
ATEX Resources Inc. (TSX-V: ATX) is pleased to announce the remaining assay results for drill hole ATXD29A, and assay results for ATXD25B and ATXD22D, representing the ninth and tenth drill holes from its Phase V drill campaign at the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project, located in the Atacama Region, Chile. Results from the remaining three drill holes are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Highlights include:
Ben Pullinger, President and CEO, commented: “These latest results continue to demonstrate the scale and continuity of the high-grade porphyry corridor at Valeriano, while further extending mineralization to the north. Hole ATXD29A returned some of the best grades we’ve seen in this program and confirms the strength of the system beyond the previously drilled limits. As we reflect on a very successful Phase V campaign and look ahead to an updated Mineral Resource announcement and Phase VI commencement later this year, Valeriano is quickly emerging as one of the most significant undeveloped copper-gold projects in the Americas. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our shareholders for exercising their warrants and demonstrating continued confidence in the Company.”
Phase V Update – Pending Assay Results from Three Drill Holes
ATEX’s exploration objectives for Phase V were focused on three priorities:
Approximately 16,600 metres of directional diamond drilling has been completed during the Phase V program, including nine completed holes (ATXD16B, 22C, 23A, 23B, 25A, 25B, 27A, 28, and 29) and five partial holes (ATXD22D, 25C, 27B, 28A, and 29A) that will be completed as part of the Phase VI program. Results from the three remaining unreported drill holes (ATXD25C, 27B, 28A) will be announced over the coming weeks (Table 3). Using directional drilling techniques, ATEX has saved approximately 9,200m of drilling compared to conventional drilling methods enhancing the overall effectiveness of the program.
Following the record setting results achieved in Phase V on the Valeriano Project, Phase VI is anticipated to commence in September. This program will aim to further define the geometry and scale of the B2B Zone and other high-grade breccia targets to the north of the current exploration area while also testing new regional targets and continuing to define and expand the Valeriano system (Figures 1 & 2).
Table 1 – Summary Results for ATXD22D & ATXD25B and Updated Partial Results for ATXD29A
Hole ID(3),(4) | From | To | Interval | Cu | Au | Ag | Mo | CuEq % MRS(1,2) |
(m) | (m) | (m) | (%) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | ||
ATXD22D | 878 | 1,820 | 942 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 1.0 | 88 | 0.66 |
Incl. | 948 | 1,080 | 132 | 0.63 | 0.18 | 0.9 | 207 | 0.84 |
Incl. | 1,304 | 1,514 | 210 | 0.55 | 0.21 | 1.0 | 119 | 0.75 |
ATXD25B | 1,298 | 1,837 | 539 | 0.45 | 0.16 | 1.1 | 51 | 0.59 |
Incl. | 1,638 | 1,837 | 199 | 0.51 | 0.27 | 1.9 | 8 | 0.71 |
ATXD29A | 732 | 1,934 | 1,202 | 0.61 | 0.33 | 2.0 | 104 | 0.89 |
Incl. | 732 | 1,268 | 536iii | 0.75 | 0.28 | 1.7 | 225 | 1.04 |
Incl. | 1,052 | 1,232 | 180 | 1.23 | 0.53 | 2.9 | 327 | 1.74 |
Incl. | 1,106 | 1,232 | 126 | 1.47 | 0.67 | 3.7 | 252 | 2.04 |
Incl. | 1,124 | 1,160 | 36 | 2.10 | 1.02 | 6.2 | 542 | 3.05 |
Incl. | 1,366 | 1,934 | 568 | 0.55 | 0.43 | 2.5 | 7 | 0.86 |
Incl. | 1,388 | 1,528 | 140 | 0.65 | 0.46 | 2.4 | 10 | 0.98 |
Incl. | 1,668 | 1,772 | 104 | 0.65 | 0.59 | 3.0 | 5 | 1.06 |
(1) CuEq calculated using recoveries assumed in 2023 MRE (90% Cu, 70% Au, 80% Ag and 60% Mo). See Company news dated September 12, 2023) using the formula stated below:
Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is calculated using the formula CuEq % = Cu % + (6,481.488523 * Au g/t /10,000) + (94.6503085864 * Ag g/t /10,000) + (4.2328042328 * Mo g/t /10,000) *CuEq values reported in historical releases use metals reported in situ (100% basis). Recoveries for these metals as assumed in the NI 43-101 technical report titled: “Independent Technical Report for the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project, Atacama Region, Chile” with an effective date of September 1, 2023, available at www.sedarplus.ca and www.atexresources.com are 90% Cu, 70% Au, 80% Ag and 60% Mo.
(2) CuEq reported assuming metal prices of US$1,800 /oz Au, US$3.15 /lb Cu, US$23 /oz Ag, and US$20.00 /lb Mo.
(3) ATXD22D, ATXD25B and ATXD29A were composited at a cut-off of 0.3% CuEq. ATXD22D had a maximum internal dilution of 14m. ATXD25B had 0m of internal dilution. ATXD29A had a maximum internal dilution of 86m (732m to 1,934m) an internal dilution of 4m (732m to 1,268m) and an internal dilution of 4m (1,366m to 1,934m).
(4) True width of mineralized intersection not known at this stage.
Figure 1. Long-Section of B2B Zone and Valeriano Porphyry
Figure 2. Plan Map of High-Grade Porphyry Trend & B2B Breccia
Phase V Drill Results and Three Holes Remaining with Pending Assay Results
A discussion of holes ATXD29A, ATXD25B and ATXD22D is provided below along with an overview of completed drill holes, as well as those being drilled up until the Phase V demobilization.
B2B Zone Exploration
Valeriano Porphyry Exploration
Table 2 – Detailed Results with Metallurgical Recoveries for Phase V Drill Holes to Date
Hole ID | From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) | Cu (%) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Mo (g/t) |
CuEq % MRS(1,3) | CuEq % Met(2,3) | Date |
ATXD16B | 1,044 | 1,824 | 780 | 0.56 | 0.23 | 0.9 | 90 | 0.76 | 0.81 | March 18, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,364 | 1,690 | 326 | 0.71 | 0.29 | 1.1 | 87 | 0.95 | 1.01 | |
Incl. | 1,414 | 1,646 | 232 | 0.75 | 0.31 | 1.2 | 88 | 1.00 | 1.06 | |
ATXD23A | 822 | 2,042 | 1,220 | 0.66 | 0.28 | 1.9 | 130 | 0.91 | 0.98 | March 18, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,036 | 1,378 | 342 | 1.05 | 0.47 | 3.0 | 326 | 1.52 | 1.65 | |
Incl. | 1,092 | 1,378 | 286 | 1.17 | 0.53 | 3.4 | 340 | 1.69 | 1.83 | |
Incl. | 1,162 | 1,378 | 216 | 1.34 | 0.63 | 4.1 | 334 | 1.93 | 2.08 | |
Incl. | 1,226 | 1,378 | 152 | 1.52 | 0.75 | 4.9 | 161 | 2.12 | 2.28 | |
Incl. | 1,334 | 1,356 | 22 | 2.35 | 1.31 | 8.6 | 29 | 3.30 | 3.54 | |
ATXD25A | 1,230 | 1,832 | 602 | 0.40 | 0.16 | 1.0 | 57 | 0.54 | 0.57 | April 22, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,770 | 1,830 | 60 | 0.60 | 0.49 | 2.4 | 5 | 0.94 | 1.03 | |
And | 1,874 | 1,982 | 108 | 0.87 | 1.18 | 5.5 | 9 | 1.69 | 1.90 | |
Incl. | 1,892 | 1,922 | 30 | 2.21 | 3.17 | 15.1 | 3 | 4.40 | 4.97 | |
Incl. | 1,896 | 1,912 | 16 | 3.04 | 4.82 | 21.1 | 5 | 6.36 | 7.22 | |
ATXD23B | 1,028 | 1,238 | 210 | 0.60 | 0.21 | 1.0 | 210 | 0.83 | 0.90 | April 22, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,212 | 1,236 | 24 | 0.81 | 0.30 | 1.2 | 136 | 1.07 | 1.15 | |
And | 1,264 | 1,999 | 735 | 0.47 | 0.14 | 1.0 | 39 | 0.59 | 0.62 | |
Incl. | 1,274 | 1,318 | 44 | 0.83 | 0.21 | 1.4 | 36 | 1.00 | 1.04 | |
ATXD27A | 1,172 | 1,626 | 454 | 0.48 | 0.13 | 0.9 | 121 | 0.62 | 0.66 | April 22, 2025 |
And | 1,636 | 2,148 | 512 | 0.58 | 0.27 | 1.7 | 18 | 0.78 | 0.83 | |
Incl. | 1,672 | 1,714 | 42 | 0.84 | 0.49 | 3.1 | 9 | 1.20 | 1.29 | |
Incl. | 1,888 | 1,920 | 32 | 0.77 | 0.31 | 1.7 | 19 | 1.00 | 1.05 | |
ATXD28 | 834 | 1,924 | 1,090 | 0.56 | 0.32 | 1.8 | 57 | 0.81 | 0.87 | June 2, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,098 | 1,188 | 90 | 0.71 | 0.30 | 1.4 | 80 | 0.95 | 1.01 | |
Incl. | 1,398 | 1,486 | 88 | 0.78 | 0.35 | 2.4 | 18 | 1.03 | 1.10 | |
Incl. | 1,643 | 1,924 | 281 | 0.55 | 0.53 | 3.3 | 4 | 0.93 | 1.02 | |
ATXD22C | 770 | 1,814 | 1,044 | 0.46 | 0.18 | 1.2 | 48 | 0.61 | 0.65 | June 9, 2025 |
Incl. | 950 | 1,012 | 62 | 0.69 | 0.19 | 1.0 | 157 | 0.88 | 0.94 | |
Incl. | 1,694 | 1,804 | 110 | 0.49 | 0.31 | 2.2 | 2 | 0.71 | 0.77 | |
ATXD29A | 732 | 1,268 | 536 | 0.75 | 0.28 | 1.7 | 225 | 1.04 | 1.12 | June 9, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,052 | 1,232 | 180 | 1.23 | 0.53 | 2.9 | 327 | 1.74 | 1.88 | |
Incl. | 1,106 | 1,232 | 126 | 1.47 | 0.67 | 3.7 | 252 | 2.04 | 2.20 | |
Incl. | 1,124 | 1,160 | 36 | 2.10 | 1.02 | 6.2 | 542 | 3.05 | 3.30 | |
ATXD22D | 878 | 1,820 | 942 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 1.0 | 88 | 0.66 | 0.71 | July 8, 2025 |
Incl. | 948 | 1,080 | 132 | 0.63 | 0.18 | 0.9 | 207 | 0.84 | 0.90 | |
Incl. | 1,304 | 1,514 | 210 | 0.55 | 0.21 | 1.0 | 119 | 0.75 | 0.80 | |
ATXD25B | 1,298 | 1,837 | 539 | 0.45 | 0.16 | 1.1 | 51 | 0.59 | 0.63 | July 8, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,638 | 1,837 | 199 | 0.51 | 0.27 | 1.9 | 8 | 0.71 | 0.76 | |
ATXD29A | 732 | 1,934 | 1,202 | 0.61 | 0.33 | 2.0 | 104 | 0.89 | 0.96 | July 8, 2025 |
Incl. | 1,366 | 1,934 | 568 | 0.55 | 0.43 | 2.5 | 7 | 0.86 | 0.94 | |
Incl. | 1,388 | 1,528 | 140 | 0.65 | 0.46 | 2.4 | 10 | 0.98 | 1.06 | |
Incl. | 1,668 | 1,772 | 104 | 0.65 | 0.59 | 3.0 | 5 | 1.06 | 1.16 |
(1) CuEq calculated using recoveries assumed in 2023 MRE (90% Cu, 70% Au, 80% Ag and 60% Mo). See Company news dated September 12, 2023) using the formula stated below:
Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is calculated using the formula CuEq % = Cu % + (6,481.488523 * Au g/t /10,000) + (94.6503085864 * Ag g/t /10,000) + (4.2328042328 * Mo g/t /10,000).
(2) CuEq calculated using recoveries reported from metallurgical test work results reported in Company news dated October 18, 2023 (95% Cu, 94% Au, 89% Ag and 83% Mo) using the formula stated below:
Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is calculated using the formula CuEq % = (((Cu % * 3.15 * 22.0462)) + ((0.94/0.95 * Au g/t) * (1,800/31.1034768)) + ((0.89/0.95 * Ag g/t) * (23/31.1034768)) + ((0.83/0.95 * Mo g/t / 10000) * (20*22.0462))) / (3.15*22.0462).
(3) CuEq reported assuming metal prices of US$1,800 /oz Au, US$3.15 /lb Cu, US$23 /oz Ag, and US$20.00 /lb Mo.
Table 3 – Phase V Drill Hole Summary
Hole ID | UTMX | UTMY | Elevation | Kick-off | Start of Hole |
End of Hole |
Status | Length | Drilled |
WGS84 19S | WGS84 19S | (m) | (m) | Azi./Dip | Azi./Dip | (m) | (m)1 | ||
B2B | |||||||||
ATXD23A | 414,623 | 6,779,921 | 4,346 | 515 | 134 / 81 | 161 / 50 | Complete | 2,042 | 1,527 |
ATXD23B | 414,623 | 6,779,921 | 4,346 | 962 | 139 / 59 | 143 / 49 | Complete | 1,999 | 1,037 |
ATXD27A | 414,558 | 6,780,399 | 4,424 | 794 | 153 / 72 | 175 / 31 | Complete | 2,148 | 1,354 |
ATXD27B | 414,558 | 6,780,399 | 4,424 | 704 | 149 / 73 | 155 / 33 | Paused | 1,632 | 928 |
ATXD29 | 414,962 | 6,779,682 | 4,257 | – | 170 / 89 | 163 / 89 | Complete | 711 | 711 |
ATXD29A | 414,962 | 6,779,682 | 4,257 | 355 | 313 / 88 | 289 / 74 | Paused | 1,934 | 1,580 |
Porphyry | |||||||||
ATXD16B | 415,381 | 6,779,128 | 4,134 | 827 | 287 / 77 | 270 / 44 | Complete | 1,880 | 1,053 |
ATXD22C | 415,187 | 6,779,412 | 4,134 | 667 | 261 / 89 | 286 / 66 | Complete | 1,814 | 1,148 |
ATXD22D | 415,187 | 6,779,412 | 4,134 | 732 | 250 / 86 | 222 / 64 | Paused | 1,916 | 1,185 |
ATXD25A** | 413,896 | 6,779,919 | 4,160 | 1,454 | 125 / 76 | 102 / 47 | Complete | 2,232 | 778 |
ATXD25B | 413,896 | 6,779,919 | 4,160 | 765 | 100 / 60 | 89 / 32 | Complete | 1,837 | 1,072 |
ATXD25C | 413,896 | 6,779,919 | 4,160 | 408 | 129 / 80 | 108 / 18 | Paused | 1,566 | 1,158 |
ATXD28 | 415,132 | 6,779,354 | 4,170 | – | 276 / 78 | 344 / 75 | Complete | 1,924 | 1,924 |
ATXD28A | 415,132 | 6,779,354 | 4,170 | 970 | 291 / 78 | 353 / 74 | Paused | 1,918 | 947 |
Total | 25,552 | 16,552 |
Change of Auditor
ATEX announces that effective July 8, 2025, the Company appointed MNP LLP as its new auditor, replacing McGovern Hurley LLP, until the next annual general meeting of shareholders. The change of auditor was approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors. There were no reservations in the former auditor’s reports and there are no “reportable events” (as such term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations) in connection with the change of auditor. In accordance with regulatory requirements, the Company will file a Notice of Change of Auditor, together with the required letters from both the former and new auditors, on SEDAR+.
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 La Serena. 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 and 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). The Valeriano Project hosts a large copper gold porphyry mineral resource: 1.41 billion inferred tonnes at 0.67% CuEq (0.50% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au, 0.96 g/t Ag and 63.80 g/t Mo), which includes a higher-grade core totaling 200 million tonnes at 0.84% CuEq (0.62% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au 1.25 g/t Ag and 55.7 g/t Mo), as reported by ATEX on September 12, 2023v.
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