First Andes plans exploration program for Santas Gloria

Executive Summary

• First Andes Silver Ltd. has outlined a comprehensive 2025/2026 systematic, property-wide exploration program for its 100%-owned Santas Gloria project in Peru, aiming to rapidly evaluate the district's 23 mapped intermediate-sulphidation epithermal (ISE) veins.
• The program integrates multiple data streams, including high-resolution WorldView-3 (WV-3) spectral mapping, property-wide soil sampling, targeted geological mapping, and ground induced polarization (IP) geophysics, to identify and rank high-priority drill targets for Phase 4 drilling.
• Phase 3 drilling permitting is already underway for the Tembladera and San Jorge vein systems, while the new systematic approach seeks to vector into high-grade mineralization across the entire 12+ km strike of the district.

Key Details

• Project Overview: Santas Gloria is located ~55 km east of Lima, Peru, and hosts 23 mapped ISE veins totaling >12 km of strike. It has never been subject to systematic modern exploration.
• WV-3 Spectral Mapping:
  • A 50-square-kilometre property-wide spectral mapping program has commenced.
  • Data includes 2-metre-resolution spectral alteration products and 50-centimetre-resolution natural-colour imagery.
  • Key alteration minerals mapped include alunite, kaolinite, sericite, montmorillonite, chlorite, epidote, jarosite, hematite, goethite, opal/chalcedony, calcite, and iron oxides.
  • Data collection expected in 3-4 weeks; final interpretations expected in 5-6 weeks.
  • Processed in collaboration with PhotoSat Information Ltd.
• Property-Wide Soil Sampling:
  • Covers all 23 known veins (>12 km strike).
  • Sampling lines oriented north-south, spaced 100 metres apart, with sample spacing of 25 metres.
  • Lines extend ~200 metres past the surficial trace of veins.
  • Campaign 1: November 2025 – February 2026 (results by March 2026).
  • Campaign 2: April 2026 – June 2026 (results by July 2026).
  • Analysis via four-acid digestion and multielement ICP-MS at ALS laboratory in Lima.
• Follow-Up Exploration & Geophysics:
  • Targeted 1:2,000-to-1:5,000-scale geological and structural mapping at strongest anomalies.
  • Rock-chip and continuous channel sampling across exposed veins.
  • Ground IP geophysics to detect subsurface chargeability/resistivity anomalies and model vein continuity.
• Drilling Strategy:
  • Phase 3 drilling permitting is active for Tembladera and San Jorge vein systems (and potentially Maribel and Paquita).
  • Phase 4 drilling targets will be ranked and refined using the integrated WV-3, soil, and IP data.
  • Drill pad permitting to be initiated immediately after IP survey results.
• Timeline:
  • WV-3/Soil Sampling: Commenced November 2025.
  • First Soil Results: March 2026.
  • Second Soil Results: July 2026.
  • Phase 4 Drilling: Post-integration of new data sets (2026).

Notable Quotes

• "Santas Gloria remains one of the most compelling underexplored silver districts in Peru, hosting 23 mapped ISE veins totalling over 12 kilometres of strike. Despite this endowment, the project has never been systematically explored using industry-proven evaluation techniques, such as soil geochemistry, ground geophysics (IP) and high-resolution spectral alteration mineral mapping (WV-3)," stated Colin Smith, chief executive officer and a director of First Andes Silver. "With phase 3 drill permitting under way and a fully integrated 2025/2026 exploration program on deck, First Andes is taking the first truly integrated approach to vectoring into high-grade mineralization across the entire property."