TSXV: ATX
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History

Phase I Drill Campaign

In early 2021, ATEX completed a 1,708 metre Reverse Circulation “RC” program (Phase I) with the goal of exploring the potential of the epithermal gold oxide deposit.

Phase II Drill Campaign

In 2022, ATEX completed its initial drill program designed to follow up on and expand the copper-gold porphyry-style mineralization at depth at Valeriano. This mineralization was initially encountered by the previous operator in 2013. The Phase II program was designed to further define and extend high-grade copper-gold mineralization intersected in hole VALDD13-0141, which returned 1,194 metres of 0.73% CuEq (0.52% Cu, 0.24 g/t Au and 36ppm Mo), including 1.00% CuEq (0.72% Cu, 0.28 g/t Au and 21 ppm Mo) over 272 metres. ATEX drill holes following up on this hole, ATXD172 and ATXD192, were drilled as 200 metre step outs to the southwest and northeast, respectively to test the high-grade extension.

ATXD17, the most impressive from the Phase II program at Valeriano, was reported on June 13, 2022. This hole was drilled 200 metres southwest of VALDD13-014 and demonstrated the continuity of the high-grade target zone, intersecting 1,160 metres of 0.78% CuEq (0.53% Cu, 0.28 g/t Au, 70ppm Mo), including 1.03% CuEq (0.69% Cu, 0.39g/t Au, 70ppm Mo) over 550 metres. Hole ATXD19, collared 200 metres northeast of VALDD13-014 and lost at a depth of 1,309 metres due to operational issues, did not reach the high-grade target zone. Despite not reaching its target depth, ATXD19 intersected 647 metres of 0.65% CuEq (0.5% Cu, 0.15 g/t Au, 60ppm Mo), establishing continuity of copper gold mineralization a further 200 metres to the northeast.

Phase III Drill Campaign

The Phase III, 2022-2023 exploration program commenced in October 2022 with the goal of extending the high-grade trend intersected in holes ATXD17 and VALDD13-014. The program successfully concluded in late May 2023. The realized objectives of the program were:

This program was ATEX’s first drill campaign at Valeriano utilizing directional drilling, which allowed for the testing of multiple targets off a single hole. Using this approach maximized the efficiency of the programme and will continue to be utilized in future phases of exploration to reduce costs and deliver results to market more quickly.

Phase III drilling commenced in October 2022 and included eight diamond drill holes (four from surface and four daughter holes) totaling 12,512.9 metres. The Phase III campaign was developed with the intention of expanding the mineralized corridor through step out drilling along strike, primarily to the northeast as well as testing new targets along this corridor and seeking to define the continuity and geometry of the high-grade trend intersected in Phase II.

As part of this program, historical drill hole VALDD12-011 was re-entered from surface and two directional daughter holes, ATXD11A3 and ATXD11B5, were drilled from starting depths of 855.0 metres and 697.0 metres respectively. Additional directional daughter holes were completed from ATXD226, with ATXD22A6 starting at 921.35 metres and ATXD22B7 starting at 444.3 metres.

Holes from drilled from surface in Phase III included, ATXD214, ATXD22 (mother), ATXD236 and ATXD247

Phase IV Drill Campaign

Approximately 12,000m of diamond drilling was completed in the Phase IV drill program, started in October 2023, and concluded in May 2024. The goals of the Phase IV program were to to further define and extend the high-grade porphyry trends intersected in Phase II and III and explore beyond the defined dimensions of the mineralized corridor.

ATEX continued to use directional diamond drilling in the Phase IV program, which allowed the company to realize an effective total of 20,100m drilled in the event all holes had been drilled from surface.

Four daughter holes - ATXD12A, ATXD16A, ATXD17A, ATXD17B - and two mother holes - ATXD25 and ATXD26 - were completed in the Phase IV program, with an additional two daughter holes and one mother hole partially completed - ATXD25A, ATXD26A and ATXD27 - were paused at the end of Phase IV8.

Summaries of highlighted results for Phases I-IV are presented on the map in Figure 1 with ATEX results in Tables 1, 2 and 4.

Figure 1. ATEX and Historical Drilling at Valeriano

Figure 1. ATEX and Historical Drilling at Valeriano

Table 1. Summary of Significant Copper-Gold Porphyry Assay Results

Operator Phase Hole ID From To  Interval Cu Au Ag Mo CuEq(1) Length 
(m) (m) (m) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm) (%) (m)
Hochschild VALDD12-009 898.0 1,750.0 852.0 0.47 0.16 0.75 89 0.64 1,878.00
VALDD12-012 1,012.0 1,056.0 44.0 0.30 0.16 0.47 110 0.48 1,058.00
VALDD13-014 614.0 1,808.0 1,194.0 0.52 0.24 1.01 36 0.73 1,845.00
incl. 1,420.0 1,692.0 272.0 0.72 0.28 1.52 21 1.00
VALDD13-016 576.0 1,621.0 1,045.0 0.39 0.17 0.73 54 0.54 1,621.00
ATEX Phase II ATXD17 802.0 1,962.0 1,160.0 0.53 0.28 1.10 70 0.78 2,057.00
incl. 1,280.0 1,830.0 550.0 0.69 0.39 1.30 70 1.03
ATXD19 662.0 1,309.0 647.0 0.50 0.15 0.84 60 0.65 1,309.00
Phase III  ATXD11A 860.0 2,130.1 1,270.1 0.43 0.21 0.13 52 0.63 2,130.00
incl. 1,048.0 1,213.4 165.4 0.51 0.20 0.85 105 0.73
and  1,376.0 1,492.4 116.4 0.56 0.30 1.48 95 0.82
Incl. 1,376.0 1,393.3 17.3 0.73 0.30 1.15 39 1.01
and incl. 1,450.0 1,470.0 20.0 0.64 0.30 2.00 308 1.06
and  1,698.0 2,130.1 432.1 0.48 0.30 1.95 12 0.71
incl. 1,698.0 1,868.0 170.0 0.54 0.30 2.41 11 0.81
also incl. 1,730.0 1,752.0 22.0 0.66 0.40 3.25 11 0.95
and 1,816.7 1,836.0 19.3 0.56 0.50 2.63 10 0.94
and 1,854.0 1,868.0 14.0 0.60 0.50 2.79 11 1.00
and 2,100.0 2,130.1 30.1 0.53 0.20 1.67 19 0.73
 ATXD11B 848.0 2,190.5 1,342.5 0.46 0.31 1.71 43 0.73 2,190.50
incl. 1,078.0 2,088.0 1,010.0 0.50 0.35 1.88 29 0.80
incl. 1,438.0 2,088.0 650.0 0.46 0.44 2.39 13 0.83
incl. 1,864.0 2,086.0 222.0 0.46 0.58 2.94 13 0.94
incl. 1,964.0 2,086.0 122.0 0.47 0.65 3.40 14 1.01
ATXD21 846.0 1,274.0 428.0 0.31 0.20 0.67 56 0.48 1,838.00
incl. 850.0 902.0 52.0 0.34 0.20 0.56 73 0.53
incl. 1,020.0 1,044.0 24.0 0.32 0.20 0.95 38 0.52
incl. 1,084.0 1,252.0 168.0 0.41 0.20 0.76 60 0.59
and 1,492.0 1,532.0 40.0 0.27 0.10 0.46 68 0.41
ATXD22 630.0 1,600.0 970.0 0.38 0.10 0.71 99 0.51 1,712.00
incl. 630.0 922.0 292.0 0.31 0.01 0.40 108 0.44
incl. 1,016.0 1,128.0 112.0 0.57 0.14 0.98 212 0.77
and 1,426.0 1,568.0 142.0 0.40 0.11 1.13 55 0.51
ATXD23 782.0 1,746.0 964.0 0.48 0.24 1.14 78 0.70 2,050.50
incl. 1,130.0 1,732.0 602.0 0.50 0.37 1.43 11 0.80
incl. 1,612.0 1,732.0 120.0 0.45 0.54 2.18 3 0.90
and 1,858.0 2,050.1 192.1 0.24 0.40 1.71 4 0.56
ATXD22A 921.4 1,468.0 546.7 0.32 0.08 0.37 173 0.45 1,871.00
 ATXD24* 1,173.0 1,842.4 669.4 0.60 0.24 0.93 101 0.84 1,842.40
incl. 1,173.0 1,530.0 357.0 0.50 0.18 0.77 121 0.70
incl. 1,530.0 1,842.4 312.4 0.70 0.30 1.11 77 1.00
Phase IV ATXD12A 864 1986 1122 0.37 0.14 0.97 57 0.5 2,001.20
incl. 1500 1986 486 0.36 0.17 1.4 21 0.52
also incl. 1648 1682 34 0.48 0.22 2.6 44 0.69
and 1890 1924 34 0.48 0.25 2.02 5 0.7
ATXD16A 950 1802 852 0.6 0.28 0.98 72 0.88 2,067.95
incl. 1168 1762 594 0.67 0.32 1.13 71 0.99
incl.  1616 1728 112 1.01 0.57 2.06 46 1.52
ATXD17A 1052 1976 924 0.45 0.17 0.88 99 0.65 2,027.00
incl. 1062 1555 493 0.5 0.21 0.82 113 0.74
incl. 1216 1314 98 0.56 0.28 0.9 103 0.85
ATXD25 1346 2208.2 862.2 0.42 0.27 1.72 26 0.68 2,208.20
incl. 1550 2208.2 658.2 0.42 0.33 2.09 7 0.72
and incl. 1858 2208.2 350.2 0.45 0.42 2.6 3 0.82
and incl. 2084 2198 114 0.54 0.48 2.95 6 0.97
ATXD17B 750 1254 504 0.42 0.17 0.96 51 0.6 1,671.70
ATXD26 586 1564 978 0.54 0.21 1.26 145 0.81 1,565.40
incl. 1010 1366 356 0.7 0.29 1.49 180 1.05
and incl. 1086 1208 122 1.11 0.49 2.71 348 1.73
and incl. 1100 1168 68 1.39 0.6 3.81 473 2.19
ATXD25A* 1230 1454.2 224.2 0.37 0.07 0.57 112 0.5 1,454.20
ATXD26A* 791.85 823.3 31.45 0.45 0.13 1.31 175 0.66 925.50
ATXD27* 0 944.3 944.3 NSR NSR NSR NSR NSR 944.30

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(1) CuEq values reflect those used in original press release results
*Holes ATXD25A, ATXD26A and ATXD27 were paused at end of Phase IV and will be re-entered during the Phase V program

Table 2. Summary Results for ATEX Phase I Near Surface Oxide Gold Drilling

Hole ID From To Interval Au Ag Hole Length
(m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (m)
ATXR01 12 18 6 0.6 2.45 200
 and 134 138 4 0.58 1.54
ATXR02 8 58 50 0.32 1.51 140
incl. 10 14 4 0.53 2.78
and 50 58 8 0.47 1.29
ATXR03 0 8 8 0.46 2.19 120
 and 26 76 50 0.68 2.18
incl. 26 32 6 1.07 3.24
and 50 74 24 0.81 2.42
ATXR04 6 14 8 0.26 0.69 170
 and 20 40 20 0.36 1.04
incl. 20 28 8 0.48 1.25
 and 58 64 6 0.27 1.1
 and 118 122 4 1.27 0.48
ATXR05 4 20 16 0.32 1.38 200
 and 72 78 6 0.29 1.25
 and 82 100 18 0.46 1.33
incl. 82 94 12 0.55 1.58
ATXR06 14 20 6 0.3 1.1 150
 and 40 54 14 0.32 0.97
incl. 44 52 8 0.43 1.23
 and 70 116 46 0.54 1.39
incl. 100 108 8 1.48 4
ATXR07 6 14 8 0.58 2.4 114
ATXR08 58 76 18 0.42 3.02 174
incl. 66 72 6 0.66 4.94
and  88 92 4 0.81 6.89
 and 100 120 20 1.45 4.9
incl. 106 118 12 2.25 7.24
 and 132 172 40 1.25 4.06
incl. 132 140 8 2.98 14.17
and 162 166 4 4.24 2.6
ATXR09 16 20 4 0.7 5.51 96
and  26 38 12 0.3 1.34
 and 46 56 10 0.82 4.7
incl. 46 52 6 1.19 6.85
and  74 92 18 0.37 2.17
incl. 82 92 10 0.43 2.85
ATXR10 2 8 6 0.29 1.55 140
ATXR11 12 18 6 0.4 0.72 130
ATXR12 10 46 36 0.49 0.41 72
incl. 10 16 6 0.99 1.13
and 28 38 10 0.67 0.24
 and 58 72 14 0.39 0.13

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Exploration pre-ATEX

Exploration at Valeriano commenced in the 1980’s. Initial regional exploration, consisting of outcrop and float sampling, returned anomalous results followed by the acquisition of the concessions by the vendor. Further sampling and trenching was carried out through the 1980’s and into the 1990’s, targeting the near surface alteration features. Through the 1990’s, various drill campaigns were completed by three operators, Phelps Dodge (1989-1991), Barrick (1995-1997) and Hochschild (2011-2013). The initial focus of exploration was on the near-surface oxide gold potential, transitioning to a focus on the porphyry potential by 2013. To date, 32,365 metres in in 78 holes (20,982 metres of diamond drill core and 11,383 metres of RC drilling) have been completed on the property. Work by historical operators is summarized below in Table 3.

Table 3. Historical Exploration Activities

Company Period Surface samples Trenching (m) Geophysics IP (Km) Geophysics Mag (Km) Mapping Special Studies*
J. Ambrus 1986 107        
Rayrock 1988 403 720    
Phelps Dodge 1989-1991 27 961      
Newmont 1993-1994   450   32
Barrick 1995-1997 693 664 15 52
Hochschild 2010-2014     36  
  Totals 1230 2,795 51 84    

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*Special studies include Petrography, Fluid inclusions, SWIR and age-dating

During the 1990’s, Phelps Dodge and later Barrick explored the Valeriano property for near-surface gold mineralization, drilling 47 holes to an average and maximum depth of 267 metres and 550 metres, respectively. The drill programs outlined a zone of near-surface, high sulphidation, epithermal gold mineralization over an area of approximately 400 metres by 400 metres to depths of approximately 100 metres below surface5. Drill intercepts included 89 metres of 1.50 g/t Au (drill hole RDH-V271) and 0.62 g/t Au over 170 metres (RDH-V311). 

In 2010, Hochschild optioned the Valeriano property and completed 16 diamond drill holes in three campaigns for a total of 14,270 metres. During the second drill campaign, Hochschild recognized porphyry-style alteration at depth and in the third season they drilled three holes, collared approximately 225 metres to 375 metres apart, to depths of up to 1,878 metres, intersecting well-defined mineralized advanced argillic and phyllic alteration zones before entering a chalcopyrite and bornite-bearing, potassic-altered granodioritic porphyry system.  

A summary of drilling completed till the end of the Phase IV program (concluded in May 2024) are shown below in Table 4.

Table 4. Summary of Drilling at Valeriano 1989-2024

Company Target Period RC DDH Total Drilled*
No. metres No. metres metres
Phelps Dodge Au-OX/Cu 1989-1991 18 3,500 9 2,903 6,403
Barrick Au-OX 1995-1997 20 6,175   6,175
Hochschild Cu-Au Porphyry 2011-2013   16 14,270 14,270
ATEX Au-OX 2021 (Phase I) 12 1,706   29,081
Cu-Au Porphyry 2022 (Phase II)   3 3,810
Cu-Au Porphyry 2022-2023 (Phase III) 8 12,513
Cu-Au Porphyry 2023-2024 (Phase IV) 9 11,944**
    Totals 50 11,381 45 45,440 56,821

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*Does not include mother portion of re-entered drill holes
**Includes abandoned/re-drilled holes

1 For further information, please see ATEX’s NI 43-101 compliant technical report titled “Independent Technical Report for the Valeriano Copper-Gold Project, Atacama Region, Chile” with an effective date of September 1, 2023, prepared for ATEX by SRK Consulting (Chile) SpA. A copy of the foregoing technical report is available on ATEX’s website and also under ATEX’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. As set out in the foregoing technical report, Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is calculated assuming US$ 3.15/lb copper (Cu), US$ 1,800/oz gold (Au), US$ 23/oz Silver (Ag), and US$ 20/lb Molybdenum (Mo) and metallurgical recoveries of 90% for Cu, 70% for Au, 80% for Ag, and 60% for Mo using the formula CuEq % = Cu % + (6481.488523 * Au g/t) + (94.6503085864 * Ag g/t) + (4.2328042328 * Mo g/t). 

2 For ATXD17 and ATXD19 results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from June 13, 2022.

3 For ATXD11A results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from February 7, 2023

4  For ATXD21, results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from February 27, 2023

5  For ATXD11B, results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from March 30, 2023

For ATXD22, ATXD22A and ATXD23 results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from June 5, 2023.

7  For ATXD22B and ATXD24 results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from July 13, 2023.

8 For ATXD16A, ATXD17A, ATXD12A, ATXD25, AXTD17B, ATXD26, ATXD25A, ATXD26A and ATXD27 results, procedures and QA/QC information, see press release from June 25, 2024.

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