NGEx Drills 53.50m at 7.79% CuEq, 75.45m at 4.95% CuEq, and 15.25m at 16.56% CuEq at Lunahuasi, With Successful Step Out Holes Now Extending Mineralization Over 1,000m North to South

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 19, 2025 /CNW/ - NGEx Minerals Ltd. ("NGEx", "NGEx Minerals" or the "Company") (TSX: NGEX) (OTCQX: NGXXF) is pleased to provide the third update on its ongoing Phase 3 drill program at the 100% owned Lunahuasi high-grade copper-gold-silver project in San Juan, Argentina. Six drill rigs are currently turning at Lunahuasi with seven holes completed and 12,800m drilled. Two additional rigs are scheduled to start before the end of February and the planned program has been expanded from 20,000m to 25,000m. PDF Version

Lunahuasi Geology Drill Plan 2025 Feb (CNW Group/NGEx Minerals Ltd.)

NGEx Drills 53.50m at 7.79% CuEq, 75.45m at 4.95% CuEq, and 15.25m at 16.56% CuEq at Lunahuasi, With Successful Step Out Holes Now Extending Mineralization Over 1,000m North to South (CNW Group/NGEx Minerals Ltd.)

This news release includes remaining results for three holes partially released earlier (DPDH024, DPDH025, and DPDH026), and partial results for an additional three holes (DPDH027, DPDH028, DPDH029), as indicated below in Table 2. Results from the upper parts of DPDH024 and DPDH025 were released on December 18, 2024 and January 21, 2025. A summary of assay intervals by news release date is included in Table 3. The highlighted intersections from this release, including notable gold values, are shown below, and individual metal grades and estimated true widths of all intersections are shown in Table 1. Updated drill program progress and collar locations are shown in Table 2.

Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO, commented, "Lunahuasi continues to deliver very high-grade, copper-gold-silver intersections over considerable widths and with these latest drill results, which include positive results received from our biggest step out holes to date, we are starting to significantly extend the mineralized system and demonstrate that at Lunahuasi we have a rare combination of very high grades and very large size potential.

The intercepts in DPDH028 (53.5m @7.79% CuEq) and DPDH029 (157m @ 2.16%CuEq) are particularly important because they are large step-outs from previously intercepted mineralization. The intercept in DPDH028 is deeper and to the west of all previous holes and is open in all directions. The intercept in DPDH029 is 470m south of DPDH028 and correlates well with a large structure seen in DPDH 021, 022, 027, and 028. DPDH029 is the largest step-out to the south to date. Results have been received to a depth of 1060m and the hole is continuing to drill to depth.

Drilling to date has now encountered mineralization over a minimum north-south extent of just over 1km from DPDH025 in the north to DPDH029 in the south, a minimum vertical extent of just over 1km and a minimum east-west extent of also just over 1km. These are minimum dimensions – the deposit remains open in all directions and every hole drilled into it has encountered multiple mineralized intersections. Our focus remains on continuing to push the boundaries and try to determine how big this unique deposit might be."

Highlights:

• Drillhole DPDH024 intersected:
  • 75.45m at 4.95% copper equivalent ("CuEq") from 773.80m
    • Including 15.25m at 16.56% CuEq from 834.00m
• Drillhole DPDH026 intersected:
  • 42.40m at 3.44% CuEq from 679.60m, including:
    • 3.65m at 20.97% CuEq from 692.35m, plus:
  • 44.20m at 2.86% CuEq from 794.80m
• Drillhole DPDH027 intersected:
  • 49.00m at 2.98 g/t Au and 241.1 g/t Ag from 447.00m, including:
    • 19.30m at 5.77 g/t Au and 560.6 g/t Ag from 450.20m
• Drillhole DPDH028 intersected:
  • 59.10m at 5.07% CuEq from 834.50m, including:
    • 10.50m at 10.02% CuEq from 872.60m, plus:
  • 53.50m at 7.79% CuEq from 1219.50m, including:
    • 8.00m at 12.93% CuEq from 1230.50m, and
    • 4.87m at 31.25% CuEq from 1249.50m (11.33 g/t gold)
• Drillhole DPDH029 intersected:
  • 13.00m at 5.50% CuEq from 540.00m, plus:
  • 157.70m at 2.18% CuEq from 776.90m, including:
    • 3.50m at 10.32% CuEq from 807.50m, and
    • 38.90m at 4.35% CuEq from 870.70m

Table 1 : Significant Intersections

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Estimated True Width (m)	Cu %	Au g/t	Ag g/t	CuEq %
DPDH024	773.80	849.25	75.45	39	3.87	1.14	28.3	4.95
incl	790.50	794.30	3.80	2.0	4.70	1.24	37.7	5.93
and incl	814.60	817.50	2.90	1.5	3.62	7.87	18.6	9.52
and incl	834.00	849.25	15.25	7.9	13.83	2.52	101.7	16.56
DPDH025	902.50	982.00	79.50	60	0.81	0.18	6.7	1.00
incl	965.50	973.00	7.50	5.7	2.91	0.33	37.1	3.47
plus	1119.80	1123.15	3.35	2.5	5.33	0.62	147.7	7.08
DPDH026	578.20	582.15	3.95	2.3	5.02	1.10	15.6	5.96
plus	610.00	614.30	4.30	2.5	1.92	0.86	313.6	5.30
plus	644.10	646.50	2.40	1.4	7.76	6.25	23.1	12.51
plus	659.40	662.00	2.60	1.5	3.42	0.76	8.8	4.05
plus	679.60	722.00	42.40	24	2.65	0.63	37.5	3.44
incl	692.35	696.00	3.65	2.1	15.59	2.92	368.9	20.97
and incl	700.70	703.50	2.80	1.6	5.67	2.42	28.3	7.68
plus	776.10	784.00	7.90	4.5	1.87	0.48	27.0	2.46
plus	794.80	839.00	44.20	25	1.52	1.74	7.7	2.86
incl	803.40	807.00	3.60	2.1	0.55	9.19	4.7
and incl	815.70	820.85	5.15	2.9	6.64	3.79	23.8	9.61
plus	872.00	877.60	5.60	3.2	1.70	0.25	34.4	2.19
plus	1097.75	1108.00	10.25	5.8	1.44	0.52	24.4	2.03
DPDH027	447.00	496.00	49.00	35	0.49	2.98	241.1
incl	450.20	469.50	19.30	14	0.53	5.77	560.6
plus	529.00	540.70	11.70	8.3	1.87	0.28	11.4	2.18
plus	546.40	550.00	3.60	2.6	2.40	1.09	42.8	3.57
plus	556.80	563.00	6.20	4.4	1.48	1.68	14.1	2.83
plus	569.00	590.65	21.65	15	1.68	1.13	68.8	3.11
plus	661.60	668.00	6.40	4.7	2.47	1.11	15.0	3.41
plus	754.00	774.00	20.00	15	3.12	0.57	29.2	3.79
plus	902.00	913.00	11.00	8.3	1.74	0.64	29.6	2.47
plus	946.00	952.00	6.00	4.6	2.26	0.99	18.9	3.15
plus	1069.00	1075.10	6.10	4.9	2.28	0.41	26.2	2.82
DPDH028	604.90	610.78	5.88	4.5	2.20	0.41	20.4	2.68
plus	624.00	644.00	20.00	15	1.55	0.88	17.1	2.34
plus	807.90	810.50	2.60	2.0	3.36	1.39	59.4	4.89
plus	834.50	893.60	59.10	46	3.63	1.05	76.7	5.07
incl	839.70	851.40	11.70	9.0	5.23	1.67	151.9	7.78
and incl	872.60	883.10	10.50	8.1	7.44	1.83	141.6	10.02
plus	928.25	933.00	4.75	3.7	2.51	0.75	28.5	3.30
plus	1025.80	1031.40	5.60	4.1	1.91	0.36	12.4	2.28
plus	1060.90	1068.00	7.10	5.0	1.20	7.46	49.6	7.08
plus	1080.00	1082.80	2.80	2.0	2.03	0.36	34.6	2.60
plus	1089.30	1092.30	3.00	2.1	3.35	0.64	38.2	4.16
plus	1133.40	1159.00	25.60	18	1.89	0.33	33.1	2.42
plus	1219.50	1273.00	53.50	37	5.64	2.45	41.1	7.79
incl	1230.50	1238.50	8.00	5.6	10.33	2.90	55.0	12.93
and incl	1249.50	1254.37	4.87	3.4	22.34	11.33	74.6	31.25
DPDH029	318.00	321.70	3.70	1.6	3.89	2.96	80.7	6.76
plus	540.00	553.00	13.00	5.6	3.72	2.00	35.9	5.50
plus	776.90	934.60	157.70	85	1.67	0.49	16.7	2.18
incl	807.50	811.00	3.50	1.9	8.76	1.34	66.3	10.32
and incl	870.70	909.60	38.90	21	3.54	0.76	28.5	4.35
plus	1017.50	1022.90	5.40	3.3	2.45	0.19	19.8	2.76
plus	1050.10	1060.00	9.90	6.3	1.56	0.46	22.5	2.09

DPDH024 was collared from the same platform as DPDH014 and drilled at -58 degrees towards the west to test for an extension to the high-grade zone in hole 14 and for extensions to other mineralized structures to the north and at depth. The hole intersected several mineralized structures as noted in the table above. This hole has been completed to a final depth of 968.0m and all assays have been reported.

DPDH025 was collared 50m to the north of hole 24, on the same platform as DPDH012 and drilled at -45 degrees towards the west to test for northern extensions to the mineralized structures. Several intersections in this hole indicate that the system is open to the north, and additional northern step-out holes are currently underway. This hole has been completed to a final depth of 1303.8m and all assays have been reported.

DPDH026 was collared 216m to the east of DPDH014 and drilled towards the west at -60 degrees to test for the down-dip extension of the mineralized structures. Several structures were intersected as shown in Table 1 and earlier news releases. This hole has been completed to a final depth of 1261.2m and all assays have been reported.

DPDH027 was collared from the same platform as DPDH021, which was the southernmost hole prior to this season's program, and drilled at -46 degrees towards the WSW (226 degrees) in order to test for a southern extension to the numerous mineralized structures seen in DPDH021. This hole was successful in intersecting several mineralized structures including a wide zone of gold/silver mineralization which may be the southern continuation of a major structure intersected by holes DPDH021, 22 and 28. This hole extends mineralization up to 200m south of DPDH021. The hole is still underway and assays have been reported to a depth of 1075.1m.

DPDH028 was collared from the same platform as DPDH022 and drilled towards the west at -53 degrees in order to undercut hole 22 and test the down-dip extension of the structures intersected by it. Three major structures were intersected by this hole in addition of numerous smaller ones. In particular, the zone from 1219.5m is below the depth of other holes in this area and is completely open in all directions. This hole has been completed to a final depth of 1600.4m and assays have been reported to a depth of 1273.0m.

DPDH029 was collared adjacent to DPDH027 and drilled towards the southwest (229) at a dip of -50 degrees in order to explore the southern extent of the deposit. As with other holes, numerous mineralized intersections were drilled including a broad zone from 776.9m that includes some higher-grade, gold-rich sub zones. This zone appears to correlate well with the large structure noted above in DPDH021, 22, 27 and 28. If this correlation is correct, this intersection is 470m south of the intersection in hole 28 (and 350m away from the closest intersection in hole 27) and appears to be a compelling exploration target on its own. This hole is still underway and assays have been reported to a depth of 1060.0m.

Table 2 : Hole and Assay Depths

Hole ID	UTM East	UTM North	Elev (masl)	Azimuth	Dip	Length Drilled (m)	Status
DPDH024	439,190	6,856,224	4,634	282.87	-57.76	968.00	Complete
DPDH025	439,195	6,856,275	4,626	279.63	-44.45	1,303.80	Complete
DPDH026	439,404	6,856,207	4,607	267.15	-60.32	1,261.20	Complete
DPDH027	439,201	6,855,913	4,750	255.65	-46.10	1,205.60	In Progress
DPDH028	439,210	6,855,993	4,707	267.35	-53.00	1,600.40	Complete
DPDH029	439,238	6,855,900	4,744	229.22	-50.60	1,600.00	In Progress
DPDH030	439,181	6,856,226	4,634	256.52	-53.14	502.90	Complete
DPDH031	439,181	6,856,239	4,634	269.17	-45.89	860.00	Complete
DPDH032	438,773	6,856,198	4,833	80.83	-52.19	896.10	Complete
DPDH033	439,197	6,856,274	4,626	287.62	-54.08	941.00	In Progress
DPDH034	439,210	6,855,993	4,709	264.63	-57.31	847.20	In Progress
DPDH035	439,190	6,856,234	4,633	270.00	-65.24	788.00	In Progress
DPDH036	438,854	6,856,228	4,767	265.00	-55.00	26.00	In Progress
				TOTAL		12,800.20

Table 3 : Assay Intervals by News Release Date

Hole ID	News Release Dec. 18 2024	News Release Jan. 21 2025	News Release Feb. 19 2025	Pending
DPDH024	0 - 394m	394m - 757m	757m - 968m	None
DPDH025	0 - 271m	271m - 652m	652m - 1,303.8m	None
DPDH026		0 - 553m	553m - 1,261.2m	None
DPDH027		0 - 459m	459.0m - 1,075.1m	1,075.1m - end
DPDH028		0 - 588m	588m - 1,530.7m	1,530.7m - 1,600.4m
DPDH029			0m - 1,060.0m	1,060.0m - end

Qualified Persons and Technical Notes

The scientific and technical disclosure included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bob Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice President, Exploration for the Company.

Samples were cut at NGEx's operations base in San Juan, Argentina by Company personnel. Diamond drill core was sawed and then sampled in maximum 2-meter intervals, stopping at geological boundaries. Core diameter is a mix of PQ, HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. Samples were bagged, tagged and packaged for shipment by truck to the ALS preparation laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina where they were crushed and a 500g split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh. The prepared sample splits were sent to the ALS assay laboratory in either Lima, Peru or Santiago, Chile for copper, gold and silver assays, and multi-element ICP. ALS is an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Gold assays were by fire assay fusion with AAS finish on a 30g sample. Copper and silver were assayed by atomic absorption following a 4-acid digestion. Samples were also analyzed for a suite of 48 elements with ME-MS61 plus mercury. Copper and gold standards as well as blanks and duplicates (field, preparation, and analysis) were randomly inserted into the sampling sequence for Quality Control. On average, 9% of the submitted samples are Quality Control samples. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.

Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated based on US$3.00/lb Cu, US$1,500/oz Au and US$18/oz Ag, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292 * Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t).

True widths are rounded to the nearest metre for widths over 10 m and to the nearest 0.1 m for widths less than 10 m, as this better reflects the precision of the estimates. True widths should be regarded as approximate as these are derived from an estimation that uses a preliminary interpretation of the geological model and are subject to change as more information becomes available.

Assay composites are calculated based on a 2% CuEq cutoff with a maximum of 10 consecutive metres of waste material included.  Intervals are then reviewed and manually adjusted to reflect coherent geological intervals where necessary.

Core scanning and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our core logging and geological interpretation processes is being implemented to improve workflows for more routine tasks and to give geologists more time for targeting and interpretation. 

About NGEx Minerals

NGEx Minerals is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada, focused on exploration of the Lunahuasi copper-gold-silver project in San Juan Province, Argentina, and the nearby Los Helados copper-gold project located approximately nine kilometres to the northeast in Chile's Region III. Both projects are located within the Vicuña District, which includes the Caserones mine, and the Josemaria and Filo del Sol deposits.

NGEx owns 100% of Lunahuasi and is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados project, subject to a Joint Exploration Agreement with Nippon Caserones Resources LLC, which is the indirect 30% owner of the operating Caserones open pit copper mine located approximately 17 kilometres north of Los Helados. Lundin Mining Corporation holds the remaining 70% stake in Caserones.

The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol "NGEX" and also trade on the OTCQX under the symbol "NGXXF". NGEx is part of the Lundin Group of Companies. 

Additional information relating to NGEx may be obtained or viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Additional Information

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to, statements regarding: the nature and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance the Lunahuasi project, including actual metres that will be completed during the Company's 2024/25 Phase 3 program and the Company's ability to continue holes in-progress in a future drill program; the Company's ability to add two additional rigs to the 2024/25 Phase 3 program, including the ultimate timing and impact thereof; the potential for further discovery and/or extension of mineralized zones at the Lunahuasi project; the timing of, and conclusions resulting from, an update to the geological interpretation at Lunahuasi, including the Company's ability to establish an Exploration Target, or the timing and/or results thereof; and the Company's ability to use information gathered from drilling to date to effectively target and drill in future campaigns, including whether the timing and ultimate outcome of the Company's efforts to locate the centre of the Lunahuasi system are successful. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "budgets", "assumes", "strategy", "objectives", "potential", "possible", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management with respect to the nature, scope and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance the Lunahuasi Project. Although the Company believes that these factors and expectations are reasonable as at the date of this document, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation: the emergence or intensification of infectious diseases, such as COVID 19, and the risk that such an occurrence globally, or in the Company's operating jurisdictions and/or at its project sites in particular, could impact the Company's ability to carry out the program and could cause the program to be shut down; estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain environmental permits, surface rights and property interests in a timely manner; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; changes in the Company's share price; changes to government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation or remediation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage, fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities; material adverse changes in general business, government and economic conditions in the Company's operating jurisdictions, particularly Argentina; the availability of financing if and when needed on reasonable terms; risks related to material labour disputes, accidents, or failure of plant or equipment; there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended, including those set out in the Company's annual information form and annual management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are available on the Company's website and SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. 

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as at the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers

Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE NGEx Minerals Ltd.

For further information, please contact: Finlay Heppenstall, VP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Tel: [phone], [email protected]