Auro Metals has returned wide gold and copper intercepts from its ongoing Phase I drill program at the Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project in southeastern Ecuador, led by drillhole DSB-61 returning 496.5 metres grading 0.76 g/t gold and 0.12% copper from 88.5 metres.

The latest batch covers four holes drilled at the southern part of the porphyry system, known as Santa Barbara South. Drillhole DSB-61 included a higher-grade interval of 212.5 metres grading 1.12 g/t gold and 0.14% copper from 117 metres, as well as a 10.65-metre interval grading 0.59 g/t gold at the end of the hole.

Hole DSB-67 intersected 380 metres grading 0.71 g/t gold and 0.1% copper from 76.5 metres, while hole DSB-66 returned 287 metres grading 0.51 g/t gold and 0.08% copper starting from surface. Auro acquired its 100% interest in the project in May 2026 from Silvercorp Metals and Adventus Mining.

“DSB-61 intersected 496 metres of continuous, high-grade gold-copper mineralization, with a gold grade approximately 46% higher than the grade of the inferred resource in our Mineral Resource Estimate. Within this intercept, a higher-grade, 212 metre zone returned a gold grade approximately 115% higher than that of the inferred resource and is the highest gold grade intersected by the Company in a reported intercept to date. DSB-67 also intersected a long interval of mineralization, with gold grades exceeding those of the inferred resources in our Mineral Resource Estimate. To date, assay results from 14 holes have been published, with assays for eight additional holes pending, while all four rigs on site continue to turn. We look forward to sharing further assay results as they become available.”

— Victor Feng, CEO

Four drill rigs remain active on site. Auro has received assay results for 14 of the 22 completed holes, with assays pending for eight additional holes. The company plans to incorporate the Phase I results into a future mineral resource update.

Alongside its exploration work, Auro has secured approval to uplift its U.S. trading from the OTC Pink Market to the OTCQB Venture Market under the existing ticker 'AURFF', effective July 29, 2026.

Elsewhere in the Zamora-Chinchipe district, Lundin Gold reported drill results including 108.61 g/t gold over 11.75 metres at Fruta del Norte.

Read the full announcement: Auro Intersects 496.5m Grading 0.76 g/t Gold and 0.12% Copper, Including 212.5m Grading 1.12 g/t Au and 0.14% Copper at the Santa Barbara Gold-Copper Project, Ecuador