Sterling begins 2026 drilling at Soo

Executive Summary

• Sterling Metals Corp. has commenced its 2026 drill campaign at the Soo Copper project in Ontario, with a planned minimum of 20,000 metres of drilling.
• The program aims to systematically delineate the scale of the MEPS discovery area and evaluate new targets based on surface copper occurrences and geophysical data, specifically looking for larger-scale systems along strike and below the MEPS discovery.
• The company acknowledges assay delays from previous holes but remains committed to providing updates as results are received, citing strong correlations between resistivity lows, structural trends, and copper mineralization.

Key Details

• Drilling Plan: Minimum of 20,000 metres planned for the 2026 campaign.
• Location: Soo Copper project, located one-hour drive north of Sault Ste. Marie, near Batchawana Bay, Ontario.
• Strategic Focus:
  • Testing larger-scale targets along strike and below the MEPS discovery area.
  • Systematically delineating the scale of the MEPS discovery area.
  • Evaluating additional targets generated from surface copper occurrences and geophysical data.
• Technical Findings: Recent drilling shows a strong correlation between resistivity lows, favourable structural trends, and copper mineralization, reinforced by physical property testing in drill core.
• Scale Potential: The relative scale of the resistivity low associated with the MEPS discovery and 2026 targets suggests potential for a much larger system than delineated in 2025.
• Operational Context: The company highlights year-round access and tremendous infrastructure as key advantages for the 2026 campaign.
• Assay Status: Sterling is aware of assay delays and is working with the laboratory to resolve backlogs and improve turnaround times for outstanding holes.
• Qualified Person: Jeremy Niemi, PGeo, Senior Vice-President, Exploration and Evaluation, reviewed and approved the technical information.

Notable Quotes

• Mathew Wilson, CEO: "Across our team, there's a strong sense that last year only revealed the tip of the iceberg. The grade, rock type, geophysics, our 30-kilometre copper system and the association with the Midcontinent rift all speak to the large potential scale we are dealing with. In 2026, our focus will be to determine the extent of this system and doing so as quickly as possible by taking advantage of year-round access and tremendous infrastructure. There has rarely been such an ideal combination of timing and location to pursue what could become a significant copper discovery, and we're excited about what lies ahead."