Rio Silver begins metallurgical testwork at Maria Norte

Executive Summary

• Rio Silver Inc. has initiated a metallurgical testwork program at its Maria Norte project in Peru to design a process flow sheet and optimize silver recoveries.
• The program aims to de-risk processing activities and define the metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, supporting a low-capital-intensity development framework.
• Results will be independently verified by Certimin in Lima, with initial processing activities targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.

Key Details

• Objective: Design a process flow sheet to optimize silver recoveries from planned mineral extraction and processing at the Maria Norte project.
• Contractor: Samples submitted to Asesor Procesos Metalurgicos (Trujillo, Peru) for specialist mineral processing circuit analysis and design.
• Technical Focus:
  • Characterizing silver mineralization and liberation behavior.
  • Evaluating processing responses and recovery optimization.
  • Designing a preliminary processing flow sheet aligned with third-party toll milling scenarios.
• Verification: Check samples will be submitted to Certimin (Lima, Peru) for independent follow-up verification of the proposed flow sheet design and metallurgical results.
• Strategic Approach: Staged approach intended to provide technical confidence while maintaining flexibility and capital discipline.
• Timeline: Continued advancement toward initial processing activities targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.
• Qualified Person: Jeffrey Reeder, PGeo, reviewed and approved the technical information.

Notable Quotes

• "Metallurgy is the technical foundation that turns mineralization into recoverable silver, and this work is critical to how we move forward," said Chris Verrico, president and chief executive officer of Rio Silver. "By undertaking a detailed metallurgical review and flow sheet design now and then independently verifying those results, we are advancing Maria Norte along a disciplined, low-capex processing pathway. The market should view this as a meaningful step toward processing readiness, one that helps solidify our execution plan."