Astra Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: ASTR) (OTCQB: ATEPF) is pleased to announce the results of the Phase II drilling program at its Pampa Paciencia gold-silver project located in Northern Chile.

Drill Highlights:

• PPRC-22-45 intersected 4.5 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) over 9.0 metres, including 12.7 g/t AuEq over 3.0 metres
• PPRC-22-49 intersected 3.17 g/t gold equivalent over 3.0 metres, including 8.2 g/t gold equivalent over 1.0 metre

“Drilling at Pampa Paciencia continues to produce evidence of a large, mineralized epithermal system concealed by shallow gravel cover.” Stated Brian Miller, President, CEO of Astra. “With limited drilling we have discovered three shoots of high-grade mineralization over significant widths and have defined over two kilometres of vein strike length, all within an area which represents less than 10 percent of the total project. Our team’s targeting methods have been highly successful at discovering new veins concealed by the shallow cover and data indicates the potential for the district to contain several additional kilometres of concealed veins – all which would have the potential to host additional shoots of mineralization.”

Drilling Details:

The Phase II drill program consisted of 3,976 metres of RC drilling in 15 holes, all placed in the North Zone target with the focus of testing the Paciencia Vein system continuity and some magnetic targets.

Results from this program are summarized below in Table 1. The drill program defined the extension of the two previously discovered mineralized shoots and discovered a third shoot of mineralization at depth in the Paciencia Oeste vein segment with nine metres averaging 4.5 g/t AuEq, including a high-grade zone with a three-metre interval of 12.7 g/t AuEq in hole PPRC-22-45. True widths are estimated to be 75-80% of the interval lengths in PPRC-22-45.

Table 1: Summary of the results from Phase II RC drilling program.

Three mineralized shoots have been discovered to date (Figure 1). The Paciencia/Paciencia Este shoot is currently the largest, at approximately 400 metres along strike and approximately 170 metres vertical extension. The second shoot is defined in the Paciencia Oeste vein, with a defined  200 metres of strike (open to the east) and 130 metres vertical extension. A third shoot, discovered in this Phase II program, remains open in all directions with mineralization starting at a depth of 200 metres below surface. Estimated true width of each shoot is 10-15 metres.

Drill results from the Paciencia vein system are thought to be analogous with the Faride LSE mine, located eight kilometres south of the Paciencia vein system, and in proximity with the Cerro Dominador regional fault (Figure 2).

Similarities between Faride and Pampa Paciencia (Figures 1 & 2) based on results from this program confirm that the Paciencia vein system has the potential for multiple shoots of high-grade mineralization in a similar structural setting to Faride. The Faride mineralized system is hosted within several NW to E-W veins covering an area of eight square kilometres. Mineralization is hosted within a total of eight mineralized shoots separated by NE-striking faults within a 2.2-kilometre-long NW-striking structure. Historical reserves of 234,000 gold ounces at Faride were cited following re-mapping of the project by Coeur in the 1990s.²

The magnetic targets that were drilled (Figure 3) intersected veins with low or no precious metal grades. Anomalous mineralization was intersected in the Tormenta vein (a splay of the Paciencia vein system to the west, with at least 300 metres of strike length) with 11 metres at 0.22 g/t AuEq at the intersection with Paciencia Oeste vein. These newly discovered veins are thick structures (estimated true thickness of 20 metres in PPRC-22-46 and 5 metres in PPRC-22-55) with potential to host additional mineralized shoots.

To date, Astra’s drilling has focused on a small area of the project (Figure 4) and has demonstrated that linear magnetic low features, particularly those oriented NW-SE to E-W have a high correlation with concealed vein structures. There is minimal vein outcrop in the project area, however there is widespread epithermal mineralization in surface float samples across the entire project (see February 17, 2022 news release). Company geologists continue to refine additional drill targets by integrating in-house detailed geology with the application of various geophysical techniques. This is complemented with the integrated study of hydrothermal alteration and the precipitation conditions (temperature and salinity) of the different pulses of mineralization at different depth levels of the veins. Data increasingly suggests the potential for a large-scale epithermal system with several kilometres of vein structure concealed by shallow cover.

About Pampa Paciencia

Pampa Paciencia is a 3,840-hectare road-access low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located within an active mining district less than 15 kilometres from two major mines (Sierra Gorda and Spence) and five kilometres from the Faride LSE mine (Figure 5).

Astra has completed property wide mapping and sampling, geophysical surveys, and localized trenching and in doing so, has defined a vein boulder field over approximately 75% of the project area. The veins do not outcrop as the majority of the project area is covered by a thin layer of gravels and caliche, but the vein float can be used to identify areas of high prospectivity.

Sampling Procedures

Drill samples were sampled, bagged, and tagged by Astra’s geologist and then delivered to the AAA laboratory in Calama. Samples were prepared with RC PM80 10 CM S2-150 code, and then analyzed fire assays for gold (AEF-AAS-1E42) and multi elements by ICP (ICP-AES-HF34-61). Overlimits for gold were analysed by routine AEF_GRV_1E45 and for silver by 4A-HF_AAS_1E02SL.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical data and information as disclosed in this report has been reviewed and approved by Darcy Marud.  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.

About the Company

Astra Exploration Ltd. is an exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC. Astra is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of epithermal gold-silver properties in Chile and is building a portfolio of high-quality projects. Astra’s current focus is the development of the Pampa Paciencia Project.

Figure 1: Longitudinal section of the Paciencia Vein System with Phase II results and a comparison with Faride vein (modified from Camus & Skewes, 1991(1)). (CNW Group/Astra Exploration Limited)

Figure 2: Maps of Astra Pampa Paciencia project and Faride Mine, with detail of the RC drill programs (Phase I = white stars, Phase II = blue dots) in the North Zone target in comparison with the Faride vein system and its mineralized shoots (yellow in Paciencia vein segments). (CNW Group/Astra Exploration Limited)

Figure 3: Regional ground magnetics map of the Phase II drill hole locations (yellow dots) in the North Zone. White dots represent Phase I hole locations. Black dots are historical holes. (CNW Group/Astra Exploration Limited)

Figure 4: Ground magnetics at Pampa Paciencia Project. White boundary shows areas of focus during Astra’s Phase I and Phase II drilling. (CNW Group/Astra Exploration Limited)

Figure 5: Location of the Pampa Paciencia Project in the Paleocene Belt of Northern Chile. (CNW Group/Astra Exploration Limited)