Sterling Metals Corp. has intersected 397.19 metres grading 0.37% copper equivalent from bedrock to the end of the hole in drill hole SC-26-26 at the MEPS Zone within the Soo Copper Project near Batchewana Bay, Ontario.

The drill hole, collared approximately 300 metres west of the core discovery area, included higher-grade sub-intervals of 200 metres grading 0.53% CuEq, 101.9 metres grading 0.81% CuEq, and 13.25 metres grading 1.82% CuEq. A second hole, SC-26-25, was collared nearby and intersected 128 metres grading 0.31% CuEq from 157 metres downhole, including a 24-metre section grading 0.86% CuEq.

The latest step-out drilling extends the geologically continuous MEPS Copper Zone by over 300 metres westward to an approximate 700-metre strike length, remaining within a broader mineralized footprint measuring 1,300 metres by 600 metres. Both the zone and the wider footprint remain open for further expansion.

“This is an important step-out for the MEPS discovery. Approximately 300 metres west of our initial discovery, we intersected nearly 400 metres of continuous copper mineralization from bedrock surface, including 200 metres grading 0.53% CuEq. With drilling now tracing the MEPS Copper Zone over approximately 700 metres within a much broader 1.3-kilometre copper-mineralized footprint, we continue to demonstrate both the scale and continuity of this system. Importantly, the system remains open and our drilling continues to provide clear vectors for expansion.”

— Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration and Evaluation

The system is characterized by broad, near-surface copper mineralization hosted in altered Neoarchean mafic volcanic rocks intruded by Mesoproterozoic felsic porphyry phases, with copper sulphides occurring within veins and adjacent to intrusive units. True widths for the reported intervals are not yet known, and metal equivalent calculations assume an 80% metallurgical recovery across all metals based on three-year trailing average prices.

The company initiated exploration at the property, formerly known as Copper Road, with an inaugural diamond drill program in May 2025 that intersected porphyry copper mineralization at the GFP Porphyry. Sterling subsequently entered into an agreement in June 2026 to acquire QcX Gold Corp., consolidating a land package exceeding 35,000 hectares across the Batchewana Copper Belt around the project.

Sterling continues its ongoing 20,000-metre minimum drill program to test the geometry, continuity, and grade distribution of the MEPS system. Assay results and quality assurance and quality control reviews for drill hole SC-26-27 remain pending and will be reported separately once complete.

Read the full announcement: Sterling Extends Core MEPS Copper Zone to 700m; Intersects 200m of 0.53% CuEq Including 102m of 0.81% CuEq