LUCA MINING CORP REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2025 RESULTS Operational Strength and Development Investment Set Stage for Long-Term Growth
Luca Mining Corp.
Suite 410, 1111 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V6, Canada
NEWS RELEASE
LUCA MINING CORP REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2025 RESULTS
Operational Strength and Development Investment Set Stage for Long-Term Growth
Vancouver, B .C., August 26, 2025: Luca Minin g Corp. (“Luca” or the “ Company”) (TSX-V: LUCA; OTCQX: LUCMF;
Frankfurt: Z68) is pleased to report its operational and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.
The quarter was highlighted by strong throughput, increased production, and a continued ramp- up at Tahuehueto,
partly offset by lower precious metals grades and higher sustaining capital investments as the Company advances
key underground development and exploration programs.
The Company generated revenue of US$36.8 million in Q2 2025, an increase of 102% over Q2 2024, and
delivered record revenue of US$75.4 million for the first half of the year. Revenue growth was driven by gold
equivalent production of 17,861 ounces in Q2 and 39,154 ounces in H1 2025, supported by continued ramp -up at
Tahuehueto and strong plant availability at Campo Morado.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was US$5.8 million, with US$18.2 million generated in the first half of the
year. Mine operating cash flow before taxes totaled US$9.1 million in the quarter and US$27.8 in H1, highlighting
strong underlying operating performance. Net free cash flow before changes in working capital was negative US$4.5
million, mainly due to increased development and exploration spending in the quarter but remains positive for H1
at US$4.9 million.
All-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) increased during the quarter to US$3,310 per AuEq ounce sold, primarily due to catch-
up development and exploration spending . This investment is laying the groundwork for more consistent and cost -
effective mining in the future. Additionally, temporary declines in precious metal grades , as the Company mined
through transitional zones, were in line with expectations and are anticipated to improve as new, better-grade areas
are accessed. These short-term cost and grade pressures are part of Luca’s strategic path to unlocking higher-margin
production and stronger long-term performance.
“This was a quarter of consolidation for Luca, with record H1 revenue, double-digit production growth, reduction of
our debt by $1.5 million and meaningful cash generation from operations,” said Dan Barnholden, CEO of Luca Mining.
“As we continue to invest heavily in development and exploration to position for future profitability, our operations
are already delivering strong financial performance. We continue to position our assets for long term success as we
build Luca into a mid-tier production company.”
Strategic Development and Exploration to Support Long-Term Growth
In the second quarter of 2025, Luca focused on advancing critical underground development and exploration
activities across both operations to enhance mine access, ventilation, and over all mining flexibility. While these
efforts impacted grades and costs in the quarter, they are expected to drive improved productivity and profitability
going forward.
AISC per AuEq ounce sold was $3,310, an increase of 45% year-over-year, primarily due to a significant increase in
sustaining capital related to underground development and exploration activities. During the quarter, the Company
completed 1,780 meters of underground development at a cost of $6,196 and 6,804 meters of exploration drilling
at a cost of $1,427. These efforts represent a marked increase from the prior year, when limited development and
exploration work was undertaken. The additional investment in this period is intended to open up new mining areas,
improve operational flexibility, and support long -term production reliability. Importantly, by prioritizing
development in Q2, the Company has effectively brought forward access to higher -grade ore zones, a decision that
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temporarily reduced short-term free cash flow but is expected to accelerate stronger, more profitable production in
future periods. AISC is expected moderate to more normalized levels in future periods as the Company catches up
on previously deferred development and exploration.
Below are the operating and financial highlights for the second quarter and first half of the year:
Second Quarter Highlights
• The Company maintained strong health and safety performance during the quarter, reporting no major
incidents. Safety remains a key priority, and enhanced housekeeping protocols and site -wide order
standards were implemented across all operations.
• Gold equivalent production totaled 17,861 ounces in Q2 2025, up 28% compared to Q2 2024, reflecting
strong base metal output, high plant availability, and consistent throughput at both operations with gold
production contributing 6,622 ounces, up 55% from Q2 2024.
• Tahuehueto advanced operationally, maintaining over 90% plant utilization in the quarter while increasing
tonnes milled by 104% year over year to 72,396, underscoring continued ramp -up progress and plant
reliability.
• Throughput momentum continued as well in the quarter, with a 65% increase in consolidated tonnes milled
to 253,717; Campo Morado milled 181,320 tonnes (+54%) , an average of 2,133 tonnes per day, while
Tahuehueto more than doubled output, averaging 905 tonnes per day in the quarter, compared to the same
period in the prior year.
• Gold production reached 6,622 ounces, up 55% from Q2 2024, supported by stable recoveries at
Tahuehueto and steady plant operations despite lower mined grades.
• Campo Morado set a new benchmark with 98.7% grinding availability, its highest of the year, and delivered
11,106 gold-equivalent ounces—supported by stronger zinc and copper grades.
• Tahuehueto contributed 6,755 gold-equivalent ounces, a 44% increase year over year, and silver production
rose 108% to 71,441 ounces, highlighting rising output from higher-grade zones.
• Zinc, copper, and lead production rose 74%, 66%, and 49%, respectively, on a consolidated basis, benefiting
from improved head grades, higher throughput, and processing efficiency across both sites.
• Consolidated revenues more than doubled year-over-year to $36,780, driven by higher production volumes
and improved realized prices across most metals.
• Cash provided by operating activities totaled $ 12,619 in Q2 2025, a substantial increase from $739 in Q2
2024, primarily driven by a 102% increase in revenues supported by higher gold -equivalent production
(+28%) and improved realized prices. Strong throughput growth at both operations, particularly a 104%
increase in tonnes milled at Tahuehueto and 98.7% grinding availability at Campo Morado, contributed to
enhanced cash generation.
• Adjusted net earnings totaled $3,265 in Q2 2025, a step in the right direction from a near break-even result
in Q2 2024. The turnaround reflects improved operational profitability, stronger metal sales, and disciplined
cost management, offsetting non-cash and non-recurring items that impacted the reported net loss.
• Positive adjusted EBITDA of $ 5,797 in Q2 2025 (Q2 2024 – positive adjusted EBITDA of $ 4,166), supported
by increased sales across gold, zinc, and copper, as well as improved operating margins.
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1. Gold equivalents are calculated using an 97.67:1 (Ag/Au), 0.0004:1 (Au/Zn), 0.0013:1 (Au/Cu) and 0.0003:1 (Au/Pb) ratio for Q2 2025; and Gold
equivalents are calculated using an 81.00:1 (Ag/Au), 0.0005:1 (Au/Zn), 0.0019:1 (Au/Cu) and 0.0004:1 (Au/Pb) ratio for Q2 2024; an 93.59:1
(Ag/Au), 0.0004:1 (Au/Zn), 0.0013:1 (Au/Cu) and 0.0003:1 (Au/Pb) ratio for YTD 2025; and an 84.46:1 (Ag/Au), 0.0005:1 (Au/Zn), 0.0019:1 (Au/Cu)
and 0.0004:1 (Au/Pb) ratio for YTD 2024, respectively.
2. Cash cost per gold equivalent ounce includes mining, processing, and direct overhead costs. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the MD&A
3. AISC per AuEq oz includes mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, reclamation, and sustaining capital in the
MD&A.
4. See Reconciliation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in the MD&A.
5. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” in the MD&A.
6. Based on provisional sales before final price adjustments, treatment, and refining charges.
7. Mine operating cash flow before taxes is calculated by adding back royalties, changes in inventory and depreciation and depletion to mine
operating earnings. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the MD&A.
8. All-in cost per AuEq oz includes AISC plus interest paid and loan payments. See MD&A.
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9. Direct mining costs include mining, processing, and direct overhead cost at the operation sites. See reconciliation in the MD&A.
10. Net free cash flow before working is operating cash flow before working capital changes, less capital expenditures. See MD&A.
Production
For the six months ended June 30, 2025, total consolidated production amounted to 39,154 gold-equivalent ounces,
a 50% increase year -over-year. This total includes 14,29 8 ounces of gold, 630,508 ounces of silver, 23.5 million
pounds of zinc, 5 .1 million pounds of copper, and 4 .6 million pounds of lead. The 67% year -over-year increase in
gold-equivalent production was mainly driven by higher throughput at both operations supported by improved plant
availability, increased extraction, and stronger operating discipline together with higher zinc and copper output,
despite the reduction in precious metal grades and recoveries. Campo Morado remained the primary contributor,
accounting for approximately 25,462 gold -equivalent ounces, or 65% of total co nsolidated production, while
Tahuehueto contributed 13,692 ounces, or 35%, reflecting strong production growth as the site advanced toward
stable, full-scale operations. Ongoing upgrades , development work and strategic initiatives are expected to drive
further efficiency and output gains.
Exploration
Campo Morado
Underway at Campo Morado is a 5,000 metre underground diamond drilling campaign comprising approximately 25
holes during this first phase of exploration activities. This program's primary target is the definition of additional
mineral resources from under -drilled zones near to existing underground production areas as well as the
identification of mineralization within previously untested areas with high potential for the discovery and
development of new mineral resources. A 2,500 metre surface drill program has also commenced that will test
portions of the property away from of the current mine workings towards development of the greater resource
potential across the entirety of Luca’s concessions that make up the Campo Morado Property. Results have been
highly encouraging and have shown appreciable widths of mineralization above mine -cutoff grades.
Previous exploration at Campo Morado has produced an extensive set of high -quality, proprietary geological data,
including over 600,000 meters of underground and surface drilling data, property -wide geological/structural
mapping, approximately 30,000 geoch emical soil sample data, as well as several airborne and ground -based
geophysical survey datasets, inclusive of gravity, electromagnetics, and induced polarization surveys. Analyses of
these geophysical survey datasets, particularly gravity, directly resulted in the original discovery and initial definition
of mineral resources on the property and will continue to guide all exploration initiatives; moreover, this large
geophysical dataset is currently being compiled, cleaned and reinterpreted by the Company to prioritize the greater
than 38 exploration targets identified to date across the property. Production to date at Campo Morado has been
exclusively from three main deposits: G9, Southwest, and El Largo.
Tahuehueto
At Tahuehueto, t he Company commenced a two-phase underground drill campaign , together totalling 10,500
metres. The drill plan takes advantage of recently developed underground areas to potentially expand the mineral
resource through the identification of economic mineralization along the modeled veins and interpreted vein
extensions.
Mineralization is open along strike and at depth for most of the modeled resource area and the objective of the
current campaign will be a combination of infill and step -out drilling to determine the vertical and lateral extent of
mineralization as well as to identify mineralized brecciated zones within the epithermal vein system.
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In addition to the four veins that comprise the mineralized resource, there are at least 14 additional prospective
veins or splays documented within the greater concession area that have potential to host additional epithermal
mineralization. In some cases, these prospective targets may represent extensions or continuations of the currently
defined Mineral Resource. The Company estimates that there are more than 11 km of prospective vein structures
(measured along strike), compared to the currently defined 4.5 km of known mineralized veins.
It is anticipated that mineable resources will be added into the near-term and medium term Tahuehueto Mine Plan.
The majority of holes completed to date in this program have intersected new mineralized parts of the Creston and
Perdido vein structures in ar eas of no previous historic drilling, further validating the continuous nature of these
pervasive and mineralized veins. A key result is the discovery of a new, thick, high- grade breccia zones near the
existing mine workings which demonstrates the high pot ential for additional new high -impact discoveries and the
immediate and meaningful return on investment of this exploration drilling.
Outlook
For the year ahead, the Company anticipates producing between 85,000 and 100,000 gold equivalent ounces with
payable ounces ranging between 65,000 and 80,000. The Company expects to generate between US$30 million and
US$40 million in free cash flow before working capital adjustments for the year, reflecting the strength of its core
mining operations. This metric, which excludes short -term fluctuations in receivables, payables, prepaids and
inventory, provides a clear mea sure of the Company’s ability to gene rate cash from operations net of capital
expenditures. Strong free cash flow supports key initiatives, including debt repayment, reinvestment in growth
opportunities, and potential shareholder returns. The Company’s anticipated cash generation underscores its
operational efficiency and financial resilience as it continues to execute its long- term strategy.
The Company’s consolidated production during the first half of the year totaled 39,154 AuEq, representing
approximately 46% of the low end of annual production guidance of 85,000 to 100,000 AuEq. Gold production
of 14,298 ounces and silver production of 630,508 ounces likewise reflect 43% and 51% of the respective low ends
of guidance. Base metal production continued to provide strong by-product credits, with zinc and copper delivering
51% and 54% of their respective guidance ranges at mid -year, highlighting the strength and consistency of Campo
Morado’s operations.
While first half production is below the run- rate implied by annual guidance, this was anticipated given the staged
ramp-up of operations at Tahuehueto. With mine development advancing and plant improvements underway,
management expects a stronger second h alf, led by higher gold and silver output from Tahuehueto and sustained
throughput from Campo Morado.
Additionally, as market prices have strengthened, particularly for gold and silver, the AuEq calculation will yield
fewer AuEq ounces from base metals (Pb/Zn/Cu) for the same production volumes because the gold price in the
denominator is higher. This does not reduce contained metal or expected revenue; in fact, higher precious -metal
prices enhance margins and cash flow even if reported AuEq totals moderate on a conversion basis. The Company
will continue to emphasize unit costs, realized pricing, and cash generation a longside AuEq to reflect this favorable
pricing environment in the second half. The Company remains cautiously optimistic in achieving its 2025 production
guidance, with second half performance expected to deliver the majority of annual AuEq.
The Company’s strategy is to grow its mining business through the advancement of existing mines and mineral
concessions, complemented by the acquisition and development of additional operations, resources, and reserves.
Growth is driven by opportunity rather than restricted by geography, with a focus on assets where the Company’s
unique combination of political, exploration, operational, financial, and community expertise can deliver meaningful
value.
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This experience is central to identifying and evaluating acquisition opportunities—particularly in cases where a fresh
perspective or targeted investment can unlock potential. The Company seeks to create value by optimizing
underperforming assets, advancing overlooked exploration opportunities, and successfully navigating complex
regulatory and stakeholder environments.
The Company’s approach is underpinned by disciplined execution, a long -term focus on value creation, and the
integration of environmental, health & safety and social responsibility into every stage of the process. These primary
areas of focus align with our three pillars of value creation:
• Optimization – Enhancing efficiency, productivity, and cost performance at existing operations.
• Exploration – Advancing high-potential targets to grow resources and reserves.
• Expansion – Acquiring and developing assets to broaden the operational portfolio and extend mine life.
Qualified Person
The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Paul D. Gray,
P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration at Luca Mining. Mr. Gray is a Qualified Person for the Company as defined by
National Instrument 43-101.
About Luca Mining Corp.
Luca Mining Corp. (TSX -V: LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a Canadian mining company with two wholly
owned mines located in the prolific Sierra Madre mineralized belt in Mexico. These mines produce gold, copper,
zinc, silver, and lead and generate strong cash flow. Both mines have considerable development and resource upside
as well as district scale exploration potential.
The Company’s Campo Morado Mine hosts VMS -style, polymetallic mineralization within a large land package
comprising 121 square kilometres. It is an underground operation, producing zinc, copper, gold, silver and lead. The
mine is located in Guerrero State.
The Tahuehueto Mine is a large property of over 75 square kilometres in Durango State. The project hosts
epithermal gold and silver vein -style mineralization. Tahuehueto is a newly constructed underground mining
operation producing primarily gold and silver. The Company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in
commercial production.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
(signed) “Dan Barnholden”
Dan Barnholden, Chief Executive Officer
Contact Information:
Sophia Shane
Director of Investor Relations
+1 604 306 6867
For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information”
or “forward -looking statements” (collectively, “Forward -Looking Information”) within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, estimated
production guidelines for 2025 and other possible events, conditions or performance that are based on
assumptions about the proposed exploration program and its anticipated results; the timing and costs of
future activities on the Company ’s properties, such as production rates and increases and sustain ing
capital expenditures; success of exploration, development, and metres to be drilled in exploration on the
Tahuehueto Mine site and the Campo Morado Mine site . In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information
can be identified using words and phrases such as “ plans”,” expects ”, ”scheduled”, ”estimates”,
“forecasts”, “intends”, ”anticipates” or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward -
Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions,
including, but not limited to, that the Company will be able to raise additional capital as ne cessary; the
current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Tahuehueto Mine
can be achieved; that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Campo Morado Mine will be achieved; the
continuity of the price of gold and other metals and economic and political conditions. Forward -Looking
Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward -Looking Information. There
can be no assurance that Forward -Looking Information 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-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company
does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward -Looking Information
contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.