Minco Exploration PLC has intersected high-grade zinc and lead mineralization across multiple zones at its 100%-owned Rapla Project in County Laois, Ireland.

Step-out drilling around the main discovery zone returned 5.0 metres grading 17.89% zinc, 6.41% lead, and 57 g/t silver from 595.9 metres in hole 3312-104 at the base of the Waulsortian Limestone. This intercept included a 1.9-metre section grading 32.08% zinc, 11.84% lead, and 105 g/t silver. Additional drilling in the Main Zone included hole 3312-107, which yielded 17.0 metres at 8.34% zinc, 2.48% lead, 0.82% copper, and 114 g/t silver from 586.5 metres.

"Seven months ago we reported one of the highest-grade drill holes seen in Ireland in decades. The drilling since then has demonstrated that hole 3312-82 was not an isolated result - every hole drilled in the Main Zone has intersected mineralization, with grades of up to 32% zinc in step-out drilling"

— John Kearney, Chairman

To the north, the Aghmacart Zone was expanded with hole 3312-102 returning 6.0 metres grading 5.45% zinc, 2.58% lead, 0.15% copper, and 28 g/t silver. Furthermore, drilling confirmed a second mineralized horizon in the Lisduff Oolite approximately 200 metres below the base of the Waulsortian Limestone, where hole 3312-89 intersected 3.0 metres grading 6.65% zinc and 1.88% lead. Wide-spaced drilling in the Eastern Extension Zone also intersected base metal sulphides up to 1 kilometre east of the Main Zone.

Since August 2025, Minco has completed approximately 18,000 metres across 32 holes, with four rigs currently operating and permits secured for an additional 38 holes.

The company recently closed a €870,125 non-brokered private placement on September 1, 2026, with a strategic investor to fund ongoing exploration at Rapla, bringing that investor's holding to 29.99%. In addition, ten new Prospecting Licences along the Rathdowney Trend have been issued to Minco's wholly-owned subsidiary, Westland Exploration Limited, for operation as part of the project.

The second-half 2026 exploration schedule includes infill drilling between the Main and Aghmacart zones, alongside brownfield drill testing of the Eastern Extension. Elsewhere along the Rathdowney Trend, Group Eleven Resources Corp. reported drill results from its Ballywire discovery in August 2026, intersecting 3.61 metres grading 345.4 g/t silver and 0.75% copper.

Read the full announcement: Minco Extends High-Grade Zinc and Lead Across Multiple Zones at Rapla