Mercado Minerals Ltd. has secured a community access and exploration agreement for its Zamora project in Sinaloa, Mexico, enabling the company to advance drill permitting at the property.

The agreement, finalized through the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Concordia Silver Company S.A. de C.V. with the local Ejido Rincon de Ibonia, covers the Campanillas area of the silver-gold project. Under the terms of the arrangement, Mercado is required to pay an immediate annual fee of 100,000 MXN pesos with a one-year renewal option, alongside a fee of 3,000 MXN pesos per constructed drill pad to mitigate land impacts.

The accord follows the company’s initial intent to acquire the Zamora property in July 2025 as part of a transaction to secure 100 percent of Concordia Silver Company. Mercado operates within the same regional jurisdiction in Sinaloa where it recently completed an inaugural 25-hole diamond drill program at its Copalito project.

The technical team remains active on the ground at Zamora, conducting mapping, prospecting, and sampling to prepare concessions for reinstatement and active exploration ahead of future drilling. The current agreement covers only a portion of the property, requiring the company to continue negotiations with other local Ejido groups to secure access across the remaining project area.

“One of our key commitments as we advance our projects in the region is building strong, lasting community relations. We have an excellent team on the ground in Mexico working through logistics, mapping and sampling at Zamora, both to help bring our concessions back into good standing and to begin testing the concessions we already hold in good standing. Having the support of the Ejidos from the outset speaks to the strength of that relationship, and it positions us well as we advance toward drill permitting. I look forward to the next phases at Zamora and to ultimately testing this exciting silver-gold system with the drill bit.”

— Daniel Rodriguez, CEO & Director

With the initial access terms finalized, Mercado is positioned to advance and complete the drilling permit process for the Campanillas zone. The project's Qualified Person also intends to conduct a site visit later in the year to independently verify historical rock sample data across the property.

Read the full announcement: Mercado Minerals Signs Community Access and Exploration Agreement with Local Ejido at the Zamora Project