Osisko Metals Incorporated (TSX: OM) (OTCQX: OMZNF) is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Gaspé Copper Project, located in Eastern Quebec, following 118,000 metres of drilling completed in 2025.
The updated MRE (Table 1) includes base case, pit-constrained resources comprising 1,834 million tonnes averaging 0.27% Cu (0.32% CuEq) of Measured and Indicated categories, and 239 million tonnes averaging 0.41% Cu (0.46% CuEq) of Inferred category. The updated M&I Resource represents a 119% increase in copper metal content over the previously reported Indicated Resource(see November 14, 2024 news release). This pit-constrained M&I Resource outlines one of the largest undeveloped copper-molybdenum deposits in North America:10.8 billion pounds (4.88 million tonnes) of contained copper, as well as significant molybdenum (673 million pounds), and silver (93 million ounces). Inferred resources outline the potential for an additional 2.2 billion pounds (0.98 million tonnes) of contained copper, 83 million pounds of molybdenum, and 14 million ounces of silver.
Osisko Metals Chief Executive Officer Robert Wares commented: “We are very proud to announce this updated mineral resource estimate for Gaspé Copper. The 2025 drill program successfully converted and expanded the 2024 MRE to the Measured and Indicated resource categories and has added new significant higher-grade Inferred resources to the south. An additional 50,000 metre drill program will commence at the end of this month, with the objective of upgrading the remaining Inferred Resource to the Indicated category and expanding the boundaries of the deposit to the southwest towards the former Needle Mountain open pit. Additionally, the Deep Porphyry Exploration program will be testing the depths of the Porphyry Mountain deposit, in preparation for an Inferred MRE on that deposit to be included in the next MRE update on Gaspé Copper. With additional drilling, there is also excellent potential for conversion of currently categorized in-pit waste rock to mineralized material in the direction of Needle Mountain. The planned 2026 drill programs present a strong opportunity for continued resource growth of the overall Gaspé Copper project.”
Mr. Wares continued: “Gaspé Copper demonstrates all the characteristics of a potential generational mine, as a major Canadian copper development project located in one of the world’s safest mining jurisdictions. This deposit may once again become the main economic driver for the Gaspé Peninsula for decades to come. This important asset has the potential to become a core component of Québec’s critical mineral development strategy that aims to provide essential metals for advanced technologies and global decarbonization initiatives.”
Table 1: MRE Base Case at CuEq = 0.16% cut-off. See Table 2 for broader range of sensitivities.
| Category | Cut-off | Cut-off | Tonnes | CuEq | Cu | Mo | Ag | Cu | Cu | Mo | Mo | Ag | |
| CuEq %1 | NSR2 | Mt | % | % | % | g/t | M lbs | kt | M lbs | kt | Moz | ||
| Measured | 0.16 | $11.71 | 136.5 | 0.42 | 0.37 | 0.014 | 1.98 | 1,128 | 512 | 41.9 | 19.0 | 8.7 | |
| Indicated | 0.16 | $11.71 | 1,697.7 | 0.32 | 0.26 | 0.017 | 1.54 | 9,639 | 4373 | 631.3 | 286.4 | 84.1 | |
| M&I | 0.16 | $11.71 | 1,834.2 | 0.32 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 1.57 | 10,766 | 4,883 | 673.2 | 305.4 | 92.8 | |
| Inferred | 0.16 | $11.71 | 238.8 | 0.46 | 0.41 | 0.016 | 1.88 | 2,158 | 979 | 82.9 | 37.6 | 14.5 | |
Cu Grade (%) = (1.4669 + NSR_Cu) / 8235.6
Copper equivalent grade is then calculated by substituting total NSR (Cu + Mo + Ag) for copper NSR in the regression equation, as follows:
CuEq Grade (%) = (1.4669 + NSR_Cu + NSR_Mo + NSR_Ag) / 8235.6
Based on the NSR assumptions applied, this relationship simplifies to:
CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 3.40327 × Mo (%) + 0.00008 × Ag (g/t)
The equivalent factors for molybdenum and silver are derived from the relative NSR contribution of each metal compared to copper under the assumptions described above.
This MRE from the Gaspé Copper project continues to expand the resource and is the result of:
Potential for resource expansion
This updated MRE does not currently include any previously known mineralization in the area of the historic Needle Mountain Open Pit, and its underlying B & C Zone skarns. Building upon the information released in this updated MRE and on Porphyry Mountain, a minimum 50,000 metre drill program is planned to commence in May 2026 that will aim to 1) convert remaining Inferred resources to Indicated category; 2) extend up-dip, shallower B-Zone and C-Zone skarn mineralization towards Needle Mountain, which will comprise both infill drilling in the updated pit shell and testing of additional mineralization beyond current pit boundaries to the south and southwest, and 3)test for depth extensions to the Porphyry Mountain deposit, located at depth to the northeast of the Copper Mountain pit.
Implications of larger open pit at Gaspé Copper
The current modelled Whittle pit shell extends from the current flooded Copper Mountain pit towards the base of Needle East Mountain to the south. Further drilling, geological modelling and pit optimization will be required to refine pit boundaries. There is excellent potential for reducing strip ratio by optimizing the pit shell model and converting currently categorized in-pit waste rock to mineralized material in the direction of Needle Mountain. The Company will evaluate future pit limits and the possibility of reconfiguring the current layout of the site to minimize disturbance and ensure the protection and safety of the residents of Murdochville and the surrounding environment.
General parameters of the updated MRE and Mineral Resource Sensitivity
This pit-constrained MRE uses a mathematical lower cut-off of 0.09% CuEq for pit shell optimization and a reporting cut-off grade of 0.16% CuEq for base case in-pit resource estimation (see Table 2 below). The base case resource, emphasized to disregard lower-grade marginal material, reflects a conservative higher cut-off grade of 0.16% CuEq. The mathematical lower cut-off grade of 0.09% CuEq is based on estimated production costs, NSRs and consensus long-term metal prices of US$4.50/lb copper, US$20 molybdenum, and US$45/oz silver (see Table 3 for detailed parameters). The resource was estimated using data from historical drilling completed between the 1950s and 2019, and 160,000 metres of drilling completed by the Company from 2022 to 2025, and on additional 2025 metallurgical and comminution test results.
Table 2: Mineral Resource Estimates at Variable Cut-Off Grades
| Class | CuEq Cut-off (%) |
NSR Cut-off (US$) |
Tonnage (Mt) |
Strip Ratio |
Grade | Copper Metal Resource |
||
| Cu (%) | Mo (%) | M lbs | kt | |||||
| M&I | 0.09 | 5.95 | 2,342 | 1.03 | 0.23 | 0.014 | 12,000 | 5,444 |
| Inferred | 0.09 | 5.95 | 287 | 0.36 | 0.014 | 2,264 | 1,027 | |
| M&I | 0.10 | 6.77 | 2,283 | 1.08 | 0.24 | 0.014 | 11,893 | 5,396 |
| Inferred | 0.10 | 6.77 | 280 | 0.36 | 0.015 | 2,252 | 1,022 | |
| M&I | 0.11 | 7.59 | 2,218 | 1.14 | 0.24 | 0.015 | 11,759 | 5,335 |
| Inferred | 0.11 | 7.59 | 273 | 0.37 | 0.015 | 2,238 | 1,015 | |
| M&I | 0.12 | 8.42 | 2,147 | 1.21 | 0.25 | 0.015 | 11,600 | 5,263 |
| Inferred | 0.12 | 8.42 | 265 | 0.38 | 0.015 | 2,222 | 1,008 | |
| M&I | 0.13 | 9.24 | 2,070 | 1.29 | 0.25 | 0.015 | 11,416 | 5,180 |
| Inferred | 0.13 | 9.24 | 259 | 0.39 | 0.015 | 2,208 | 1,002 | |
| M&I | 0.14 | 10.06 | 1,993 | 1.37 | 0.26 | 0.016 | 11,216 | 5,089 |
| Inferred | 0.14 | 10.06 | 253 | 0.39 | 0.015 | 2,194 | 995 | |
| M&I | 0.15 | 10.89 | 1,912 | 1.47 | 0.26 | 0.016 | 10,995 | 4,989 |
| Inferred | 0.15 | 10.89 | 246 | 0.40 | 0.016 | 2,177 | 988 | |
| M&I | 0.16 | 11.71 | 1,834 | 1.57 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 10,766 | 4,885 |
| Inferred | 0.16 | 11.71 | 239 | 0.41 | 0.016 | 2,158 | 979.3 | |
| M&I | 0.17 | 12.53 | 1,755 | 1.69 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 10,522 | 4,774 |
| Inferred | 0.17 | 12.53 | 231 | 0.42 | 0.016 | 2,136 | 969 | |
| M&I | 0.18 | 13.36 | 1,676 | 1.81 | 0.28 | 0.017 | 10,266 | 4,658 |
| Inferred | 0.18 | 13.36 | 224 | 0.43 | 0.016 | 2,116 | 960 | |
| M&I | 0.19 | 14.18 | 1,597 | 1.94 | 0.28 | 0.018 | 9,997 | 4,536 |
| Inferred | 0.19 | 14.18 | 217 | 0.44 | 0.016 | 2,094 | 950 | |
| M&I | 0.20 | 15.00 | 1,517 | 2.09 | 0.29 | 0.018 | 9,715 | 4,408 |
| Inferred | 0.20 | 15.00 | 208 | 0.45 | 0.016 | 2,068 | 938 | |
Same footnotes as Table 1 apply to this table.
Table 3 – Whittle optimization parameters used for the Mineral Resource Estimate (all monetary values in US$; based on average mill throughput of 160,000 tonnes per day)
| Economic Parameters | ||
| U.S./Canada Exchange rate | 1.35 | |
| Discount rate | % | 8.0% |
| Cu Price | $/lb | $4.50 |
| Mo Price | $/lb | $20.00 |
| Ag Price | $/oz | $45.00 |
| Refining Cu ‘RC’ | $/lb | $0.08 |
| Refining Mo | $/lb | $0.00 |
| Refining Ag | $/oz | $0.00 |
| Royalty rate | % NSR | 2.40% |
| Concentrate Costs | ||
| Transport and loading costs (CAD$29.70) | $/wmt | $22.00 |
| Shipping cost (CAD$89.44) | $/wmt | $66.25 |
| Insurance and other costs (CAD$16.20) | $/wmt | $12.00 |
| Smelter Treatment Cost Cu ‘TC’ | $/dmt | $80.00 |
| Smelter Treatment Cost Cu ‘TC’ | $/lb | $0.34 |
| Smelter Treatment Cost Mo ‘TC’ | $/dmt | $1,690.00 |
| Smelter Treatment Cost Mo ‘TC’ | $/lb | $1.41 |
| Concentrate Feed | ||
| Concentrate Grade Cu | % | 25% |
| Concentrate Moisture Cont. | % | 8% |
| Concentrate Grade Mo | % | 58% |
| Concentrate Moisture Cont. | % | 8% |
| Payables | ||
| Payable Cu | % | 96.5% |
| Payable Mo | % | 98.0% |
| Payable Ag | % | 75.0% |
| Recovery and Dilution Factors | ||
| Avg. Cu Recovery* (variable with grade) | % | 91% |
| Avg. Mo Recovery | % | 72% |
| Avg. Ag Recovery | % | 65% |
| Mining Dilution (Whittle) | % | 0% |
| Mining Recovery (Whittle) | % | 100% |
| Mineralized Material Base Costs | ||
| Processing Cost | $/milled | $4.15 |
| % of rehandling | % | 10.00% |
| Stockpile Rehandle | $/milled | $0.16 |
| G&A | $/milled | $0.90 |
| Total | $/milled | $5.21 |
| Mining Costs | ||
| Mined rock centre of gravity cost | $/mined | $2.00 |
| Dump mining | $1.30 | |
| Incremental mining cost | $/mined/15m | $0.05 |
| NSR Calculations (before royalties) | ||
| NSR Cu | $/t | $21.42 |
| NSR Mo | $/t | $4.88 |
| NSR Ag | $/t | $1.14 |
| Total NSR | $/t | $27.44 |
| Copper Cut-Off grades | ||
| Mineralized material base cost | $/t | $5.21 |
| Mining cost | $/mined | $2.00 |
| Transport and Smelt cost | $/t | $1.87 |
| Royalties cost | $/t | $0.66 |
| Total cost | $/t | $9.74 |
| Cu Break-Even Cut-Off Grade | % Cu | 0.111% |
| Mill Cut-Off value | $/t | $7.74 |
| Cu Mill Cut-Off Grade | % Cu | 0.088% |
| Geotechnical Parameters | ||
| IRA slope in rock | degrees | 48 |
| Net Payability | ||
| Net payability Cu | % | 87.1% |
| Net payability Mo | % | 91.0% |
| Net payability Ag | % | 75.0% |
*The mill cut-off decreases to approximately $5.95/t at lower grades (e.g., 0.09% Cu and 0.008% Mo), as lower recoveries and payable metal reduce the effective transport and smelting costs per tonne, resulting in a lower cut-off value. Results presented above are with average grades of 0.27% Cu and 0.017% Mo.
Other parameters used for the Mineral Resource Estimate include:
Qualified Person
The Mineral Resource Estimate and other scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by independent qualified persons for purposes of NI 43-101: Pierre-Luc Richard, P.Geo., of PLR Resources Inc. with contributions from François Le Moal, P.Eng., of G-Mining for cut-off grade and Pit Shell optimization and Christian Laroche, P.Eng., from Synectiq, for metallurgical parameters.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Osisko Metals adheres to a strict QA/QC program for core handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses, including insertion of blanks and standards in the sample stream. Drill core is drilled in HQ or NQ diameter and securely transported to its core processing facility on site, where it is logged, cut and sampled. Samples selected for assay are sealed and shipped to ALS Canada Ltd.’s preparation facility in Sudbury. Sample preparation details (code PREP-31DH) are available on the ALS Canada website. Pulps are analyzed at theALS Canada Ltd. facility in North Vancouver, BC. All samples are analyzed by four acid digestion followed by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS for Cu, Mo, and Ag.
About Osisko Metals
Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals sector, with a focus on copper and zinc. The Company acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspé Copper mine from Glencore Canada Corporation in July 2023. The Gaspé Copper mine site is located near Murdochville in Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula. The Company is currently focused on resource expansion of the Gaspé Copper system, with current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.83 Bt averaging 0.32% CuEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 239 Mt averaging 0.46% CuEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see this news release entitled “Osisko Metals Announces Significant Increase in Mineral Resource at Gaspé Copper”. Gaspé Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Québec.
In addition to the Gaspé Copper project, the Company is working with Appian Capital Advisory LLP through the Pine Point Mining Limited joint venture to advance one of Canada‘s largest past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point project, located in the Northwest Territories. The current mineral resource estimate for the Pine Point project consists of Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5 Mt averaging 5.52% ZnEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3 Mt averaging 5.64% ZnEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals‘ June 25, 2024 news release entitled “Osisko Metals releases Pine Point mineral resource estimate: 49.5 million tonnes of indicated resources at 5.52% ZnEq”. The Pine Point project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, NWT, close to infrastructure, with paved road access, an electrical substation and 100 kilometres of viable haul roads.
For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact:
Don Njegovan, President
Email: info@osiskometals.com
Phone: (416) 500-4129
Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA; NYSE: ORLA) is pleased to provide an operational update for the ... READ MORE
Relevant Gold Corp. (TSX-V:RGC) (OTCQB:RGCCF) is pleased to announce that it has closed tranche 2 o... READ MORE
Magna Mining Inc. (TSX-V: NICU) (OTCQX: MGMNF) (FSE: 8YD) is pleased to provide the results ... READ MORE
OR Royalties Inc. (TSX: OR) (NYSE: OR) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a bind... READ MORE