NGEx Discovers Major Copper-Gold Porphyry System at Lunahuasi, Drills 1,619.4m at 0.87% CuEq including 876.4m at 1.13% CuEq
NGEx Minerals Ltd.
2800 – 1055 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver BC, Canada V7X 1L2
T +1 604 689 7842
F +1 604 689 4250
NGEXminerals.com
NGEx Discovers Major Copper-Gold Porphyry System at Lunahuasi,
Drills 1,619.4m at 0.87% CuEq including 876.4m at 1.13% CuEq
May 21 , 2025 , Vancouver, British Columbia – NGEx Minerals Ltd. (“NGEx”, “NGEx Minerals” or the
“Company”) (TSX: NGEX; OTCQX: NGXXF) is pleased to announce the discovery of a major new copper -gold
porphyry system at its 100% owned Lunahuasi high -grade copper-gold-silver project in San Juan, Argentina.
This discovery confirms our interpretation of the geological setting of the Lunahuasi mineralization and opens
up an entirely new, very large-scale exploration target at the project. Drillhole DPDH027 demonstrates that the
Lunahausi system has similar size and scale potential to other deposits in the Vicu ña cluster, with the added
advantage of the large, very high -grade copper -gold-silver high -sulphidation (“HS”) epithermal structures
which are unique to Lunahuasi.
Highlights:
• Drillhole DPDH027 drilled across the HS zone before entering a porphyry copper-gold deposit at about
1,262m. The hole ended in mineralization at a depth of 2,005m and the full scale of the system remains
unknown. The hole intersected:
o 1,619.40m at 0.87% copper equivalent (“CuEq”) from 385.60m, including:
▪ 876.40m at 1.13% CuEq from 385.60m in disseminated, stockwork and lode high -
sulphidation mineralization, including:
• 205.05m at 2.04% CuEq from 590.65m, plus:
▪ 743.00m at 0.56% CuEq from 1,262.00m in porphyry -style mineralization cut by
discreet high-sulphidation zones, including:
• 18.00m at 2.68% CuEq from 1,343.00m
• 17.80m at 1.23% CuEq from 1,495.20m
• Drillhole DPDH029 is the southernmost hole drilled to date at Lunahuasi. It intersected the HS zone
over its entire length, with early porphyry veins occurring from 1,100m providing a clear vector towards
the porphyry to the west of the end of the hole. The hole intersected:
o 823.10m at 1.17% CuEq from 776.90m, including:
▪ 157.70m at 2.18% CuEq from 776.90m
▪ 38.90m at 4.35% CuEq from 870.70m
▪ 153.50m at 1.98% CuEq from 1,207.50m, including:
• 9.00m at 7.33% CuEq from 1,352.00m
Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO, commented, “Drillhole DPDH027 opens up an entirely new dimension of
the Lunahuasi project, adding to the potential of what this giant mineral system will ultimately become. The
possible presence of a large copper -gold porphyry system associated with the high -grade vei n-hosted HS
mineralization has been a part of our geological interpretation from the beginning, and we have now confirmed
that we were on the right track. While our near-term exploration efforts will continue to target the unique high-
grade vein system which we view as having the most important immediate potential, the presence of a porphyry
system significantly increases the long-term value of the project.
We continue to successfully expand the HS system, and drillhole DPDH029 extended mineralization by over
400m to the south of hole 27. The north -south dimension of the key high-grade zone has now been expanded
to over 1,100m and remains open in all directions. Hole DPDH029 ended in mineralization in argillic alteration
associated with the high -sulphidation system overprinting early porphyry veins. This provides a clear vector
indicating that the porphyry lies to the west of the end of this hole, some 500m so uth of the intersection in
DPDH027, confirming its location and size potential.”
Table 1: Significant Intersections
Hole ID From To Length
(m)
Estimated
True Width
(m)
Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t CuEq %
DPDH027 385.60 2005.00 1619.40 1619 0.52 0.32 13.2 0.87
incl 385.60 1262.00 876.40 876 0.59 0.48 22.3 1.13
incl 385.60 590.65 205.05 144 0.60 1.13 70.3 2.04
incl 447.00 496.00 49.00 35 0.49 2.98 241.1 4.78
incl 450.20 469.50 19.30 14 0.53 5.77 560.6 9.66
incl 529.00 540.70 11.70 8.3 1.87 0.28 11.4 2.18
incl 546.40 550.00 3.60 2.6 2.40 1.09 42.8 3.57
incl 556.80 563.00 6.20 4.4 1.48 1.68 14.1 2.83
incl 569.00 590.65 21.65 15 1.68 1.13 68.8 3.11
and incl 661.60 668.00 6.40 4.7 2.47 1.11 15.0 3.41
and incl 754.00 774.00 20.00 15 3.12 0.57 29.2 3.79
and incl 902.00 913.00 11.00 8.3 1.74 0.64 29.6 2.47
and incl 946.00 952.00 6.00 4.6 2.26 0.99 18.9 3.15
and incl 1069.00 1075.10 6.10 4.9 2.28 0.41 26.1 2.82
and incl 1262.00 2005.00 743.00 743 0.44 0.13 2.3 0.56
incl 1343.00 1576.00 236.00 175 0.74 0.21 3.8 0.93
incl 1343.00 1361.00 18.00 14 2.46 0.18 10.3 2.68
incl 1495.20 1513.00 17.80 13 1.01 0.24 5.5 1.23
DPDH029 318.00 321.70 3.70 1.6 3.89 2.96 80.7 6.76
plus 540.00 553.00 13.00 5.6 3.72 2.00 35.9 5.50
plus 776.90 1600.00 823.10 617 0.84 0.29 12.8 1.17
incl 776.90 934.60 157.70 85 1.67 0.49 16.7 2.18
incl 807.50 811.00 3.50 1.9 8.76 1.34 66.3 10.32
and incl 870.70 909.60 38.90 21 3.54 0.76 28.5 4.35
incl 870.70 882.10 11.40 6.2 5.35 1.69 40.6 6.94
and incl 1017.50 1022.90 5.40 3.3 2.45 0.19 19.8 2.76
and incl 1050.10 1060.00 9.90 6.3 1.56 0.46 22.5 2.09
and incl 1207.50 1361.00 153.50 115 1.33 0.52 30.4 1.98
incl 1228.00 1238.50 10.50 7.9 3.21 0.47 28.9 3.80
incl 1263.00 1266.20 3.20 2.4 4.01 1.00 35.7 5.05
incl 1352.00 1361.00 9.00 6.8 2.58 3.68 235.5 7.33
and incl 1469.00 1471.00 2.00 1.5 3.10 1.50 179.5 5.77
Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated based on US$3.00/lb Cu, US$1,500/oz Au and US$18/oz Ag, with 8 0%
metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292 * Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t).
Estimated true widths are rounded to the nearest metre for widths over 10 m and to the nearest 0.1 m for widths less than 10 m, as this
better reflects the precision of the estimates. True widths should be regarded as approximate as these are derived from an estimation
that uses a preliminary interpretation of the geological model and are subject to change as more information becomes availabl e.
Intervals greater than 300m are interpreted as bulk disseminated and stockwork mineralization and drilled width i s equal to estimated
true width.
DPDH027 was collared from the same platform as DPDH021 and angled to the southwest (255 o) with a dip of
-46o to test for a southern extension to the mineralization in hole 21. This hole was also planned to go as deep
as possible to test the concept of a porphyry system located to the west of the main HS zone. Partial results
from this hole, to a depth of 1,075.1m, were released on January 20 and February 19, and are included in the
table of full results above.
Within the HS alteration and mineralization, the characteristic zonation of porphyry veining can be recognized
with D veins first intersected at 480m, B veins at 920m and A veins at 1,270m. This zonation indicates that the
hole intersected the eastern flan k of a porphyry centre, with the hole ending in mineralized diorite porphyry
with potassic alteration. The same zonation is also seen to the north, in DPDH028, and to the south, in
DPDH029, however neither of those holes appears to have been drilled deep e nough to intersect the
porphyritic rocks or potassic alteration and both ended in the HS system. Together these three holes provide
clear evidence of a western porphyry system with a minimum north-south extent of 700m.
DPDH029 was collared adjacent to DPDH027 and drilled towards the southwest (229o) at a dip of -50 degrees
in order to explore the southern extent of the deposit. Partial results from this hole, to a depth of 1,060.0m,
were released on February 19, and are included in the table of full results above.
As with other holes, numerous intersections of HS mineralization were drilled by this hole, including a broad
zone from 776.9m which includes some higher-grade sub zones. The zone from 776.90m to 934.60m correlates
well with the large zone in DPDH021, 22, 27 and 28 and indicates that the HS system remains strong here and
is completely open to the south.
This hole intersected the same zonation of porphyry veining, overprinted by the HS alteration, but stopped
short of intersecting potassic alteration or mineralized diorite porphyry.
Discussion
Drillhole DPDH027 confirms the presence and location of a significant porphyry copper -gold centre which is
intimately related to the high -grade HS mineralization that makes up the currently known deposit. The hole
transited the eastern flank of the porphyr y system, where it has in large part been overprinted by the
subsequent HS alteration, before intersecting a multi -phase, mineralized diorite porphyry with potassic
alteration at a depth of about 1,262m. Below this depth, the hole is primarily in potassic altered and
mineralized porphyry and country rock, still overprinted by discreet zones of HS alteration and mineralization,
and it ended in mineralization at 2,005m.
In addition to the characteristic alteration, veining and porphyry intrusive rocks, the change from HS to
porphyry mineralization is distinguished by a change in copper mineralogy from enargite / chalcocite in the HS
to chalcopyrite +/ - bornite in the porp hyry. This change can be identified visually, and geochemically by a
decrease in the cyanide-soluble values of the sequential copper analyses and an increase in the residual copper
values. See technical notes below for additional details.
The density of early veins varies throughout the section below 1,200m with more abundant veins associated
with higher copper and gold grades. Early lithologies, including early porphyry phases and fine-grained andesite
and rhyolite country rock, and brecci as, contain the highest density of veining and consequently the highest
grades. In contrast, a late phase porphyry is clearly identified by diminished alteration and relatively scarce
early veins and carries lower grades. The highest grades in this section occur in areas with overprinting HS
mineralization, with individual samples between 1.0% and 7.0% CuEq.
Table 2 gives an example of these differences by showing the average grade of a representative interval of the
different geological units in DPDH027. The overall grade of the Lunahuasi porphyry system will depend on the
relative abundance of these different porphyry phases and the intensity of the associated veining, and the high
grade of the densely veined early porphyry intervals is encouraging.
Table 2: Average Grades by Geological Unit
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t CuEq % Geology
DPDH027 1,343 1,361 18 2.46 0.18 10.3 2.68 HS overprinted on rhyolite
with abundant veins
DPDH027 1,802 1,856 54 0.24 0.06 1.0 0.29 Late porphyry with few
veins
DPDH027 1,378 1,413 35 0.65 0.21 1.6 0.82 Early porphyry and rhyolite
with abundant veins
The Phase 3 drill program was completed on May 8 th with a total of 25,003m drilled in 24 holes as shown in
Table 3. In addition to these holes, three geotechnical holes and two water wells were completed. All
equipment and personnel have now been demobilized from the site and all field activities have bee n
concluded. Table 4 shows assay intervals released to date by the date of the news release. Assays for the final
12 holes representing 10,369m of drill core are pending.
Table 3: Drillhole Information
Hole ID UTM East UTM North Elev (masl) Azimuth Dip Length
Drilled (m) Drill Status
DPDH024 439,187 6,856,229 4,632 282.9 -57.8 968.0 Complete
DPDH025 439,195 6,856,275 4,626 279.6 -44.5 1,303.5 Complete
DPDH026 439,402 6,856,213 4,606 267.2 -60.3 1,261.2 Complete
DPDH027 439,185 6,855,918 4,752 256.2 -45.8 2,005.0 Complete
DPDH028 439,210 6,855,993 4,707 265.5 -53.0 1,600.4 Complete
DPDH029 439,232 6,855,904 4,743 228.8 -50.5 1,600.0 Complete
DPDH030 439,186 6,856,227 4,632 256.5 -53.1 502.9 Complete
DPDH031 439,181 6,856,239 4,634 269.5 -45.8 860.0 Complete
DPDH032 438,771 6,856,203 4,826 80.7 -51.8 896.1 Complete
DPDH033 439,197 6,856,276 4,624 288.2 -53.8 1,235.0 Complete
DPDH034 439,213 6,855,993 4,703 265.4 -57.2 1,329.2 Complete
DPDH035 439,190 6,856,230 4,633 271.1 -65.0 1,073.0 Complete
DPDH036 438,854 6,856,228 4,767 265.9 -54.9 1,105.2 Complete
DPDH037 439,229 6,855,899 4,743 244.4 -50.7 1,196.1 Complete
DPDH038 439,201 6,856,273 4,626 301.5 -48.8 785.0 Complete
DPDH039 439,134 6,856,121 4,658 264.2 -45.1 1,200.8 Complete
DPDH040 438,946 6,856,056 4,741 268.8 -46.3 1,177.3 Complete
DPDH041 439,210 6,855,991 4,703 257.3 -55.6 1,098.5 Complete
DPDH042 439,260 6,856,144 4,645 263.0 -48.2 891.5 Complete
DPDH043 439,197 6,856,276 4,624 315.7 -53.9 554.0 Complete
DPDH044 438,855 6,856,230 4,767 170.0 -60.0 737.5 Complete
DPDH045 438,936 6,856,062 4,738 44.7 -64.7 455.0 Complete
DPDH046 439,212 6,855,998 4,703 278.4 -45.0 670.8 Complete
DPDH047 439,262 6,856,144 4,645 262.9 -55.4 497.0 Complete
TOTAL 25,003.0
Table 4: Assay Intervals by News Release Date
Hole ID News
Release
Dec. 18
2024
News
Release
Jan. 21
2025
News Release
Feb.19 2025
News Release
Mar. 13 2025
News
Release Apr.
24 2025
News Release
May 21 2025
Pending
DPDH024 0 - 394 394 - 757 757 - 968 - - - None
DPDH025 0 - 271 271 - 652 652 - 1303.8 - - - None
DPDH026 0 - 553 553 - 1261.2 - - - None
DPDH027 0 - 459 459.0 - 1075.1 - - 1015.1 – 2005.0 None
DPDH028 0 - 588 588 - 1530.7 - - - None
DPDH029 0 - 1060.0 - - 1060.0 - 1600.0 None
DPDH030 0 - 502.9 - - None
DPDH031 0 - 860.0 - - None
DPDH032 0 - 573.0 573.0-896.1 - None
DPDH033 0 - 475.8 475.8-1235.0 - None
DPDH034 0 - 353.3 353.3-1329.7 - None
DPDH035 0 - 273.5 273.5-1073.0 - None
DPDH036 All
DPDH037 All
DPDH038 All
DPDH039 All
DPDH040 All
DPDH041 All
DPDH042 All
DPDH043 All
DPDH044 All
DPDH045 All
DPDH046 All
DPDH047 All
Qualified Persons and Technical Notes
The scientific and technical disclosure included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bob
Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43 -101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice
President, Exploration for the Company.
Samples were cut at NGEx’s operations base in San Juan, Argentina by Company personnel. Diamond drill core
was sawed and then sampled in maximum 2-meter intervals, stopping at geological boundaries. Core diameter
is a mix of PQ, HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. Samples were bagged, tagged and packaged
for shipment by truck to the ALS preparation laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina where they were crushed and
a 500g split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh. The prepared sample splits were sent to the ALS assay
laboratory in Lima, Peru for copper, gold and silver assays, and multi -element ICP. ALS is an accredited
laboratory which is independent of the Company. Gold assays were by fire assay fusion with AAS finish on a
30g sample. Copper and silver were assayed by atomic absorption following a 4-acid digestion. Samples were
also analyzed for a suite of 48 elements with ME -MS61 plus mercury and a sequential copper leach analysis
was completed on each sample with copper greater than 500ppm (0.05%). Sequential copper analysis involves
the sequential leaching of the sample by acid, followed by a cyanide solution. It can be used to differentiate
copper speciation, with copper oxide minerals leachable with acid and secondary copper minerals (enargite,
chalcocite, covellite) leachable by cyanide. The residual copper remaining following the sequential leaches it
typically contained in chalcopyrite and bornite. Copper and gold standards as well as blanks and duplicates
(field, preparation, and analysis) were randomly inserted into the sampling sequence for Quality Control. On
average, 9% of the submitted samples are Quality Control samples. No data quality problems were indicated
by the QA/QC program.
Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated based on US$3.00/lb Cu, US$1,500/oz Au and
US$18/oz Ag, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292
* Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t).
Estimated true widths are rounded to the nearest metre for widths over 10 m and to the nearest 0.1 m for
widths less than 10 m, as this better reflects the precision of the estimates. True widths should be regarded as
approximate as these are derived from an estimati on that uses a preliminary interpretation of the geological
model and are subject to change as more information becomes available. Intervals greater than 300m are
interpreted as bulk disseminated and stockwork mineralization and drilled width is equal to estimated true
width.
Collar coordinates in Table 3 are updated with higher precision survey data as it becomes available and may
change between news releases.
About NGEx Minerals
NGEx Minerals is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada, focused on exploration of the
Lunahuasi copper-gold-silver project in San Juan Province, Argentina, and the nearby Los Helados copper-gold
project located approximately nine kilometres to the northeast in Chile’s Region III. Both projects are located
within the Vicuña District, which includes the Caserones mine, and the Josemaria and Filo del Sol deposits.
NGEx owns 100% of Lunahuasi and is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados project, subject to
a Joint Exploration Agreement with Nippon Caserones Resources LLC, which is the indirect 30% owner of the
operating Caserones open pit copper mine located approximately 17 kilometres north of Los Helados. Lundin
Mining Corporation holds the remaining 70% stake in Caserones.
The Company’s common shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol "NGEX" and also trade on the OTCQX
under the symbol “NGXXF”. NGEx is part of the Lundin Group of Companies.
Additional information relating to NGEx may be obtained or viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Finlay Heppenstall
VP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (604) 806-3089
Additional Information
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination but may be
superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update
or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes “forward-looking information”
and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, “forward -looking
information”). A ll statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward -
looking information, including but not limited to, statements regarding: the geological interpretation of the Lunahuasi
system which is expected to evolve with additional drilling, the nature and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance
the Lunahuasi project, the potential for further discovery and/or extension of mineralized zones at the Lunahuasi project;
the timing of, and conclusions resulting from, an update to the geological interpretation at Lunahuasi, including the
ultimate size potential of the Lunahuasi system, or the timing and/or results thereof; and the Company’s ability to use
information gathered from drilling to date to effectively targ et and drill in future campaigns. Generally, this forward -
looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward -looking terminology such as "plans",
"expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", “pro jects”,
“budgets”, “assumes”, “strategy”, “objectives”, “potential”, “possible”, "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or
"believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, co nditions or results “will”,
"may", "could", "would", “should”, "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative
connotations thereof.
Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation,
the expectations and beliefs of management with respect to the nature, scope and timing of the work to be undertaken to
advance the Lunahuasi Project. Although the Company believes that these factors and expectations are reasonable as at
the date of this document , in light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected
developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results or events to differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward -looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation: the emergence or intensification of infectious
diseases, such as COVID 19, and the risk that such an occurrence globally, or in the Company’s operating jurisdictions
and/or at its project sites in particular, could impact the Company’s ability to carry out the program and could cause the
program to be shut down; estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain environmental permits, surface
rights and property interests in a timely manner; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital;
changes in the Company’s share price; changes to government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks;
unanticipated recl amation or remediation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage,
fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities , particularly gold prices, as they are fluctuating currently
due to market volatility ; material ad verse changes in general business, government and economic conditions in the
Company’s operating jurisdictions, particularly Argentina; the availability of financing if and when needed on reasonable
terms; risks related to material labour disputes, accidents, or failure of plant or equipment; there may be other factors that
cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended, including those set out in the Company’s annual information
form and annual management discussion and analysis for the yea r ended December 31, 2024, which are available on the
Company’s website and SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company’s profile.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as at
the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake
any obligation t o publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward -looking information, whether as a result of
additional information, future events and/or otherwise. Forward -looking information is provided for the purpose of
providing information about managemen t's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a
better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future eve nts could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. All the forward -looking information contained in this document is qualified by these
cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward -looking informat ion due to the
inherent uncertainty thereof.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers
Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of
securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.