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Alaska Silver Commences 2026 Drill Program at Illinois Creek Targeting Resource Expansion and New Discoveries

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Alaska Silver Commences 2026 Drill Program at Illinois Creek Targeting Resource Expansion and New Discoveries


Alaska Silver Corp. (TSX-V: WAM) (OTCQX: WAMFF)
 is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2026 drilling and exploration program at the Company’s 100%-owned Illinois Creek Project in western Alaska.

The Company’s fully funded, two-rig, 6,000 meter exploration program is designed to expand the Waterpump Creek resource, evaluate the discovery potential of the Silver Sage target, and advance several emerging exploration targets across the broader Illinois Creek district. Additionally, the Company plans to advance baseline studies for fish habitat, cultural resources and wetlands in parallel with expanded environmental and geoscience programs which will support future permitting and regulatory assessments.

Camp mobilization is underway, with personnel and equipment arriving on site to support drilling, trenching, geological mapping, and regional exploration activities throughout the summer field season. Drillers are expected to arrive next week and with drill rigs on site, drilling will commence soon after.


Preparing Illinois Creek Airstrip for 2026 Exploration Program

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/300124_4bc741c9245fba19_001full.jpg

 

 

As the 2026 summer program ramps up, the 4400′ Illinois Creek airstrip is ready to receive a record freight delivery of over 100,000 pounds of equipment and supplies which will add an excavator, bulldozer, side by sides, pick-up truck, drilling supplies and new fuel storage tanks that will provide 20,000 gallons of additional fuel capacity.

Kit Marrs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Silver, commented: “The 2026 field season represents one of the most ambitious exploration programs ever undertaken across the Illinois Creek district. We are pursuing both near-term resource growth at Waterpump Creek and exciting new discovery opportunities at Silver Sage and elsewhere across the project. With a strong, expanded technical team, two drill rigs operating simultaneously, and multiple trenching programs planned, we believe this year’s program has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of the district and unlock substantial shareholder value. Our team is extremely motivated and excited as we begin this season’s work.”

 

 

 

2026 Program Objectives

The 2026 exploration program is focused on four key objectives (Figure 1):

  • Expand the Waterpump Creek Resource by testing the northern and southern extension of known mineralization and evaluating opportunities for significant future resource growth;
  • Advance the Silver Sage target through systematic drilling designed to define the size, continuity and controls of mineralization within a potentially significant new silver-bearing system;
  • Advance the TG and TG North target areas toward drill-ready status through trenching and surface exploration programs; and
  • Further define the stratigraphic and mineralization potential of the broader Illinois Creek trend, particularly west and south of the historical Illinois Creek Mine, where multiple untested targets remain.


Figure 1. Illinois Creek Spoke Model Regional Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/300124_f23f82fef495aa99_003full.jpg

 

 

2026 Drill Program

The Company intends to initially deploy one drill rig at Waterpump Creek and one drill rig at Silver Sage for a total of 6,000 meters

 

 


Waterpump Creek South

  • Approximately 2,400 meters in 4 to 5 drill holes (Figure 2);
  • Designed to test the southern extension of known mineralization beyond the current resource boundary; and
  • Represents the Company’s highest-priority resource expansion target.

 

 


Waterpump Creek North

  • Approximately 600 meters in 3 drill holes; and
  • Designed to evaluate additional resource expansion opportunities north of the current resource area.


Figure 2. Map of the Waterpump Creek area with 2026 target areas illustrated in red.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/300124_f23f82fef495aa99_004full.jpg

 

 

Silver Sage

  • Approximately 3,000 meters in 15 to 20 drill holes;
  • Designed to evaluate the scale, continuity, geometry and grade potential of mineralization; and
  • Intended to establish the dimensions of a mineralized system while improving understanding of the structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralization.

Depending on exploration results, drill capacity may be redirected during the season to focus on the most prospective target areas.

 

 


Target Advancement and Trenching Programs

CRD systems characteristically form in clusters or groups, so as part of the exploration program this year, Alaska Silver plans to undertake two significant trenching programs designed to explore and advance emerging CRD targets on our properties.

TG/TGN Target Area

The Company plans to complete approximately 10 to 20 trenches supported by mechanical excavation and backpack drilling. The program is designed to better define mineralization, improve geological understanding, and generate drill-ready targets in the Round Top System (Figure 3).

Illinois Creek Target Corridor

A second trenching campaign comprising approximately 10 to 20 trenches is planned across several high-priority target areas in the Illinois Creek System.

This work is designed to evaluate mineralization potential across the broader Illinois Creek district and identify additional targets for future drilling.


Figure 3. Location of the Illinois Creek and Round Top CRD Systems, locating the TG and TG North CRD prospects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7510/300124_4bc741c9245fba19_002full.jpg

 

 


District-Scale Opportunity

The Illinois Creek Project continues to demonstrate significant district-scale exploration potential, hosting multiple mineralized systems along an extensive trend between the historical Illinois Creek Mine and the Waterpump Creek deposit. The Company’s 2026 exploration strategy is designed to simultaneously pursue resource growth, target generation and new discoveries across this highly prospective land package (Figure 3).

Drilling and trenching activities are expected to continue throughout the field season, and the Company will provide updates as results become available.

 

 


Qualified Person

Patrick Donnelly, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Alaska Silver and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

 

 

About Alaska Silver

Alaska Silver is a junior exploration company focused on the discovery and development of high-grade silver, gold and critical metals assets within one of North America’s major high-grade silver and critical minerals districts at their Illinois Creek Project in western Alaska. Illinois Creek is a contiguous, 100%-owned land package totaling 80,895 acres (126.40 square miles or 32,337 hectares) anchored by two resource-level mineralization zones separated by 8 km of high potential exploration ground. At one end lies the high-grade silver mineralization at the Waterpump Creek zone, which hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 75 Moz AgEq at a grade of 279 g/t silver, 11.28 % zinc and 9.87% lead¹, ² that remains open to the north and south, as well as by the Illinois Creek Mine. At the western end is the past producing Illinois Creek Mine that closed due to low metal prices in 1998, leaving untouched Indicated Mineral Resources of 260,000 oz gold at 0.92 g/t Au and 8.3 Moz silver at 29.72 g/t Ag, along with Inferred Mineral Resources of 290,000 oz gold at 0.84 g/t Au and 10.4 Moz silver at 30.11 g/t Ag2, 3. The IC Project is located approximately 38 kilometers from the Yukon River, the region’s primary marine transportation corridor. Headquartered in Alaska and Arizona, Alaska Silver is led by a team with a proven track record of large-scale mine discoveries.

1 For Waterpump Creek, the formulas for AgEq are AgEq (g/t)= Ag (g/t) + 28.56 x Pb(%) + 37.12 x Zn(%) and assume metal prices of US$24/oz Ag, US$1.30/lb Zn, and US$ 1.00/lb Pb.2

2 Please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report titled “Illinois Creek Project, Western Alaska, USA” dated February 25, 2026 (effective date of January 22, 2026).

3 For Illinois Creek, AuEq values are based only on gold and silver values using metal prices of US$3,500/oz Au and US$45/oz Ag.

 


Kit Marrs

Kit Marrs
President & CEO
info@alaskasilver.com

For further information, please contact:

Patrick Donnelly
Executive Vice President
pat@alaskasilver.com
Phone: 1-520-200-1667

Or visit our website at: www.alaskasilver.com

Posted June 4, 2026

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