Ridgeline Minerals Announces $9.9M in Partner-Funded 2026 Exploration Budgets at the Swift and Selena Projects
Ridgeline Minerals Announces $9.9M in
Partner-Funded 2026 Exploration Budgets at
the Swift and Selena Projects
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2026) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG)
(OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("
Ridgeline
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to provide 2026 budget
guidance of US$9,500,000 in partner-funded exploration between the Selena ("Selena") and Swift
("Swift") projects (
Figure 1
). Drill program details are highlighted below.
The Selena project is a silver-lead-zinc-gold-copper carbonate replacement ("CRD") style exploration
project operated by Ridgeline Minerals and funded by a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Limited
("South32"). The project is currently operating under Phase I of an exploration earn-in agreement totaling
up to US$10,000,000 in qualifying expenditures over a 5-year period. South32 has approved a Year-3
work program and budget of US$4,400,000 that, once funded and executed, is expected to satisfy
Phase I of the exploration earn-in agreement (for more details see August 22, 2024 press release
HERE
).
The Swift project is Carlin-Type gold exploration project being operated by Nevada Gold Mines ("NGM")
under Phase I of an exploration earn-in agreement totaling up to US$20,000,000 in NGM expenditures
over a 5-year period. NGM has approved a 2026 exploration budget of US$5,500,000 for a projected
total of US$20,000,000 in qualifying expenditures, which will satisfy Phase I of the exploration earn-in
agreement (for more details see September 22, 2024 press release
HERE
).
Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President, CEO & Director commented, "Selena and Swift continue to
exhibit strong exploration potential with our partner-funded budgets continuing to increase year over
year. 2026 represents our largest partner-funded exploration budget in Company history and provides
our shareholders with exposure to gold, silver and base metal discoveries in mining friendly Nevada,
while also reducing risk and minimizing shareholder dilution through our hybrid exploration model."
Mr. Peters continues, "Our 2025 CRD discovery at Chinchilla Sulfide was a significant milestone for
the Selena project and supports our belief that Selena represents one of the more compelling silver
and base metal discoveries in the United States since the discovery of the Hermosa Taylor deposit in
2015. Drilling will commence at Selena in April, followed by Swift in May, where we will continue to
build on high-grade drill intercepts at both projects."
Selena Project (US $20,000,000 South32 Earn-in)
South32 has approved a Year-3 (July 2026 to June 2027) work program and budget of approximately
US$4,400,000 across an initial three core holes for a projected total of US$10,000,000 in qualifying
expenditures under Phase I of the exploration earn-in agreement. The work program is projected to be
completed on or before December 31, 2026.
Drilling will take a phased approach in 2026 with the program starting with three deep holes
targeting the Chinchilla Sulfide discovery (
Figure 2
)
The first hole will test for bedding controlled "manto" CRD mineralization between discovery
hole SE25-053 (See December 18, 2025 PR
HERE
) and SE25-054 (see March 16, 2026
press release
HERE
)
The second hole will test between SE25-053 and the Company's 2022 RC drillhole SE22-
038 that intercepted
1.5m grading 97.4 grams per tonne ("g/t) silver ("Ag"), 5.0% lead-
zinc ("Pb-Zn") and 0.4 g/t gold ("Au")
in the same oxide upper horizon as SE25-054 but
did not drill deep enough to test the projection of the same sulfide CRD horizon that was
intercepted in SE25-053
The third hole will test a new target concept adjacent to the Butte Valley Cu-Au-Ag-Zn
porphyry system with the goal of intersecting copper-silver enriched skarn mineralization
Borehole electromagnetic ("BHEM") surveys will be completed in late June in holes SE25-053 and
SE25-054 to assist in the 3D modelling of conductive sulphide-rich zones at depth and laterally
from the drill holes. It is anticipated that results from the BHEM surveys will help guide additional
future drilling at the project.
Swift Project (US$30,000,000 NGM Earn-in)
NGM has approved a 2026 exploration budget of US $5,500,000 across 5-6 deep core holes for a
projected total of $20,000,000 in qualifying expenditures on or before December 31, 2026.
NGM will begin drilling in May to complete core tails at SW25-010 & SW25-012 and continue
testing the high-grade mineralized horizon at the SW Swift target, which intersected
1.1m grading
10.4 g/t Au
in SW24-006 (
Figure 3
)
The remaining 3-4 holes will be split between the Aquila and Pegasus targets which will be testing
the down-dip projection of the Carbon thrust at Aquila while Pegasus will test the shallower
projection of the Unicorn Window (previously referred to as the Mill Creek corridor) (
Figure 3
)
Figure 1
: Ridgeline's 200-kilometer² exploration portfolio in Nevada with partner projects in white
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/293934_d102b18214e1f8c8_003full.jpg
Figure 2
: Plan view map of the Selena property with Chinchilla Sulfide drill results and the Phase I 2026
drill collar locations (red stars)
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/293934_d102b18214e1f8c8_004full.jpg
Figure 3
: Plan view map of the Swift property showing 2026 drill locations and previous drill intercepts
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/293934_d102b18214e1f8c8_005full.jpg
QAQC Procedures
Selena HQ & NQ size core samples are split by core saw with ½ the sample retained at the Company
warehouse and the other ½ bagged and submitted to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) of Sparks,
Nevada, which is a certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Independent check
samples are shipped to Paragon Geochemical Labs (PAL) of Sparks, Nevada. Samples are prepared
using industry-standard prep methods - 4 - and analysed using FA-PB30-ICP (Au; 30g fire assay) and
ICP-5AM48 (48 element Suite; 0.5g 5-acid digestion/ICP-MS) methods. AAL also undertakes its own
internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment
calibration. Ridgeline's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and
blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results completed by the Company's Qualified
Person, Michael T. Harp, Vice President, Exploration.
Swift HQ & NQ size core samples are split by core saw with ½ the sample retained at a NGM facility and
the other ½ bagged and to ALS Minerals, Elko Nevada, which is a certified and accredited laboratory,
independent of NGM. Samples are prepared using industry-standard prep methods and analysed using
Au-AA23 (Au; 30 g fire assay) and ME-MS61 (48 element Suite; 0.25 g 4-acid digestion/ICP- MS)
methods. ALS also undertakes its own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper
sample preparation and equipment calibration. NGM QAQC programs include regular insertion of CRM
standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results completed
internally by Nevada Gold Mines technical personnel.
Technical information contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of, and
approved by, Michael T. Harp, CPG, the Company's Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Harp is a "qualified
person" under National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
.
About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.
Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management
team and a 200 km
2
exploration portfolio across seven projects in Nevada, USA. The Company is a
hybrid explorer with a mix of 100%-owned exploration assets (Big Blue, Atlas, Bell Creek & Coyote) as
well as two earn-in exploration agreements with Nevada Gold Mines at its Swift and Black Ridge
projects and a third earn-in with South32 at its Selena project totaling up to US $60 million in partner-
funded exploration expenditures. More information about Ridgeline can be found at
www.ridgelineminerals.com
.
On behalf of the Board
"Chad Peters"
President & CEO
Further Information:
Chad Peters, P.Geo.
President, CEO & Director Ridgeline Minerals Corp.
+1 775 304 9773
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this press release
Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press 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 legislation and the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the assay
results for core hole SW24-004 and the potential significance thereof. The words "potential",
"anticipate", "meaningful", "significant", "pending", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will",
"project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the
statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially
different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing
the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material
assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that the current objectives concerning the
Swift project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that
general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that
all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks
and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related
to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as
well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has
attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline and may cause actual actions,
events, or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may
be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
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, Ridgeline 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.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293934