Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) is pleased to announce results from recent cyanidation tests conducted on representative samples from both shallow and deeper areas of its Apollo system at the Guayabales Project in Caldas, Colombia. The test results have yielded an average gold dissolution of 94.3% from seven new variability samples and confirm and corroborate previously announced cyanidation gold recoveries (see press release dated October 17, 2023). Furthermore, optimization test work on a flotation concentrate returned substantial improvements in recoveries for gold and silver over those previously reported on April 11, 2024.

As a reminder, based on previous work completed, the Company envisions a conventional split circuit for processing material from Apollo with the copper rich stream (more than 0.15% copper) being treated through a flotation circuit and the copper poor stream (less than 0.15% copper) being treated through a precious metal focused cyanidation circuit to produce doré. The Company also now expects that a gravity circuit will be included after flotation for recovery of the high-grade tungsten mineralization.

The Company has five diamond drill rigs in operation as part of its fully funded 40,000 metres drill program for 2024, with two rigs drilling at Apollo, two rigs drilling at the Trap system and one rig drilling at the Plutus Target.

Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: “The comprehensive metallurgical test work completed on Apollo confirms the simple nature of achieving high recovery rates of valuable metals from the system using conventional technologies.”

Details

Table 1: New Cyanidation Bottle Roll Leaching Variability Test Work Results

Seven variability samples with representative copper poor sulfide mineralization distributed across the Apollo system:

• New cyanidation variability tests undertaken in SGS Lima, Peru returned average gold and silver recoveries of 94.3% and 63.7%, respectively. The seven samples are widely distributed throughout both shallow and deeper portions of Apollo and are representative of the copper poor, sulfide material planned to be treated through a cyanidation circuit to produce doré. The samples were specifically selected to reflect lower grades (average 1.0 g/t Au and 11.7 g/t Ag, see Table 1) than previously tested. The results corroborate previous cyanidation test work recoveries (see press release dated October 17, 2023) and confirm the amenability of material from Apollo to yield high dissolution of gold over a wide range of grades.

Table 2: The Locked Cycle Cleaner Tailing Cyanidation Bottle Roll Leach Test Work Results

The composite with representative grade profile of copper-rich mineralization from Apollo, weighed 20 kilograms and was floated in a Locked Cycle Test to produce 600 grams of cleaner tailings which were subsequently subjected to cyanidation at ALS Laboratories in Kamloops, Canada. The overall flotation recovery rates and grades are presented below:

• Results confirm a significant improvement of the overall gold and silver recoveries to 89.4% and 85.2% respectively when compared to previous recoveries of 84.3% Au and 82.7% Ag (see press release dated April 11, 2024). These results demonstrate significant improvements in metal recovery of approximately 5% for gold and 3% for silver while maintaining copper recovery at 94% in the copper rich material to be treated through a flotation circuit.
• The results announced in this press release and those previously announced in the cyanidation and flotation press releases complete a comprehensive metallurgical test work program resulting in optimization of recoveries for the gold, silver, copper and tungsten in the Apollo system. These studies can now be utilized to outline an initial process design and assist in optimizing conditions for cyanidation and flotation facilities with respect to copper rich and copper poor streams.

About Collective Mining Ltd.

To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com

Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a copper, silver, gold and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines.

The Company’s flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade copper-silver-gold-tungsten Apollo porphyry system. The Company’s 2024 objective is to expand the Apollo system, step out along strike to expand the recently discovered Trap system and make a new discovery at either the Tower, X or Plutus targets.

Management, insiders, a strategic investor and close family and friends own nearly 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on the NYSE, on the TSX  and on the FSE.

Qualified Person and NI43-101 Disclosure

John Wells is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr Wells is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines in the UK, has over 50 years of experience in mineral processing and is a Fellow of the SAIMM (South African Institute of Mines and Metallurgy) and is a member of CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy).