Sterling Extends Core MEPS Copper Zone to 700m; Intersects 200m of 0.53% CuEq Including 102m of 0.81% CuEq Western drilling continues to demonstrate the scale and continuity of the expanding 700m core of the MEPS porphyry copper system within the 1.3km mineralized footprint
Sterling Extends Core MEPS Copper Zone to 700m; Intersects 200m of
0.53% CuEq Including 102m of 0.81% CuEq
Western drilling continues to demonstrate the scale and continuity of the expanding 700m core of the
MEPS porphyry copper system within the 1.3km mineralized footprint
September 16, 2026 – Toronto, Ontario – Sterling Metals Corp. (TSXV: SAG, OTCQB: SAGGF) (“Sterling”
or the “Company”) is pleased to report assay results from drill holes SC-26-25 and SC-26-26 at the MEPS
Zone (“MEPS”), part of the Company’s ongoing 20,000 metre minimum drill program at the Soo Copper
Project (“Soo Copper” or the “ Project”), near Batchewana Bay, Ontario. The holes were drilled west of
the MEPS discovery as part of Sterling’s systematic 2026 program to test the scale, continuity and
architecture of the broader copper system.
Highlights:
• SC-26-26 intersected 397.19m grading 0.37% CuEq from bedrock to the end of the hole,
including 200m grading 0.53% CuEq, 101.9m grading 0.81% CuEq and 13.25m grading 1.82%
CuEq. The hole was collared approximately 300m west of the core MEPS discovery area.
• Drilling has now delineated a 700m geologically continuous zone of significant copper
mineralization (the “MEPS Copper Zone”) within a broader 1.3km x 600m copper -mineralized
footprint. Both remain open for further expansion.
• Both drill holes intersected copper -bearing porphyry -style veins hosted within the same
potassically altered mafic volcanic and felsic porphyry rocks observed in previous drilling,
further demonstrating the continuity of the geological framework across MEPS.
Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration and Evaluation, commented, “This is an
important step-out for the MEPS discovery. Approximately 300 metres west of our initial discovery, we
intersected nearly 400 metres of continuous copper mineral ization from bedrock surface, including 200
metres grading 0.53% CuEq. With drilling now tracing the MEPS Copper Zone over approximately 700
metres within a much broader 1.3 -kilometre copper-mineralized footprint, we continue to demonstrate
both the scale and continuity of this system. Importantly, the system remains open and our drilling
continues to provide clear vectors for expansion.”
Figure 1. Plan map of the MEPS Zone showing SC-26-25 and SC-26-26 within the broader 1,300m by
600m copper-mineralized footprint
Figure 2. East-west long section through the MEPS Zone showing SC-26-26 and the approximately
700m strike extent of the MEPS Copper Zone
Figure 3. Copper-gold rich vein containing bornite (purple) and chalcopyrite (yellow) in hole SC-26-26
from 293.62m depth grading 6.02% CuEq (2.17% Cu, 3.92 g/t Au, 27.8 g/t Ag, 2 ppm Mo)
Figure 4. Copper sulphides (chalcopyrite and bornite) and molybdenite (silver grey mineral) in quartz
vein hosted by biotite-magnetite altered basalt in hole SC-26-26 from 282.5m depth grading 10.53%
CuEq (2.56%Cu, 0.265g/t Au, 12.5 gpt Ag, 14900 ppm Mo)
Figure 5. Copper sulphides (chalcopyrite)hosted within potassic-altered (biotite-magnetite) basalt in
hole SC-26-26 from 225.25m depth grading 5.08% CuEq (4.68%Cu, 0.175g/t Au, 12.2 g/t Ag, 123ppm
Mo)
Figure 6. Ribbon vein with copper sulphides in hole SC-26-25 from 225.13m to 225.48m depth grading
2.71% CuEq (2.52% Cu, 0.113 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 5ppm Mo)
Figure 7. Copper sulphides (chalcopyrite) hosted within potassic-altered (biotite-magnetite) basalt in
hole SC-26-25 from 255.0m to 256mdepth grading 2.4% CuEq (2.27% Cu, 0.05 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 0.5ppm
Mo)
Technical Discussion
The MEPS porphyry copper system is characterized by broad, near-surface copper mineralization hosted
predominantly in altered Neoarchean mafic volcanic rocks intruded by multiple phases of
Mesoproterozoic felsic porphyry. Previous drilling has demonstrated that stronger copper grades
commonly occur adjacent to early “GFP” felsic dykes and sills and associated magnetite-rich veining, while
deeper portions of the system contain more molybdenum -rich mineralization, within the host basalts,
hydrothermal breccias, and granite porphyry stock.
SC-26-25 was drilled toward the southeast at an azimuth of approximately 135° and a dip of -60° to test
the western continuation of the MEPS Copper Zone, a more closely drilled zone of geologically continuous,
significant copper mineralization that include s the high-grade MEPS discovery. The hole intersected the
same broad package of basaltic volcanic rocks and felsic intrusive phases observed elsewhere at MEPS,
that host various phases of porphyry style veins carrying copper sulphides in association with p otassic
alteration (biotite -magnetite altered host rocks; veins with potassic feldspar selvages). A notable
magnetite-rich vein occurs from 225.13m to 225.48m depth grading 2.71% CuEq over 0.35m length.
SC-26-26 was collared approximately 150m south of SC-26-25 and drilled at an azimuth of approximately
75° and a dip of -45°, along the same trend as previously released holes SC-26-10, SC-26-13 and SC-26-16.
The hole intersected broadly similar host geolog y and included an approximately 65m interval of felsic
intrusive rocks. Copper sulphides occur within and adjacent to the intrusive as well as within quartz veins,
consistent with the characteristic mineralization style observed across MEPS.
Geological observations from SC -26-25, SC -26-26 and SC -26-27 indicate a westward -increasing total
sulphide abundance, but with increasing iron sulphide (pyrite, pyrrhotite) contents although chalcopyrite
is still common and locally abundant. Assays from SC-26-27 are pending. Sterling will report those results
separately once assays and QA/QC review are complete.
Together, SC -26-25 and SC -26-26 extend the MEPS Copper Zone by over 300m westward to an
approximately 700m current length, within a broader footprint of copper mineralization that now covers
an area of 1300m by 600m. Both are open to expansion. Follow -up d rilling will continue to test the
geometry, continuity and grade distribution of the MEPS porphyry copper system.
Table 1. Significant Assay Intervals
Drillhole
ID
From
(m)
To
(m)
Length
(m)
Cu
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Mo
(ppm)
CuEq
(%)
SC-26-25 157.00 285.00 128.00 0.28 0.01 1.14 5 0.31
including 198.00 280.00 82.00 0.37 0.02 1.26 6 0.40
including 244.00 268.00 24.00 0.80 0.03 2.29 9 0.86
including 252.00 268.00 16.00 0.92 0.03 2.73 6 0.98
SC-26-26 8.51 406.05 397.19 0.30 0.03 1.07 63 0.37
including 59.00 406.05 347.05 0.32 0.03 1.15 72 0.40
including 148.00 348.00 200.00 0.42 0.04 1.42 94 0.53
Including 224.10 326.00 101.90 0.65 0.07 2.19 152 0.81
including 224.10 254.00 29.90 0.98 0.04 1.69 96 1.08
and 282.00 295.25 13.25 1.03 0.30 7.60 837 1.82
Intervals may not represent true widths, which are not yet known, and capping has not been applied to
grades. Copper Equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated based on a three-year trailing
average for each commodity (2023, 2024 and 2025), which equates to US$4.18/lb Cu, US$2,600/oz Au,
US$30.54/oz Ag and US$21.46/lb Mo, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The
formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.907 × Au g/t) + (0.0107 × Ag g/t) + (0.00051 × Mo ppm).
Table 2. Hole Locations, Directions and Final Depths
Hole
number
Easting Northing Elevation Depth Dip Azimuth
SC-26-25 680708.00 5212608.00 450.21 381.50 -60.00 135.00
SC-26-26 680740.00 5212464.00 419.00 406.05 -45.00 75.00
Sampling Procedures – Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Analytical services were provided by Actlabs , which is an independent, CALA - and SCC -accredited
analytical services firm registered to ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 standard. Drill core samples were logged
and split in half with a diamond core saw. Half -core samples were securely stored at the core logging
facility until being delivered to Actlabs Thunder Bay lab by commercial transport.
Samples were crushed (< 7 kg) up to 90% passing 2mm (10 mesh), riffle split to 250 g and pulverized by
mild steel to 95% passing 105μm (150 mesh). Samples splits underwent a 4 -acid near total digestion
followed by a multi-element analysis, including base metals, using an ICP method for 35 elements.
Selected sample pulps were then analyzed for gold using a 30 g aliquot mixed with fire assay fluxes and
Ag as a collector, placed in a fire clay crucible, gradually heated to 1060ºC for 60 min, and followed with
an AA finish.
Laboratory QA/QC for the ICP analysis was 14% for each batch, including 5 method reagent blanks, 10 in-
house controls, 10 samples duplicates, and 8 certified reference materials. An additional 13% QA/QC was
performed as part of the instrumental analysis to ensure quality in the areas of instrumental drift.
Laboratory quality control for the gold fire assay included two blanks per 42 samples, three sample
duplicates and 2 certified reference materials, one high and one low (QC 7 out of 42 samples).
In-house QA/QC included the systematic insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials
(CRM).
Qualified Person
Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration and Evaluation for Sterling Metals has reviewed
and approved the technical information presented herein.
About the Soo Copper Project
The Soo Copper Project sits just 20 minutes off the Trans -Canada Highway, one hour north of Sault Ste.
Marie, and 20km from rail and deep -water access. With near -surface copper mineralization,
demonstrated scale and grade, and proximity to existing infrastructure, Sterling believes Soo Copper has
the potential to emerge as a critical Canadian copper project.