Astra Intersects 1,286 g/t Silver and 9.0 g/t Gold Over 3.1 Metres; Extends High-Grade at Depth and Along Strike at La Manchuria Project, Argentina

Highlights:

• Hole LMD-121: 3.1metres grading 1,286 g/t silver and 9.0 g/t gold including

  • 0.9metres grading 3,102 g/t silver and 25.1 g/t gold

• Hole LMD-118: 1.4metres grading 16.4 g/t gold and 81g/t silver including

  • 0.6metres grading 34.7 g/t gold and 180 g/t silver

• Confirmation of high-grade mineralization in the northwest extension of the West Feeder Zone – five additional step-out holes pending along northwest strike

• Confirmation of high-grade veins hosted in andesitic sills, previously interpreted to be a barren host rock

Program Details

A total of 25 drill holes were completed in late 2025 totaling 5,119 metres (see Dec 1, 2025 news release, “Astra Provides Progress Update on Phase II Drill Program at La Manchuria Gold and Silver Project, Argentina”). The drill program focused on expanding the near-surface footprint of the system with shallow (<200m vertical depth) drill holes. The Company plans to commence geophysical surveys in February and commence with the second half of Phase II (~5,000 metres) in March 2026.

Drill Results and Discussion

The six drill holes reported herein were focused primarily on the Main Zone area (Figure 1), each of which intersected at least one noteworthy gold and/or silver interval (Table 1). The regular occurrence of both gold and silver grade demonstrates the fertility of the system even at shallow system depths.   

Figure 1: Phase II holes drilled to date with assays for the first six holes highlighted in yellow. Dashed line in dark blue shows approximate location of long section in Figure 2.

West Feeder at Main Zone

The West Feeder contains some of the thickest veins and highest grades currently known at La Manchuria. LMD-121 and LMD-118 extended the high-grade vein at depth and along strike to the northwest, respectively (Figure 2). LMD-121 returned a significant mineralized interval, beginning at 224.4m downhole (~170m vertically below surface) of 3.1 metres grading 9.04 g/t Au and 1,286 g/t Ag, including a higher-grade sub-interval of 0.9 metres grading 25.14 g/t Au and 3,102 g/t Ag. The interval is comprised of two, banded, quartz–adularia–sulphide veins hosted within an andesitic sill. This interval is of particular importance, being the first intercept of vein hosted, high grade gold and silver intersected within andesitic host rocks. The andesitic sill is approximately 25 metres thick and is underlaid by a pyroclastic sequence (Figure 3) which is a common host to high-grade veins. This revelation adds new potential for high-grade veins at depth. 

Figure 2: Long section of the West Feeder in the Main Zone (location shown in Figure 1 by dark blue dashed line) with interpreted downthrown target areas. Completed Phase II holes in blue pending assay results. LMD-118 and LMD-121 in red. Resistivity values expressed in ohm-m.

Figure 3: Cross section of LMD-121 showing the depth extension of the veins at the West Feeder. Gold and silver results are in grams per tonne (g/t). Photo is the sample with 0.9m grading 25.14 g/t Au & 3,101.7 g/t Ag. Hole LMD-121 deviated upwards and intersected the vein approximately 25m above the targeted depth.

LMD-118 intersected several quartz–adularia–sulphide banded veins and veinlets hosted within pyroclastic rocks and an andesitic sill (Figure 4) located in an upthrown structural block west of the Main Zone (Figure 2). The most significant interval was hosted in an andesitic sill underlain by pyroclastic sequence (similar to LMD-121) and returned 1.4 metres grading 16.44 g/t Au and 81 g/t Ag, including a higher-grade interval of 0.6 metres grading 34.67 g/t Au and 180 g/t Ag within a quartz–adularia–amethyst banded vein (see Figure 4 photograph). This structure represents a 60 metre down dip step out of mineralization intersected in LMD-113 which returned 1.3 metres grading 17.3 g/t Au and 61 g/t Ag.

Figure 4: Cross section of LMD-118 showing the depth extension of the veins at the West Feeder. Gold and silver results are in grams per tonne (g/t). Photo is the sample with 0.6m grading 34.67 g/t Au & 180.30 g/t Ag.

East Feeder at Main Zone

LMD-119, LMD-120 and LMD-116 were designed to test, from north to south, the eastern portion of the Main Zone, referred to as the East Feeder, which is now interpreted to dip toward the southwest. All holes intersected low-sulphidation epithermal (LSE) veins and veinlets, returning multiple gold and silver intervals along their lengths (Figure 1 and Table 1). These results further support and refine the shallow bulk disseminated mineralization model for the Main Zone.

LMD-120 and LMD-119 tested the northern extension of the East Feeder beneath post mineral cover and intersected at least three zones of shallow LSE-style mineralization with anomalous precious metal values (>1 g/t AuEq). These results indicate that the mineralized system remains open to the north within a downthrown structural block and warrants further drill testing at depth, particularly within underlying pyroclastic host rocks.

LMD-116 intersected multiple massive to banded quartz–chalcedony–sulphide veins and veinlets between 7 metres and 211 metres downhole, all hosted within rhyolitic tuffs. The most significant intersection of 1.1 metres grading 2.77 g/t Au and 41.9 g/t Ag corresponds to the down-dip projection of the Argentum vein at approximately 150 metre vertical depth. LMD-116 demonstrates that shallow disseminated mineralization within the East Feeder remains open in all directions.

Basalto Zone

LMD-117 was the first drill hole of the current program to test the structurally complex Basalto Zone and was designed to evaluate mineralization below Phase I drill hole LMD-105. LMD-117 intersected two zones of mineralization associated with shallow-level banded quartz–chalcedony–amethyst veins and veinlets hosted within an andesitic sill. Anomalous grades within the andesitic sills are encouraging, giving the possibility for higher grades in the underlying pyroclastic host rocks.

Sampling Procedures

Drill samples consisted of HQ core which were split in half, sampled, bagged, and tagged by Astra´s geological team and then delivered to the Alex Stewart International Argentina laboratory in Mendoza. Drill samples were prepared with P5 code and then analyzed with fire assay for gold (Au4-50) and multi-elements by ICP (ICP-AR 39). Silver (>200 g/t) over-limits were analyzed by gravity method (Ag4A-50). A total of 131 Blanks and 154 standards (4 different Au and Ag grades) were used as QAQC for the group of 2,831 samples.

About the Company

Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that is actively building a portfolio of high-quality projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America. 

The La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, over which Astra has an option to acquire 90% interest from the owner, Patagonia Gold Corp, is a high-grade gold and silver low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) deposit located in the prolific Deseado Massif which hosts multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro, Santa Cruz, Argentina.

The 100% owned Pampa Paciencia gold and silver project in northern Chile is located in the Paleocene mineral province in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra Gorda.  The project shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-silver deposits including Faride and El Peñón.  

The 100% owned Cerro Bayo project in northern Chile is located in the Maricunga belt approximately 20 km from the Refugio Mine. The project hosts a high sulphidation epithermal (HSE) +/- porphyry gold system with similarities to the Salares Norte deposit to the north in the same belt. The Maricunga belt is one of the most endowed regions in the world for gold and copper deposits.

Qualified Person

The technical data and information as disclosed in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Darcy Marud, who is an Independent Director of Astra. Mr. Marud is a Practicing Member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information please contact:

Brian Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Tel. 604.428.0939
Email: brian.miller@astra-exploration.com

References:

¹Sources:
Steinmann, Michael, March 2006
Manantial-Espejo Project Canadian Standard NI 43-101, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina Prepared for Minera Triton Argentina, S.A.
https://panamericansilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Manantial-Espejo-Technical-Report.pdf

Goldcorp – Third Quarter Report, September 30, 2017
https://s24.q4cdn.com/382246808/files/doc_financials/mda/2017/MD-A-FS-2017Q3-Website.pdf

AngloGoldAshanti – Technical Report Summary, Cerro Vanguardia, A Life of Mine Summary Report, December 31, 2021
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067428/000162828022007855/a2021_-xcerroxvanguardia.htm

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