Astra Exploration returned high-grade assays from the final eight diamond drill holes of its Phase III program at the La Manchuria project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, highlighted by an intercept of 3 metres grading 4.34 g/t gold and 363.7 g/t silver in a 50-metre step-out at the Basalto Zone.

The drilling also intersected 8 metres grading 3.12 g/t gold and 10.3 g/t silver in a 200-metre northwest step-out at the Manchuria Hill Eastern Zone. Mineralization remains open in all four cardinal directions. Deeper drilling did not return favorable vein widths due to a poor host lithology, prompting the team to focus on shallow extensions and step-out holes.

Astra expanded the La Manchuria claim group from approximately 5,600 hectares to approximately 39,000 hectares by staking open adjacent claim blocks. Compiled geological and geophysical datasets defined five priority targets across a 4 by 4 kilometre footprint, indicating Manchuria Hill forms part of a larger epithermal system.

Astra shares trade at $0.37, up 7.25% on September 17, 2026.

“Drilling at the Manchuria Hill Target continues to step out and hit high grade gold and silver intercepts which remain open. Stepping out to define the full extent of the Manchuria Hill Target will be a focus of our follow-up drill program planned for Q4, 2026. Beyond Manchuria Hill, a compilation of geological and geophysical datasets have defined five priority drill targets over a 4 by 4 kilometre footprint that shows the Manchuria Hill Target to be a piece of a much larger epithermal system. The planned drill program of 10,000-20,000 metres will be split between expansion drilling and regional exploration to unlock the size potential of the Manchuria District as quickly as possible. Combined with a planned drill program on our Don Mario project in Chile, Astra's strong treasury of C$12.5M supports our significant, fully-funded, discovery drilling programs over the coming months.”

— Brian Miller, Chief Executive Officer

Read the full announcement: Astra Extends High-Grade Mineralization and Defines Regional Targets for Follow-Up 10,000-20,000 Metre Program at La Manchuria