Rua Gold talks expansion of Auld Creek

Executive Summary

• Rua Gold Inc. provided an exploration update on its Auld Creek gold-antimony project in New Zealand, highlighting significant assay results and the expansion of the deposit's strike length to 870 meters.
• The company is accelerating exploration with three drill rigs operating from January 2026, targeting extensions of the Fraternal and Bonanza lodes and testing a 2,500-meter surface geochemical anomaly.
• Key permitting milestones include targeting inclusion in New Zealand’s fast-track process in the first half of 2026, with a NI 43-101 technical report scheduled for February 2026 and tendering for a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) underway.

Key Details

• Drilling Results (Auld Creek):
  • ACDDH050: 3.0 metres at 21.27 g/t AuEq (4.5 g/t Au and 3.9% Sb) from 137 m; including 2.0 m at 27.4 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au and 5.5% Sb).
  • ACDDH055: 3.4 m at 4.18 g/t AuEq (2.6 g/t Au and 0.4% Sb) from 152.7 m.
  • ACDDH056: 5.1 m at 7.27 g/t AuEq (5.3 g/t Au and 0.5% Sb) from 240.4 m.
  • ACDDH040: 0.8 m at 2.6 g/t Au and 0.5% Sb.
  • ACDDH047: 3.0 m at 2.7 g/t Au; and 7.0 m at 1.34 g/t Au.
  • ACDDH055 (Secondary): 3.4 m at 2.6 g/t Au and 0.4% Sb.
  • ACDDH056 (Secondary): 5.1 m at 5.3 g/t Au and 0.5% Sb.
  • Non-Material Intercepts: ACDDH041, ACDD042, ACDDH043, ACDDH044, ACDDH045, ACDDH046, ACDDH048, ACDDH049, ACDDH051, and ACDDH057 intercepted the structure with only weak mineralization.
• Geological Expansion:
  • Drill results increased the strike length of the deposit by a further 250 m to a total of 870 m.
  • Mineralization remains open along strike to the north and at depth via plunging ore shoots.
  • Drilling has not yet exceeded 320 m vertically; comparable orogenic gold-antimony deposits often show continuity beyond 1,000 m vertically.
• Exploration Activities:
  • Three drill rigs are operating from January 2026, with a fourth rig evaluating high-priority targets beyond Auld Creek.
  • Scout drilling is mobilizing to test the full 2,500 m strike length of surface gold-arsenic-antimony soil geochemical anomalies.
  • A third rig will conduct scout drilling along the Fratral lode strike length in H1 2026.
  • Strong mineralized quartz veining identified 250 m northwest of the Bonanza lode, extending its strike length from 350 m to 600 m.
• Permitting and Economic Studies:
  • Targeting inclusion on the list of projects eligible for New Zealand's fast-track process in the first half of 2026.
  • Fast-track referral application submission targeted for H1 2026; final application submission targeted by end of 2026.
  • RSC Consulting engaged to prepare an updated NI 43-101 Reefton technical report, scheduled for publication in February 2026.
  • Tendering under way for works to support a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) as of January 19, 2026.
  • Mine concept design completed in 2025 by AMC Consultants.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Engagement with local Maori stakeholders, Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae, continues; they are strong supporters and will assist with cultural impact assessments.
  • Consultant and stakeholder site visits commenced in December 2025, with independent advisors scheduled to visit in January 2026.

Notable Quotes

• "Auld Creek continues to be a cornerstone asset for the company. Ongoing drilling is expanding both the scale and confidence of the mineralized system as we advance toward mine permitting." — Robert Eckford, CEO
• "We intend to use the fast-track legislation for the Auld Creek gold-antimony project, with the objective of bringing New Zealand's largest known antimony deposit into production. Our confidence in this permitting regime was reinforced by the approval of OceanaGold's Wharekirauponga gold-silver project in December, 2025." — Robert Eckford, CEO