Metalero Mining (MLO) Initiates a Fall Exploration Program, Adds to the Benson Land Package and Continues Dialogue with the Lhtako First Nation

The most recent news release from Metalero Mining Corp. (MLO) on December 3, 2025, announces the initiation of a fall exploration program at its flagship Benson Project in central British Columbia. Field crews have been mobilized to complete soil sampling coverage over the Cantin target and to establish initial soil sampling over the Sundberg and Chiaz targets. The company has also expanded its Benson land package by an additional 7 km2, bringing the total area to 173 km2. This expansion specifically targets an area at the Cantin occurrence where recently reported copper and gold soil anomalies were open, and which exhibits a strong geophysical signature. Metalero Mining also re-iterated its commitment to continuing constructive dialogue and cooperation with the Lhtako Dene Nation as it awaits approval of its claim under the new Mineral Claim Consultation Framework.

This news is a routine, positive update. It signifies the execution of the exploration strategy at the Benson Project, which was the stated use of proceeds for the financings undertaken in the preceding months. While the initiation of fieldwork and the expansion of the land package are positive steps, they are largely expected developments following the positive soil geochemistry results reported on September 18, 2025, and the subsequent efforts to secure funding. The expansion of the Cantin land package is a tactical positive, as it aims to capture the full extent of previously identified anomalies. The reaffirmation of engagement with the Lhtako Dene Nation is standard operating procedure for exploration in British Columbia and, while important, does not represent a new material development in itself. The lack of specific new exploration results in this release means it does not constitute a "Game Changer" but rather a confirmation of ongoing, anticipated work.

The company's financial position leading up to this point showed recurring critical cash shortages, making the successful closing of private placements essential. The initial positive soil results spurred a financing attempt at $0.24, which then deteriorated to $0.21 and required an extension to fully close, indicating challenges in attracting capital despite the promising project news. This latest news simply confirms that the proceeds from those financings are now being deployed as intended, which is a necessary step, but not an unexpected one.

Metalero Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on its flagship Benson Copper-Gold Property in central British Columbia, Canada. The company recently pivoted its strategic focus towards this project, having reduced its exposure to Nevada properties.

The Benson Project is a large land package, now totaling 173 km2, located in the prolific Quesnel Trough, which hosts numerous major copper-gold porphyry occurrences and deposits (e.g., Mount Polley, Mount Milligan). The project benefits from close proximity to infrastructure, including Highway 26 and an extensive network of logging roads, facilitating year-round and cost-efficient exploration.

Initial exploration work has been guided by artificial intelligence (AI) analysis by Geoscience B.C., which identified five high-potential (porphyry-like) target areas based on integrated historical geophysics, geology, sampling, and drilling data. Historical exploration had identified numerous gold and copper surface geochemical anomalies and modest drill programs intersected skarn and epithermal gold and silver mineralization. Critically, the property has seen "very little modern exploration," suggesting significant untapped potential. Recent soil sampling at the Cantin target has yielded "exceptional results," highlighting widespread copper and gold anomalism over a large area, which is open for expansion. The current fall exploration program aims to build upon these encouraging results.