Founders Metals Discovers Multi-Kilometre Gold System at Antino North; Auger Drilling Returns 20.0 m of 7.54 g/t Au at Maria Geralda
Founders Metals Discovers Multi-Kilometre
Gold System at Antino North; Auger Drilling
Returns 20.0 m of 7.54 g/t Au at Maria Geralda
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 19, 2026) -
Founders Metals Inc.
(TSXV:
FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") reports exploration results from the
Antino Gold Project ("Antino" or the "Project") in southeastern Suriname. Surface exploration on the
Company's recently expanded land package has delineated a multi-kilometre (km) gold system
comprising multiple parallel, northwest-trending mineralized shear zones over a 4 km area. Results
include 57.80 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) in a grab sample and 20.0 m of 2.07 g/t Au including 7.0 m
of 5.05 g/t Au in a channel sample. Separately, systematic 30-metre auger drilling at the Maria Geralda
target is providing new insight into the geometry of high-grade gold shoots within the broader
mineralized system.
Highlights
Antino North
Bedrock mapping confirms ten parallel, northwest-trending gold-bearing shear structures across a
4 km
area within the newly acquired Antino North concession block (Figures 1 & 2)
Channel sampling across one shear returned
20.0 m of 2.07 g/t Au
, including
7.0 m of 5.05 g/t
Au
; previously reported grab samples of
70.93 g/t Au
and
69.85 g/t Au
from adjacent shears, with
a new grab sample of
57.80 g/t Au
returned from a newly discovered shear zone further south
Visible gold observed in multiple samples with up to 10% pyrite (Figure 3); mineralization style and
scale comparable to the Froyo Gold Zone at Upper Antino (FR005: 15.5 m of 30.72 g/t Au)
Auger sampling defines multiple kilometre-scale anomalies measuring ~
3.4 km × 1.0 km;
a
separate ~
5.2 km × 3.0 km
anomaly from historical auger data is the single largest gold
geochemical anomaly on the concession (Figure 2)
Drilling equipment mobilizing via road from the Company's main camp at Upper Antino to Antino
North; drills expected to be turning within two weeks
Maria Geralda
Detailed 3 m × 3 m vertical auger grid to 30 m depth is building a three-dimensional picture of
high-grade shoot geometry around the previously reported
22.5 m of 11.88 g/t Au
in MG003 to
improve drill targeting across the broader project
From shallow saprolite, initial results include,
20.0 m of 7.54 g/t Au
(MGAD027)
15.0 m of 7.16
g/t Au
(MGAD028),
17.0 m of 2.90 g/t Au
(MGAD026),
10.0 m of 6.95 g/t Au
(MGAD025), and
10.0 m of 1.80 g/t Au
(MGAD024)
Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented,
"These results at Antino North represent the first major
step in what we expect to be a wave of new discoveries across our expanded land package in 2026.
Within months of acquiring this concession, our surface exploration team has identified a mineralized
system with the hallmarks of what we see at Upper Antino – multiple parallel shear-hosted gold zones,
strong alteration, visible gold, and kilometre-scale geochemical anomalies. We have completed road
access from our main camp at Upper Antino all the way to the northern boundary of the concession and
we expect to have a drill turning on the first target within two weeks.
At Maria Geralda, the auger drilling is delivering exactly what we designed it to – a detailed
understanding of how high-grade gold is distributed within the broader mineralized system. The initial
results confirm that the high-grade mineralization is robust and persistent in the near-surface
environment and we are excited to receive the remainder of the results from this program.
The insights
we're gaining here will directly inform how we target high-grade zones at Maria Geralda and across the
project as we scale our drilling program in 2026."
Antino North – New District-Scale Gold System
The Company has established road access from its main camp at Upper Antino to the northern
boundary of the Antino North area. Initial surface exploration at Antino North (Figure 2) includes mapping,
rock and channel sampling, and auger geochemical surveys designed to rapidly advance the Company's
understanding of this newly acquired exploration area.
Early results from Founders' ongoing auger sampling campaign reveal promising kilometre-scale
geochemical anomalies coincident with mapped shear zones, supported by strong grab and channel
sampling results. Field work has delineated ten parallel, northwest-trending shear zones up to 30 m in
width across a 4 km area. The gold-bearing shears are characterized by pervasive quartz veining,
intense shearing, and strong sericite alteration of the dominantly dioritic country rock. Up to 10% pyrite is
observed locally, with visible gold noted in multiple grab samples (assays pending). Geological mapping
and prospecting have traced individual shears along surface for up to 500 m of strike.
The style of mineralization, alteration assemblage, and structural setting at Antino North are consistent
with the Froyo Gold Zone at Upper Antino, where diamond drilling has returned intervals such as 15.5 m
of 30.72 g/t Au (FR005). The Company has begun mobilizing drilling equipment to the area and expects
to commence drilling within two weeks.
Maria Geralda – Auger Grid Defines High-Grade Shoot Geometry
Founders has completed a detailed mechanical auger drilling program at Maria Geralda designed to
build a three-dimensional understanding of high-grade gold shoot geometry within the discovery zone.
The program utilized a 3 m × 3 m vertical auger grid drilled to 30 m depth in saprolite, centred on the
previously reported MG003 intercept of 22.5 m of 11.88 g/t Au (announced June 24, 2025).
The auger program returned a series of high-grade intercepts coincident with the MG003 discovery hole
results, providing initial confirmation of local continuity and robustness of gold mineralization in the near-
surface environment:
20.0 m of 7.54 g/t Au
(MGAD027) – up-dip of MG003
15.0 m of 7.16 g/t Au
(MGAD028)
17.0 m of 2.90 g/t Au
(MGAD026)
10.0 m of 6.95 g/t Au
(MGAD025)
10.0 m of 1.80 g/t Au
(MGAD024)
The density of this auger grid provides the Company with a detailed spatial dataset that is being used to
map the orientation, plunge, and continuity of high-grade gold shoots within the Maria Geralda system.
This information is intended to directly inform future drill targeting, both at Maria Geralda and other
similar settings across the broader Antino project. The near-surface auger data also contributes to the
Company's understanding of the abundance and profile of oxide gold at this location.
About Founders Metals Inc.
Founders Metals Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company building a district-scale gold camp in
southeastern Suriname. The Company controls a 102,360-hectare contiguous land package in the
Guiana Shield - the largest uninterrupted package of highly prospective greenstone belt geology in the
region. Founders is backed by strategic partnerships with Gold Fields and B2Gold and is executing one
of the most active exploration programs in the global junior gold sector. The Company is committed to
responsible exploration, strong community engagement, and disciplined capital allocation as it
advances Suriname's next major gold camp.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Per: "Colin Padget"
Colin Padget
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Contact Information
Katie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate Development
Tel: +1 306 537 8903 |
Figure 1:
Antino Gold Project property map.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/284577_d24659d8246f79fb_001full.jpg
Figure 2:
Antino North Plan Map
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/284577_d24659d8246f79fb_002full.jpg
Note: Map shows the extent of historical and current auger sampling campaigns, channel sampling results, rock sample assays, and the scale of the
largest auger anomaly compared with the gold-in-soil anomaly at G Mining's Oko West deposit (inset). Note map scale and auger contour levels are
the same for both maps.
Figure 3:
Visible Gold in Quartz Vein from Grab Sample (assay pending) Collected at Antino North
Shear Zone
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/284577_d24659d8246f79fb_003full.jpg
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities legislation, including statements regarding long term value creation and the Company's
prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects",
"is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or
variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur
or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable
assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies
that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general
business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors
described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially,
other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The
Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with
applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
All material information on Founders Metals can be found at
www.sedarplus.ca
.
Quality Assurance and Control
Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo,
Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75%
passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 µm. Samples were
analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that
return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire
assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in
the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global
Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A
secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible
gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by
nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.
Qualified Persons
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne,
M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
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