silver;
• Grab sample JBTHR008: 0.65% copper, 12.6 g/t gold, 3150 g/t silver;
BEV Zone:
• Broad copper soil and silt geochemical anomaly associated with multiphase alteration
• Grab sample BLTHR029: 1.44% copper, 0.043 g/t gold, 12.8g/t silver;
Table 1. 2025 Rock Sample Highlights
Sample Zone Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t
BLTHR051 Fred/DM 6.42 0.088 99.0
JBTHR008 Fred/DM 0.65 12.60 3150.0
LSTHR040 Saboteur 4.78 0.635 48.6
JBTHR059 Saboteur 4.02 0.596 61.1
MHTHR037 Saboteur 3.27 4.290 121.0
JBTHR010 Bev-N 2.73 0.255 17.2
LSTHR020 Saboteur 2.8 0.0025 7.4
BLTHR029 Bev-Main 1.44 0.043 12.8
THTHR032 Bev-Main 0.1 0.169 0.3
Chuck Downie, P.Geo., President and CEO of Eagle Plains, commented, “We are very excited by the
results from the first fieldwork at the Theory Project in over thirty years, which underscores the unexplored
nature and exceptional geology of the property. Ground truthing of anomalies generated through airborne
geophysical and remote sensing surveys directly resulted in the Saboteur discovery, a multi kilometer scale
zone of copper mineralization. Advanced petrographic analyses, combined with field mapping of extensive
hydrothermal alteration zones and copper-gold-silver geochemical anomalies indicates the presence of a
proximal buried porphyry system. We eagerly look forward to the 2026 field program, and working with
Niel and Ken and the Sun Summit team to advance the property to drill testing.”
2025 Exploration Program
The 2025 exploration goals at the Theory Project were to identify and assess new areas of interest and to
refine drill targets generated through integrating historical data with new geophysical and geochemical
surveys. Eagle Plains and Sun Summit commissioned TerraLogic Exploration Inc. of Cranbrook, BC. to
design and execute the 2025 satellite remote sensing data acquisition, and field programs.
During the 14-day field program, a total of 258 rock grab samples, 417 soil samples, and 40 silt samples
were collected , and geological and structural mapping was completed on primary target areas. Select
samples were sent for petrographic analyses and interpretation.
Comprehensive data interpretation and analyses is underway to define and prioritize targets for 2026
fieldwork and detailed IP geophysical surveys to generate and refine targets for diamond drill testing.
Field Results
All primary targets of interest were prospected/geologically mapped and sampled. Most targets are
underlain by mafic volcanic sequences of the Takla Group, with Jurassic Hazelton Group intermediate and
mafic volcanics and related sediments encountered at t he Stik, DAR and southernmost Bev areas. The
volcanic stratigraphy is mostly homoclinal at scale of 100’s to 1000+ meters, with shallow dips (15 -35°)
towards the N or NE the most common, such that a layer -cake stratigraphy approximates the general
structural layout of the property – a pattern that is also evident in the airborne RTP magnetics.
Many mineralized veins and fractures exploit bedding parallel structures, but there are also a significant
number of steep mineralized structures with NE and NW strikes, with smaller subsets of E or N striking
veins and fractures.
The Takla group stratigraphy comprises a repetitive sequence of fine mafic tuff, feldspar ± pyroxene
crystal tuff with some pillow basalt, trachyitic basalt, and crystal -lithic lapilli ± bomb proximal vent
basalts. More mapping is required to establish the detailed relationship between mineralized structures and
volcanic stratigraphy.
The most common mineralized structures, comprise copper minerals (chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite)
with lesser to equal proportions of pyrite or pyrrhotite, and associated malachite and azurite, in quartz -
carbonate-epidote gangue. Azurite intensity appears coincident with presence of bornite and/or chalcocite.
Wall rocks are usually moderately to strongly epidote -carbonate ± hematite altered, with variable but
commonly high magnetics that is more a function of primary lithology (fine mafic tuffs are commonly the
most magnetic). Barite veins are commonly spatially associated with these copper mineralized structures.
At the Bev showing, gossans are widespread with large zones ranging 10’s to over 100 m. A quartz -
sericite-pyrite (QSP) alteration-mineralization assemblage is typical of the gossans, with pyrite contents
ranging from trace to 5%, but typically in the 1% ra nge, and finely disseminated. The QSP alteration
generally obscures protolith textures, but certainly does transcend lithological boundaries, having
relatively steep orientation rather than being bedding parallel. Veining is this zone is quartz -pyrite ±
sericite dominant
Table 2. 2025 Rock Sample Results – Summary Statistics
2025 Theory
Rocks All
Au
ppb
Ba
ppm
As
ppm
Cu
ppm
Mo
ppm
Pb
ppm
Sb
ppm
Zn
ppm
Ag
ppm
Count 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258
Minimum 2.5 10 0.1 2.1 0.12 0.8 0.07 8 0.01
Maximum 12600 10000 285 64200 404 5570 980 39900 3150
Mean 127.3 925.3 18.7 3940.9 4.2 86 8.3 305.5 21
Median 5.5 575 8.2 296 0.86 9 1.64 93.5 0.47
Std Dev. 843.6 1120.6 38.9 8875 25.8 411 62.4 2499.1 197.6
75 percentile 25.25 1192.5 14.8 3252.5 1.9725 22 3.1325 160.25 3.6975
90 percentile 149.8 2241 33.09 11365 4.652 104.05 8.426 245.3 21.38
95 percentile 471 3003.5 77.93 25625 13.4625 436.15 17.06 431.85 61.12
99 percentile 2673.4 5668.1 243.84 50629 49.309 1978.4 135.84 2887.85 219.85
Saboteur Zone
The newly discovered Saboteur Zone is defined by a 3km long NE trending magnetic high with consistent
copper mineralization (c halcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite ) associated with epidote-quartz-carbonate
veins and fractures. Highlights include grab samples LSTHR040 with 4.7% copper, 0.635 g/t gold, 49
g/t silver; JBTHR059 with 4.0% copper, 0.596 g/t gold, 61 g/t silver; and MHTHR037 with 3.3%
copper, 4.290 g/t gold, 121 g/t silver.
Grab samples from the adjacent Provocateur and BEV-N targets include LSTHR020 with 2.8% copper,
0.0025 g/t gold, 7.4 g/t silver; and (Bev -N): JBTHR010 with 2.73% copper, 0.255 g/t gold, 17.2 g/t
silver.
Soil samples collected on Saboteur peak returned a maximum of 2.61 % ppm copper, 0.410 g/t gold, and
10.4 g/t silver (MHTHD130).
BEV Zone
The best grab sample from the BEV-main zone returned 1.44% copper, 0.043 g/t gold, 12.8 g/t silver
(BLTHR029). Soil and stream-silt results from this main drainage at the Bev zone returned some of the
best geochemical results of the 2025 program , defining a multi -element copper dominant geochemical
anomaly approximately 1km x 700m, open in three directions. . Detailed geological mapping in the BEV
area defined a broad zone of multiphase alteration associated with copper mineralization in epidote -
quartz–carbonate veins, and peripheral quartz -sericite-pyrite (QSP) altered gossans, highlighting the
possibility of a large buried porphyry system.
FRED-DM-DMR Zone
Prospecting at the Fred -DM area focused on an approximately 5km linear magnetic high-low transition
zone. Copper mineralization in veins and fractures are associated with NNE trending barite veins, up to
4m in width, that are exposed over 150m length. Grab samples from Fred-DM corridor returned the highest
values from the 2025 program. Highlight samples include BLTHR051 with 6.42% copper, 0.088 g/t gold,
99 g/t silver ; and JBTHR008 with 0.65% copper, 12 .6 g/t gold, 3150 g/t silver. Soil sampling and
prospecting indicate that the strike length of the barite mineralization exceeds over 1 kilometer.
STIK 1
Fieldwork at the STIK1 identified epithermal style alteration and mineralization within a granodioritic to
dioritic intrusion, as well as in metasediments along the intrusive contact.
Petrographic Results and Interpretation
12 select samples were prepared by Precision Petrographics of Vancouver BC for thin section analyses
and interpretation. The petrographic work identified strong epidote -chlorite-carbonate alteration directly
with hypogene copper mineralization (chalcopyrite – bornite – chalcocite). This type of mineralization and
alteration assemblage is interpreted to represent the inner shell of a porphyry system, which may indicate
a proximal source for some of the Theory mineralization.
Next Steps
Planning is now underway for a significant exploration program across the Theory Project in 2026. Details
of the program will be released once targets ranks are prioritised and all new analytical data have been
interpreted. A priority focus will be on the BEV to Saboteur trend of strong copper mineralization.
Table 3. Significant 2025 Silt Sample Results
Sample_# Sample Ag_ppm Au_ppb Cu_ppm Mo_ppm
MHTHS007 silt 0.40 84.30 1385 20.5
MHTHS008 silt 0.67 25.60 986 1.1
JBTHS005 silt 0.38 60.50 954 12.2
LSTHS004 silt 0.37 48.70 826 7.7
MHTHS009 silt 0.96 49.60 382 1.3
Table 4. Significant 2025 Soil Sample Results
Sample_# Sample Ag_ppm Au_ppb Cu_ppm Mo_ppm
MHTHD130 soil 10.50 410.00 26100 0.9
MHTHD011 soil 0.82 21.60 833 0.8
MHTHD058 soil 0.47 12.60 798 2.4
MHTHD034 soil 0.25 3.20 794 0.8
MHTHD009 soil 0.17 11.20 749 0.5
MHTHD068 soil 0.81 14.80 634 1.3
Figure 1. 2025 Theory Results Compilation
Figure 2a. Copper results at the Theory Project.
Figure 2b. Gold results at the Theory Project