Imperial Provides Update on Mount Polley 2025 Production and Exploration
Imperial Provides Update on Mount Polley 2025 Production and Exploration
Vancouver | February 10, 2026 | Imperial Metals Corporation ( the “Company” or “Imperial”) (TSX:III)
reports that 2025 metal production from Mount Polley mine was 30.715 million pounds of copper and
37,555 ounces of gold. The mine production exceeded the 2025 target of 25.0 – 27.0 million pounds for
copper production and met the target of 35 - 40 thousand ounces for gold production.
Mount Polley Mine – Production
During 2025, 6,714,195 tonnes of ore were treated, which was flat compared to 2024, and 30.715 million
pounds copper (down 14.0% from 2024) and 37,555 ounces gold (down 4% from 2024) were produced.
The majority of the mill feed during the fourth quarter was from Phase 5 and low grade stockpiles. This
led to lower grades and lower copper recovery during the period. The Phase 4 and 5 pushbacks of the
Springer Pit generated approximately 50% of the mill feed during the quarter with the remainder coming
from lower grade stockpiles. Phase 4 mining will be completed in February 2026.
Mount Polley Mine Production Three Months Ended December 31 Year Ended December 31
2025 2024 2025 2024
Ore milled - tonnes 1,452,466 1,660,937 6,714,195 6,741,127
Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes 15,788 18,054 18,395 18,418
Grade % - copper 0.193 0.306 0.255 0.292
Grade g/t – gold 0.216 0.256 0.254 0.263
Recovery % - copper 75.5 82.5 81.4 82.3
Recovery % - gold 65.4 69.9 68.5 68.6
Copper – 000’s pounds 4,660 9,242 30,715 35,700
Gold – ounces 6,589 9,564 37,555 39,108
The 2026 production target for Mount Polley mine is 19 - 21 million pounds copper and 40,000 - 44,000
ounces gold. The majority of the mill feed in 2026 will come from the Phase 5 pushback in the Springer Pit
which will be supplemented with low grade stockpiles to supply the mill feed.
Red Chris mine 2025 production will be released when the reconciled information is received from
Newmont Corporation.
Mount Polley Exploration Update
Imperial reports additional results from the Mount Polley 2025 Phase 2 exploration program which had
three goals: to test a high-grade zone beneath the Wight Pit (see previous News Release January 22, 2026);
to expand and determine the boundaries for mineralization in a potential C2 open pit expansion and find
the boundaries of the higher gold grade encountered at depth in the C2 zon e; and to test beneath the
previously mined Bell Pit for depth extension. The intervals were analyzed for both total copper and non-
sulphide copper. The ratio of non-sulphide to total copper is key to determining copper recovery from the
News Release
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often highly oxidized near surface mineralization in C2 zone. Two holes were drilled beneath the
previously mined Bell Pit for depth extension.
Figure 1 – Plan Map.
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Thirteen drill holes intersected significant gold and copper values near surface in the C2 zone. Of note,
drill hole C2-25-123 intersected 82.5 metres grading 0.45% copper and 0.88 g/t gold from a depth of 30.0
metres. That intercept included 47.5 metres grading 0.56% copper and 1.22 g/t gold from a depth of 57.5
metres.
Table 1: Significant results from near surface C2 zone drilling (See Figures 2 and 3, Section A-A’ and B-
B’).
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) CuOx Ratio%*
C2-25-123 30.0 112.5 82.5 0.45 0.88 49
Including 57.5 105.0 47.5 0.56 1.22 54
C2-25-124 21.0 45.0 24.0 0.25 0.32 38
C2-25-127 35.0 50.0 15.0 0.13 0.17 8
C2-25-128 100.0 120.0 20.0 0.16 0.35 4
C2-25-129 65.0 90.0 25.0 0.32 0.54 3
And 110.0 125.0 15.0 0.24 0.28 29
C2-25-130 47.5 65.0 17.5 0.18 0.37 2
And 145.0 160.0 15.0 0.27 0.25 26
C2-25-131 52.0 82.5 30.0 0.20 0.10 32
C2-25-132 105.0 117.5 12.5 0.25 0.55 27
C2-25-133 105.0 135.0 30.0 0.15 0.27 40
C2-25-135 87.5 99.0 11.5 0.20 0.36 12
C2-25-136 12.5 65.0 52.5 0.16 0.17 56
C2-25-137 16.5 142.5 126.0 0.20 0.27 39
Including 99.4 132.5 33.1 0.28 0.39 32
C2-25-139 42.5 90.0 47.5 0.27 0.35 31
C2-25-142 6.0 50.0 44.0 0.42 0.39 59
And 250.0 390.0 140.0 0.19 0.30 7
*CuOx Ratio% = (Copper Oxide%/ Total Copper %) * 100
Five drill holes targeted mineralization beneath the near surface C2 zone. Hole C2-25-139 which targeted
the northwestern extent of the inferred deep C2 zone and intersected significant shallow mineralization
starting at 42.5 metres depth but was unsuccessful at intercepting the deeper C2 zone. The shallow
interval intersected 47.5 metres grading 0.27% copper and 0.35 g/t gold from a depth of 42.5 metres.
All the remaining drill holes were successful in intercepting deeper mineralization. Hole C2-25-142
intersected both shallow and deep mineralization, returning 44.0 metres grading 0.42% copper and 0.39
g/t gold from a depth of 6.0 metres, and 140.0 metres grading 0.19% copper and 0.30 g/t gold from a
depth of 250.0 metres. Hole C2-25-138 also targeted the deep C2 zone target and intersected 77.5 metres
grading 0.49% copper and 0. 82 g/t gold from a depth of 277.5 metres. Including 45. 0 metres grading
0.72% copper and 1.10 g/t gold from a depth of 277.5 metres.
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Figure 2 – Section A – A’.
Figure 3 – Section B – B’.
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Table 2: Significant results from deep C2 zone drilling (See Figure 4, Section C - C’).
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t)
C2-25-126 292.5 312.5 20.0 0.29 0.44
And 427.5 442.5 15.0 0.26 0.40
C2-25-138 277.5 355.0 77.5 0.49 0.82
including 277.5 322.5 45.0 0.72 1.10
C2-25-140 222.5 230.0 7.5 0.40 1.29
And 255.0 260.0 5.0 0.49 1.01
C2-25-141 302.5 437.5 135.0 0.35 0.53
including 305.0 322.5 17.5 0.56 0.60
And 373.7 402.5 28.8 0.74 1.24
Figure 4 – Section C – C’.
Two drill holes, BD -25-36 and BD -25-37, were collared east of the Bell Pit and oriented west , testing
beneath the previously mined Bell Pit for depth extension . The two holes were both successful at
extending the Bell mineralization deeper than previously tested. Hole BD-25-37 intersected 235.0 metres
grading 0.22% copper and 0.27 g/t gold from a depth of 62.5 metres including 45.0 metres grading 0.35%
copper and 0.51 g/t gold from a depth of 250.0 metres.
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Table 3: Significant results from the Bell Zone drilling.
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t)
BD-25-36 125.0 180.0 55.0 0.33 0.41
including 150.0 167.5 17.5 0.69 0.75
and 210.0 353.1 143.1 0.29 0.33
including 290.9 353.1 62.2 0.37 0.50
BD-25-37 62.5 297.5 235.0 0.22 0.27
and 250.0 295.0 45.0 0.35 0.51
The next phase of diamond drilling is scheduled to start in February 2026 and will initially follow up on the
successful results from the first drilling campaign in more than a decade in the Bell Pit area.
Steve Robertson, P.Geo., Imperial’s Vice President Corporate Development, has reviewed the production
disclosures contained in this news release and is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101.
Jim Miller -Tait, P.Geo., Imperial’s V ice President Exploration, has reviewed this news release as the
designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43 -101 for the Mount Polley exploration
program. Samples reported were analyzed at Activation Laboratories Ltd. located in Kamloops. A full
QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was completed for all diamond drilling samples
submitted to the labs. Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient
geological information is available to confirm the geologi cal model and true width of significant assay
intervals.
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About Imperial
Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the
Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a
portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia.
Imperial Contacts
Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959
Steve Robertson| VP Corporate Affairs | 604.669.8959
Jim Miller-Tait | VP Exploration | 604.669.8959
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are “forward -looking”
statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Imperial management’s
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to statements regarding expectations with
respect to: the completion of mining of the Phase 4 pushback and continuation of stripping of the Phase 5 pushback at
Mount Polley mine’s Springer Pit; the source of the majority of Mount Polley’s mill feed coming from the Phase 5 pushback
with some supplementation derived from low grade stockpiles; Mount Polley mine’s 2026 production targets; the release
of production results from the Red Chris mine ; and the next phase of Mount Polley mine’s diamond drilling program
starting in February 2026 to follow up on the recent drill results from the Bell pit area.
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risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Imperial to be
materially different from any future results , performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward -looking
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In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, Imperial has applied certain factors and assumptions that
are based on information currently available to Imperial as well as Imperial’s current beliefs and assumptions. These factors
and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in Imperial’s interim and
annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of those statements, and the Company’s current
Annual Information Form, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Although
Imperial has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially
from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not
to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond Imperial’s ability to control or predict. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward
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