
Six Rigs Currently Targeting Further B2B Expansion and New B2B-Like Discoveries
ATEX Resources Inc. (TSX-V: ATX) (OTCQB: ATXRF) is pleased to announce initial results for drill hole ATXD25C, the first hole from its Phase VI drill campaign at the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project located in Atacama Region, Chile. Drilling commenced in late September with six rigs operational on site.
“Phase VI is off to an exceptional start with the first hole of the program returning the best drill results reported at Valeriano to date,” Stated Ben Pullinger, President and CEO of ATEX. “These results further confirm the high-grade nature and continuity of mineralization within the B2B Zone which we seek to expand and further delineate as a priority in Phase VI. Similar to the Phase V program, this campaign is off to an outstanding start with new record-setting results. Drilling within the B2B Zone and in adjacent areas prospective for new high-grade breccia discoveries remains a key strategic objective of the Phase VI program. Results to date continue to highlight the potential for an economically robust, conceptual starter operation closer to surface, as well as strong evidence for further Mineral Resource expansion. With six rigs now turning, the Phase VI program is fully operational, and we look forward to delivering more exciting results in the weeks ahead.”
Highlights include:
Table 1 – Summary Results for ATXD25C
Hole ID(4) | From | To | Interval | Cu | Au | Ag | Mo | CuEq % MRS(1,2,3) |
(m) | (m) | (m) | (%) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | ||
ATXD25C | 1,302 | 1,830 | 528 | 0.87 | 0.41 | – | – | 1.32 |
Incl. | 1,558 | 1,722 | 164 | 1.69 | 0.97 | – | – | 2.72 |
Incl. | 1,558 | 1,644 | 86 | 2.28 | 1.41 | – | – | 3.77 |
Incl. | 1,604 | 1,644 | 40 | 2.76 | 1.88 | – | – | 4.73 |
Figure 1. Long-Section of B2B and Porphyry Models
Figure 2. Plan Map of Phase VI Drill Holes
Phase VI Drill Program Update
ATEX is fully operational with its Phase VI drill program and six diamond drill rigs currently active on site. The program targeting approximately 25,000 metres of high-impact, cost-efficient exploration utilizing directional drilling techniques. Drilling commenced six weeks earlier compared to the previous Phase V program, reflecting material gains in operational efficiency. A primary objective of Phase VI is to further define the high-grade B2B Zone, which has again returned record initial results from drill hole ATXD25C. Ongoing success in this zone has the potential to significantly expand the volume of high-grade mineralization at Valeriano, thereby improving the Project’s overall grade profile and reinforcing the strategic significance of the B2B Zone within the larger porphyry system.
Details of drill holes in addition to ATXD25C, currently in progress as part of the ongoing exploration program are provided below. Assay results will be reported as they are finalized and received from the laboratory.
Quality Control & Quality Assurance
Drill holes are collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill holes progressed deeper. Drill core produced by the drill rigs was extracted from the core tubes by the drill contractor under the supervision of ATEX employees, marked for consistent orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being transported by ATEX personnel to the Valeriano field camp. Core at the field camp is processed, quick logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for specific gravity, geotechnical studies and for assays. From camp, the core is transferred to a secure core-cutting facility in Vallenar, operated by IMG, a third-party consultant. Here, the core trays are weighed before being cut using a diamond saw under ATEX personnel oversight. ATEX geologists working at this facility double-check the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core is consistently sampled. Reference numbers are assigned to each sample and each sample is weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core are weighed and photographed. Additionally, core logs are updated, and specific gravity and geotechnical samples are collected. The remaining core is stored in racks at the Company’s secure facility in Vallenar.
From Vallenar samples are sent to an ALS preparation facility in Copiapo. ALS is an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. The prepared samples were sent to the ALS assay laboratories in either Santiago, Chile or Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA24), copper (Cu-AA62), molybdenum (Mo-AA62) and silver (Ag-AA62) assays as well as and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.
Qualified Person
Mr. Ben Pullinger, P.Geo., registered with the Professional Geoscientists Ontario, is the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, for the Valeriano Copper Gold Porphyry Project. Mr. Pullinger is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is President and CEO of ATEX. He has reviewed and approved the disclosure of the scientific and technical information contained in this press release.
About ATEX
ATEX is exploring the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project which is located within the emerging copper gold porphyry mineral belt linking the prolific El Indio High-Sulphidation Belt to the south with the Maricunga Gold Porphyry Belt to the north, located in the Atacama Region, Chile. This emerging belt, informally referred to as the Link Belt, hosts several copper gold porphyry deposits at various stages of development including, Filo del Sol (Lundin Mining/BHP), Josemaria (Lundin Mining/BHP), Lunahausi (NGEx Minerals), La Fortuna (Teck Resources/Newmont) and El Encierro (Antofagasta/Barrick). Valeriano hosts a large, high-grade, copper-gold porphyry Mineral Resource: an Indicated Resource of 475 Mt at 0.88% CuEq (0.58% Cu, 0.25 g/t Au, 1.39 g/t Ag and 70.4 g/t Mo) at a cutoff grade of 0.35% Cu, and an Inferred resource of 1,511 Mt at 0.75% CuEq (0.50% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au, 1.16 g/t Ag and 70.6 g/t Mo) at a cut-off grade of 0.35% Cu, as reported on September 23, 2025.
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