공고 • Jul 14
Sterling Metals Reports Assay Results from Three Additional Drill Holes At Soo Copper Project
Sterling Metals Corp. reported assay results from three additional drill holes completed as part of its ongoing 2026 drilling program at the Soo Copper Project, located near Batchewana Bay, Ontario. Each hole intersected broad intervals of continuous copper mineralization beginning near surface, further defining the scale of the MEPS Zone and reinforcing Sterling's interpretation of a large, copper-dominant system with significant expansion potential. Holes SC-26-07, SC-26-08 and SC-26-09 tested the northwest and west extents of MEPS, intersecting 248.0 m to 323.0 m grading 0.30% to 0.34% CuEq (Copper Equivalent). The results also refine the Company's understanding of the structural controls on mineralization, providing important information to guide future drilling. Copper-dominant sulphide mineralization is expansive and largely hosted by potassically altered Neoarchean mafic volcanic rocks that have been intruded by a multiphase complex of Mesoproterozoic “Keweenawan” felsic porphyry intrusions, clustered across the MEPS Zone. The highest-grade copper mineralization is commonly found adjacent to strongly altered and veined felsic dykes that appear to have acted as conduits for the copper-rich magmatic hydrothermal fluids. Thin basaltic flows, especially pillowed flow tops, and tuffs are the best host rocks for copper mineralization, in contrast to more massive less permeable gabbroic rocks that likely form the cores of thicker flows and perhaps also subvolcanic feeder intrusions. It is clear that the copper-rich magmatic hydrothermal event was robust and widespread, the fluids having pervasively permeated the mafic host rock package. Importantly grade is primarily determined by host rock permeability, both primary lithologic permeability and secondary, structurally imposed permeability, and so very high-grade intervals are consistently found in areas of very high host rock permeability, particularly in proximity to syn-mineral felsic dykes. Broad intervals of continuous yet modest copper grades are a product of lower host rock permeability rather than a weak hydrothermal system or a narrow copper zone. Holes SC-26-07, 08 and 09 while extensively mineralized were generally less permeable than other areas within the MEPS discovery area both in past and in future drilling. Mineralized core in hole SC-26-07 at 134.64m grading 6.57% CuEq, Ribbon vein (quartz+magnetite+chalcopyrite+bornite). Mineralized core in hole SC-26-09 at 134.64m grading 6.08% CuEq, Ribbon vein (quartz+magnetite+chalcopyrite+bornite). Significant Assay Intervals: Hole ID SC-26-07 from 7.0 to 255.0, length 247.0, Cu 0.28%, Mo 36.96 ppm, Au 0.03 g/t, Ag 1.54 g/t, CuEq 0.34%. Including 71.4 to 84.0, length 12.6, Cu 0.35%, Mo 8.22 ppm, Au 0.04 g/t, Ag 1.46 g/t, CuEq 0.41%. And 111.0 to 136.0, length 26.0, Cu 0.53%, Mo 27.56 ppm, Au 0.07 g/t, Ag 3.47 g/t, CuEq 0.64%. And 156.0 to 163.0, length 7.0, Cu 0.55%, Mo 31.00 ppm, Au 0.06 g/t, Ag 3.44 g/t, CuEq 0.66%. And 189.0 to 240.0, length 51.0, Cu 0.40%, Mo 48.13 ppm, Au 0.04 g/t, Ag 2.29 g/t, CuEq 0.48%. SC-26-07 from 290.0 to 437.0, length 147.0, Cu 0.17%, Mo 22.25 ppm, Au 0.03 g/t, Ag 0.90 g/t, CuEq 0.22%. SC-26-08 from 37.7 to 329.0, length 291.3, Cu 0.26%, Mo 31.37 ppm, Au 0.03 g/t, Ag 1.56 g/t, CuEq 0.32%. Including 119.0 to 167.0, length 48.0, Cu 0.34%, Mo 40.37 ppm, Au 0.04 g/t, Ag 2.04 g/t, CuEq 0.42%. And 204.0 to 242.2, length 38.2, Cu 0.42%, Mo 31.01 ppm, Au 0.07 g/t, Ag 3.04 g/t, CuEq 0.53%. And 298.8 to 313.0, length 14.3, Cu 0.40%, Mo 4.05 ppm, Au 0.03 g/t, Ag 2.38 g/t, CuEq 0.46%. SC-26-09 from 3.0 to 308.5, length 305.1, Cu 0.25%, Mo 47.25 ppm, Au 0.03 g/t, Ag 1.45 g/t, CuEq 0.31%. Including 120.6 to 133.7, length 12.7, Cu 0.78%, Mo 59.41 ppm, Au 0.05 g/t, Ag 7.39 g/t, CuEq 0.94%. And 202.2 to 226.0, length 23.8, Cu 0.40%, Mo 11.74 ppm, Au 0.05 g/t, Ag 1.43 g/t, CuEq 0.47%. And 239.8 to 280.0, length 40.2, Cu 0.35%, Mo 258.71 ppm, Au 0.07 g/t, Ag 2.39 g/t, CuEq 0.58%. SC-26-09 from 353.4 to 415.0, length 61.6, Cu 0.11%, Mo 134.08 ppm, Au 0.62 g/t, Ag 0.01 g/t, CuEq 0.20%. 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 USD 4.18/lb Cu, USD 2,600/oz Au, USD 30.54/oz Ag and USD 21.46/lb Mo, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.907 x Au g/t) + (0.0107 x Ag g/t) + (0.00051 x Mo ppm). Drilling continues at Soo Copper. Sterling is currently drilling the 30th hole of its 2026 program and has completed approximately 15,000m of a minimum 20,0000m campaign and has surpassed the 25,000m mark since initiating drilling in spring 2025. The Company's objectives are to continue defining the scale of the near-surface copper system and to prioritize targets with potential for large zones of higher-grade copper mineralization within that system. 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).