RETRANSMISSION: QIMC Reports Multi-Component Hydrocarbon and Helium Soil-Gas Anomalies in the New-Salem Area, Cumberland Basin Project, Nova Scotia
RETRANSMISSION: QIMC Reports Multi-
Component Hydrocarbon and Helium Soil-Gas
Anomalies in the New-Salem Area,
Cumberland Basin Project, Nova Scotia
Survey returns elevated methane, associated C2-C4
hydrocarbons, and helium across a kilometric soil-gas section
located near a major normal fault within the western part of
the Cumberland Basin; results independently verified by
GeoFrontiers
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 6, 2026) -
Québec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE:
QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QIMC" or the "Company")
is pleased to report results from a
soil-gas geochemical survey conducted in November 2025 over its New Salem zone within the
Cumberland Basin, Nova Scotia.
The survey defined a 1.5 km-long section crosscutting the faulted contact between the Rapid Brook
(Horton Gp) and Ragged Reef (Cumberland Gp) Formations.
The survey demonstrated the presence of a methane-rich anomaly, extending over 450 m, closely
associated with large ethane, propane and butane anomalies that may be consistent with a potential
thermogenic contribution to these gases.
All samples were independently analyzed by GeoFrontiers Corporation (Texas) using gas
chromatography methods, providing external verification of analytical results.
The Company believes these results support continued evaluation of the New Salem zone through follow-
up geochemical, geophysical surveys, and drill-target definition.
DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS
450 m continuous C1-C4 soil-gas anomaly defined across 8 stations within EL56912 license
block
Peak methane of 87.68 ppmv with consistent presence of C2-C4 hydrocarbons across anomaly
corridor
Helium concentrations exceed atmospheric reference levels at all sample locations, indicating
diffusive anomaly footprint
Management Commentary
"The results we are reporting today represent an important step forward in QIMC's exploration program
within the Cumberland Basin. The scale and consistency of the anomaly identified at New Salem
highlight the potential of this emerging exploration target within the Cumberland Basin. Our R2G2
exploration approach has identified a continuous 450 m multi-analyte soil-gas anomaly, supported by
independently verified data from GeoFrontiers, providing a strong technical foundation for follow-up
work. The consistency of the hydrocarbon and helium signatures across the surveyed corridor suggests
a potential deeper geological source rather than isolated biogenic near-surface occurrences. These
results support advancing the New Salem zone toward targeted geochemical and geophysical surveys
and drill-ready definition. We believe this area warrants further systematic evaluation as part of our
broader exploration strategy in the basin, and we look forward to progressing to the next phase of work."
— John Karagiannidis, Chief Executive Officer
SURVEY METHODOLOGY OVERVIEW
The November 2025 program was conducted within Exploration License EL56912, a license block
situated near New Salem and Apple River, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, as illustrated in
Figure 1
.
The survey comprised a single contiguous traverse of approximately 1.5 kilometres, with 28 sample
stations spaced at approximately 50-metre intervals running north-south through the central portion of the
license block. Sampling on the northern segment (stations 100-1400) was completed on November 20,
2025, and the southern segment (stations 1500-1750) on November 21, 2025.
Soil-gas sampling was conducted using a standardized protocol designed to ensure reproducibility,
minimal atmospheric contamination, and high analytical precision. All field sampling equipment,
including steel probes and gas-tight collection vessels were supplied by
GeoFrontiers (Texas, USA)
,
whose systems are specifically engineered for shallow soil-gas geochemical surveys. Gas samples
were drawn into pre-evacuated, leak-tested containers provided by GeoFrontiers, ensuring stable
storage and transport. Analyses were performed by
GeoFrontiers'
laboratory in Texas, using high-
sensitivity gas chromatography optimized for low-level hydrocarbon detection. Methane, ethane,
ethylene, propane, propylene, i-butane, n-butane, and helium were quantified using calibrated multi-
detector systems capable of resolving trace-level variations in both saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
All 28 samples were shipped to GeoFrontiers Corporation (Texas) for independent gas chromatography
analysis and quality control verification, providing independent data integrity.
FIGURE 1: EXPLORATION LICENSE EL56912 — SOIL-GAS SURVEY TRAVERSE LOCATION
MAP
Figure 1. Satellite base map showing Exploration License EL56912 (blue shaded area) with the
November 2025 soil-gas survey traverse (red dotted line) and sample station numbers. The traverse
is located near New Salem, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Source: QIMC field operations,
November 2025.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7968/291267_3deec36ed4fb3960_001full.jpg
KEY ANALYTICAL RESULTS - C1-C4 HYDROCARBONS & HELIUM (PPMV)
Parameter
Minimum
(ppmv)
Maximum
(ppmv)
Mean (ppmv)
Stations > 5
ppmv
Atmospheric
Background
Methane (C1)
1.88
87.68
8.99
12 / 28
1.7-2.0
Ethane (C2)
0.0073
1.615
0.311
—
< 0.001
Propane (C3)
0.019
0.5033
0.099
—
< 0.001
Total Butanes (C4)
0.0406
0.196
0.095
—
< 0.001
Helium (He)
5.306
5.722
5.456
28 / 28
5.240
Note: All concentrations expressed in parts per million by volume (ppmv). Atmospheric background values represent typical near-surface
reference levels for Cumberland Basin geology. Helium atmospheric background = 5.240 ppmv.
HYDROCARBON GAS RESULTS
The survey recorded a peak methane (C1) concentration of 87.68 ppmv, measured at station QIMC-
ARE-1050 within the EL56912 traverse corridor. Twelve of the 28 stations (43%) returned methane
values in excess of 5.0 ppmv, with a cluster of seven consecutive stations recording values between 5.7
ppmv and 87.7 ppmv, a pattern consistent with a coherent sub-surface source rather than isolated near-
surface contamination. The survey-wide mean methane concentration of 8.99 ppmv is substantially
above typical crustal background for this geological setting.
Of particular significance to the Company's exploration thesis is the consistent presence of heavier
hydrocarbon components (C2-C4) across the anomalous zones within the EL56912 license block.
Ethane (C2) reached a peak value of 1.61 ppmv, propane (C3) a peak of 0.503 ppmv, and total butanes
(C4) a combined peak of 0.211 ppmv. The co-occurrence of these wet-gas constituents with elevated
methane
(
Figure 2
)
may indicate a potential thermogenic contribution, distinguishing the observed
anomalies from potential shallower biogenic methane sources. The combined C2-C4 fraction reached a
maximum of 2.31 ppmv, further supporting a potential thermogenic contribution to the observed gas
signature.
Figure 2. Sections of the soil-gas data showing C1-C4 hydrocarbons and helium from the New Salem
survey.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7968/291267_3deec36ed4fb3960_002full.jpg
The soil-gas anomalies observed along the section show methane-to-(ethane + propane) ratios that are
too low to be attributed to biogenic sources generated by the decomposition of forest organic matter.
The strong correlation among these gases provides evidence that may be consistent with a thermogenic
contribution within the underlying rock. The elevated concentrations of C
₂
-C
₄
hydrocarbons relative to
methane may be consistent with a gas composition that includes heavier hydrocarbon components.
The spatial coherence of the hydrocarbon anomaly across 1.5 kilometres of continuous traverse within a
single license block underscores the potential scale of the underlying prospective structure.
HELIUM RESULTS
A notable feature of the dataset is the consistent elevation of soil-gas helium across the entire 28-station
survey. Atmospheric helium concentration is approximately 5.240 ppmv; every single sample collected
during the November 2025 program returned helium values above this threshold, ranging from a low of
5.306 ppmv to a high of 5.722 ppmv, with a survey mean of 5.456 ppmv. This represents an average
anomaly of approximately 4.0% above atmospheric background, with the peak station exhibiting an
anomaly exceeding 10.8% above background.
Helium in soil-gas surveys is widely recognized as a tracer of deep crustal or mantle-derived fluid
pathways. The absence of any background-level stations, all 28 sample points returning more elevated
helium, suggests that the entire surveyed corridor may indicate potential diffusive fluid migration
pathways to the near surface.
INDEPENDENT LABORATORY VERIFICATION
All 28 soil-gas samples were independently analyzed by GeoFrontiers Corporation, a specialized
geochemical laboratory based in Texas with extensive experience in petroleum and critical mineral soil-
gas surveys across North America. GeoFrontiers utilized gas chromatography methods to quantify C1-
C4 hydrocarbon fractions and helium concentrations in all submitted samples. The independent
verification report, confirms the integrity of sampling procedures and the accuracy of the reported
analytical values. QIMC management considers the GeoFrontiers verification to be an essential
component of the Company's commitment to rigorous, independent quality data standards.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO INVESTORS
The identification of a thermogenic gas anomaly zone within the Cumberland Basin system represents
an important exploration development in the Company's current program. Even if the Cumberland Basin
has
not
produced commercial natural gas in the past, geological and new geochemical evidence shows
it is prospective and could be comparable to nearby producing basins.
Until now, the subsurface potential of the EL56912 corridor near New Salem had never been
systematically evaluated using modern multi-analyte soil-gas techniques, and no oil or gas drilling has
been conducted in the area. In addition, no deep seismic surveys have been acquired. As a result, our
findings highlight the need for further exploration to properly assess the full resource potential of the
western part of the Cumberland Basin.
QIMC deployed its proprietary R2G2 exploration methodology to identify and evaluate this area. R2G2 is
a systematic, staged exploration workflow that integrates near-surface soil-gas
geochemistry,geophysics, structural geology, and subsurface modeling to define drill-ready targets. The
November 2025 survey represents the successful completion of Stage 1 of the R2G2 workflow and
directly unlocks Stage 2: targeted geochemical and geophysical acquisition and drill-target definition
within EL56912.
The significance of the current dataset can be summarized across three dimensions:
1.
Scale of Anomaly: A 1.5-kilometre section containing a 450 m continuous soil-gas anomaly, with an
associated diffusive helium response, is noteworthy for a first-pass survey and may be consistent with
a potential deeper geological source rather than a localized seep.
2.
Helium Optionality: The consistent above-background helium diffusive anomaly introduces a dual-
commodity exploration thesis. Helium is a strategically critical, non-renewable gas commanding
significant market premiums, and its co-occurrence with thermogenic hydrocarbons in the
Cumberland Basin is a previously under-appreciated exploration vector.
3.
Wet Condensate Gas: The C2–C4 signature may be consistent with a wet-gas signature. Unlike
dry gas, a wet-gas signature may be associated with the presence of liquid hydrocarbon components.
QIMC management intends to advance the EL56912 new zone through a staged program of targeted
geochemical and geophysical surveys and drilling of the identified anomaly corridor. The Company will
provide further updates as the program advances. We are moving forward with the next phase of work to
further define this emerging target.
SCIENTIFIC COMMENTARY
By Professor Marc Richer Lafleche, INRS — Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique
During the 2025 hydrogen exploration program, the study area was expanded to include the southern
Cumberland Basin near New Salem. Soil-gas surveys were conducted to evaluate the transition zone
between the Cobequid Highlands (Advocate area) and the northern margin of the Cumberland Basin.
Initial field measurements by QIMC detected samples enriched in volatile organic compounds. In
response, the exploration team carried out a second soil-gas campaign specifically targeting C1-C4
hydrocarbons in the near-surface environment. The methodology follows the INRS approach used to
assess hydrocarbon potential in the Lower St. Lawrence region and is based on a sampling and
analytical protocol developed by GeoFrontiers (Texas, USA).
The results presented in this press release indicate that, in addition to hydrogen potential, the
Cumberland region may also host hydrocarbon systems supporting a phase 2 program in the area.
Anomalies observed along the forest road in the New Salem sector provide evidence for thermogenic
hydrocarbons within the basin's geological formations. Because soil-gas surveys are a direct detection
technique, the anomalies measured at surface
may indicate potential migration of hydrocarbons to
the surface
. Although these data cannot quantify subsurface resources, they are highly effective for
focusing follow-up exploration and reducing the area requiring more intensive and costly methods such
as seismic reflection and drilling.
Favourable geological setting for natural gas and condensate in the Cumberland region and
the New Salem area (Figure 3)
Figure 3
–
Figure showing the geology, the normal fault responsible for the subsidence, the station
numbers, and the anomalies exceeding 10 ppm of CH
₄
.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7968/291267_3deec36ed4fb3960_003full.jpg
Beyond its history as a coal-producing district, the Cumberland Basin exhibits geological characteristics
favourable to several energy resources, including geothermal energy, natural gas, condensates, and
notably natural hydrogen, as demonstrated by QIMC's 2025-2026 work. Previous studies of the basin's
hydrocarbon potential have identified credible prospects for thermogenic gases dominated by methane
with variable condensate fractions (Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Open File 2017-03). Despite
geochemical and stratigraphic evidence, the western Cumberland region remains underexplored for
natural gas and suffers from a low density of geoscientific data. Accordingly, the QIMC-INRS team
considers the area an excellent candidate for an integrated geophysical, structural, and geochemical
study to pinpoint high-potential targets.
Available Nova Scotia government data suggest that hydrocarbon sources in the Cumberland Basin are
likely lacustrine or deltaic shales and coal-rich strata. Analyses of these organic-rich units have returned
Type III and locally mixed Type II-III kerogen signatures, with maturity levels consistent with thermogenic
gas generation. These characteristics may explain the soil-gas anomalies observed at New Salem and
support the expectation of a gas ± condensate system.
The Cumberland Basin hosts a variety of potential structural traps produced by syn-rift extension and
later compressional reactivation. These include fault-bounded closures, anticlines above listric normal
faults, tilted and rotated fault blocks, thrust-related compartments, and inversion-related hanging-wall
anticlines. Some of these structures are likely present in the New Salem area, but the absence of drilling
and seismic surveys prevents detailed documentation of their geometry. However, QIMC soil-gas
anomalies reported here occur exclusively over sedimentary rocks of the Rapid Brook Formation
(Horton Group). These rocks are separated from the younger sedimentary rocks of the Ragged Reef