Forte Minerals Commences First-Ever Drilling at the Pucarini High-Sulfidation Gold Project, Puno, Peru

Executive Summary

• Forte Minerals has begun its inaugural Phase I diamond drill program at the 100%‑owned Pucarini High‑Sulfidation Gold Project in southern Peru, targeting a large‑scale epithermal Au system.
• The program consists of five drill holes totaling ~1,750 m (≈350 m per hole); assay results are expected in early Q1 2026.
• Over the past four months the company secured two strategic investors, each contributing C$5.7 million, strengthening its balance sheet and supporting both Pucarini and the Alto Ruri Au project.

Key Details

• Project Overview: Pucarini sits within the Southern Peru Miocene Mineral Belt, an area known for epithermal gold and porphyry Cu‑Mo deposits.
• Drill Program – Phase I:
• 5 diamond drill holes
• Total depth ≈1,750 m (≈350 m per hole)
• Objective: test a potential large‑scale high‑sulphidation epithermal gold system and delineate deeper porphyry Au‑Cu‑Mo targets.
• Target Selection: Holes placed on coincident gold geochemistry, high‑sulfidation alteration zones, and high‑resistivity geophysical anomalies.
• Geological Highlights:
• 1,200 m × 600 m surface Au geochemical anomaly overlapped by a 1,500 m × 600 m high‑chargeability IP anomaly.
• Deep‑rooted magnetic susceptibility anomaly suggests a possible Au‑Cu‑Mo porphyry system at depth.
• Assay Timeline: Core processing for the first hole is underway; initial assay results anticipated in early Q1 2026 (market release expected December).
• Community & Permitting: DIA drilling permit obtained August 2023; renewed one‑year Community Agreement effective 1 Mar 2025.
• Strategic Financing: Two new strategic investors each invested C$5.7 million, enhancing treasury and providing operational expertise for Pucarini and the Alto Ruri project.
• Alto Ruri Project Update: Ongoing permitting work; located ~15 km from Barrick’s Pierina Mine with historic drilling and district‑scale epithermal signatures.
• Qualified Person: Richard Osmond, P.Geo., Independent Director, reviewed and approved all technical information per NI 43‑101.

Notable Quotes

“The start of drilling at Pucarini is a major milestone for Forte… The scale of the alteration system, the strength of the geophysics, and the consistency of the gold anomaly make this a highly attractive first‑pass discovery opportunity.” – Patrick Elliott, President & CEO, Forte Minerals Corp.