Copper Giant Delivers Grades Above the 2026 Resource Model and Confirms Porphyry-Style Mineralization at the La Estrella Target
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Holes MD-053 and MD-054 successfully intercepted copper and molybdenum mineralization from surface to the end of the hole. Both holes were strategically designed to drill test the south edge of the Mocoa deposit where limits are still unknown towards the
La Estrella target. -
Hole MD-053, the first hole completed at the
La Estrella target south of the Mocoa deposit, confirms that the same porphyry architecture recognized at Mocoa extends into this previously untested area. - Hole MD-054 returned copper and molybdenum grades above the 2026 MRE¹ block model in an area previously modelled as waste due to sparse drilling by shallow, low-grade vertical holes (M12, M26 and M30), intercepting 61-metres grading 0.61% CuEq* (0.41% Cu and 0.04% Mo) within a broader interval of 253-metres grading 0.40% CuEq* (0.27% Cu and 0.03% Mo), starting at 367-metres downhole.
"The 2025 program delivered a major milestone for Mocoa, advancing the project beyond the one-billion-tonne resource mark through disciplined drilling and geological understanding. This outcome reflects both the scale of the system and the effectiveness of our exploration strategy. With these results, we close a highly successful exploration year and enter 2026 with a stronger geological model, clear growth vectors, and an aggressive drill strategy focused on conversion and expansion" –
Hole MD-053
This hole was strategically designed to extend the geological model of the Mocoa porphyry system southward toward the
|
Hole |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
CuEq* (%) |
|
MD-053 |
257 |
374 |
117 |
0.05 |
0.004 |
0.07 |
|
Including |
203 |
219 |
16 |
0.09 |
0.002 |
0.1 |
|
Table 1 – Assay results for drill hole MD-053
. *Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill hole interceptions is calculated as: Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill hole interceptions is calculated as: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 5.278 × Mo (%), utilizing metal prices of Cu - |
Hole MD-054
Drill hole MD-054 was designed to test the southern margin of the Mocoa MRE footprint in an area previously modelled as waste due to limited drilling by short vertical to sub-vertical holes (M12, M26 and M30) (Figure 3). MD-054 returned 61-metres grading 0.61% CuEq* (0.41% Cu and 0.04% Mo) within a broader interval of 253-metres grading 0.40% CuEq* (0.27% Cu and 0.03% Mo), starting at 367 metres downhole (Figure 4C and 4D). These results exceed the corresponding 2026 MRE1 block model and demonstrate that copper–molybdenum mineralization remains continuous and locally stronger than previously interpreted at the southern margin of the deposit. The results support future resource growth and highlight the potential to upgrade areas previously considered lower priority due to limited drilling density.
|
Hole |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
CuEq* (%) |
|
MD-054 |
0 |
804 |
804 |
0.13 |
0.01 |
0.19 |
|
Including |
367 |
620 |
253 |
0.27 |
0.03 |
0.40 |
|
and including |
418 |
478 |
61 |
0.41 |
0.04 |
0.64 |
|
and including |
445 |
478 |
33 |
0.44 |
0.05 |
0.70 |
|
Table 2 – Assay results for drill hole MD-054
. *Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill hole interceptions is calculated as: Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill hole interceptions is calculated as: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 5.278 × Mo (%), utilizing metal prices of Cu - |
2025 Exploration Program – Strategic Objectives Achieved
With the completion of MD-053 and MD-054, the Company formally concludes its 2025 exploration program at Mocoa. During the year, the Company drilled approximately 11,400 metres, delivering its most successful campaign to date and achieving all key strategic objectives, including:
- Completion and filing of an updated National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate1(refer to news release dated
January 9, 2026 ), increasing the Inferred Resource to 1.12 billion tonnes at 0.51% CuEq, representing a 76% increase in tonnage and a 101% increase in contained CuEq metal compared to the 2022 estimate (refer to the news release dated Novembre 24, 2025). - Expansion and refinement of multiple high-grade Cu-Mo domains within the Mocoa porphyry, including continued growth of a third high-grade core that remains open laterally and at depth.
- Validated and expanded multiple growth vectors, including the northward extension of the high-grade breccia corridor beyond the previously drilled footprint and the eastward and down-dip expansion of high-grade porphyry mineralization into areas previously modeled as low-grade
- Demonstration of continuous copper-molybdenum mineralization from surface to depth exceeding 1,000 vertical metres. Porphyry system remains open in all directions.
Although the 2025 campaign is now complete, two drill rigs remain on site operating at full capacity, supporting ongoing technical work and preparations for the next phase of drilling.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Exploration Program
Building on the success of the 2025 exploration campaign, Copper Giant is advancing plans for an expanded and fully permitted 2026 drill program at Mocoa. The program is expected to focus on strategic infill drilling to support resource conversion, while continuing step-out drilling along established growth vectors, including the southern extension toward
Qualified Person and Technical Notes
Edwin Naranjo Sierra, Vice-President of Exploration for Copper Giant, is the designated Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
Mineralized zones at Mocoa are bulk porphyry-style zones and drilled widths are interpreted to be very close to true widths.
Copper Giant operates according to a rigorous Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol consistent with industry best practices. Core diameter is a mix of HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. Diamond drill core boxes were photographed, sawed, sampled and tagged in maximum 2-metre intervals, stopping in geological boundaries. Samples were bagged, tagged and packaged for shipment by truck from Copper Giant's core logging facilities in Mocoa,
1 Notes on the MRE of the project
- The MRE was completed by
Kevin Hon ,B.Sc .,P.Geo ., Senior Resource Geologist, andWarren Black ,M.Sc .,P.Geo ., Senior Consultant: Mineral Resources and Geostatistics, both of APEX.Mr. Hon andMr. Black are independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101, and are responsible for the completion of the Mineral Resource Estimate, with an effective date ofNovember 18, 2025 .Michael Dufresne ,M.Sc .,P.Geo ., President & CEO of APEX, completed a peer review of the estimate. - Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
- The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could potentially be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
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The Mineral Resources were estimated in accordance with theCanadian Institute of Mining , Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices Guidelines (2019) prepared by theCIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by theCIM Council . - Economic assumptions used include
US$4.00 /lb Cu,US$20.00 /lb Mo, process recoveries of 90% for Cu and 95% for Mo, aUS$10 /t processing cost, G&A costs ofUS$1.00 /t, and a 3% NSR royalty - CuEq* values are calculated using a Cu-to-Mo value ratio of 1:5.278, incorporating both metal prices and metallurgical recoveries.
- The constraining pit optimization parameters include a
US$2.5 /t mining cost for both mineralized and waste material and 45° slopes. Pit-constrained Mineral Resources are reported at a cutoff of 0.25% CuEq*.
About the Mocoa Porphyry System
Mocoa was first identified in 1973 through a regional geochemical survey conducted by the
The deposit is hosted in Middle Jurassic dacite and quartz-diorite porphyries intruding andesitic to dacitic volcanics of the Central Cordillera, a 30-kilometre-wide tectonic belt that extends into
A distinguishing geological feature of Mocoa is the presence of a fertile magmatic window spanning roughly ten million years, a prolonged and unusually productive interval of magma generation and evolution that is not commonly observed in other Jurassic porphyry systems within the same belt. This extended fertile period provides a compelling explanation for the system's large metal endowment, broad alteration footprint, and overlapping intrusive and hydrothermal events.
The deposit demonstrates more than 1,000 metres of vertical continuity, with multiple intrusive phases, brecciation episodes, and vein generations reflecting a dynamic and long-lived magmatic–hydrothermal evolution, likely influenced by more than one porphyry center. Mocoa remains open in all directions, and several satellite targets across the broader land package support the interpretation of a district-scale mineralized system.
Mocoa's Mineral Resource Estimate1 comprises inferred resources of 12.7 billion pounds (Blbs) copper-equivalent (CuEq*) at an average grade of 0.51% CuEq*, including 7.7 Blbs of copper at 0.31% Cu and 1.0 Blbs of molybdenum at 0.039% Mo, within 1,120 million tonnes (Mt).
1
For further information refer to NI 43-101 Technical Report, entitled "Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for
About Copper Giant
The Company is led by a team with uncommon experience, having successfully taken some of the few major copper mines developed in the past two decades from discovery through to construction.
Copper Giant's current focus is the Mocoa copper-molybdenum deposit in southern Colombia, one of the largest undeveloped resources of its kind in the
Guided by the values of respect and responsibility, and grounded in its Good Neighbor philosophy, Copper Giant is committed to creating enduring values for all stakeholders and playing a meaningful role in the global energy transition.
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This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the drill results and 2025 strategic objectives achieved, 2026 exploration program, the outcome of the Company's current resource expansion strategy; other activities and achievements of the Company, including but not limited to: the timing and success for the advancement of the
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