Category: Precious Metals

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 26, 2026) – Riverside Resources Inc. (TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY0) (“Riverside” or the “Company“), is pleased to announce early 2026 assay and porphyry Cu exploration results at the 100%-owned Ariel Copper Project (the “Ariel Project” or “Ariel”) in Sonora, Mexico. Ariel is a drill-permitted, district-scale porphyry copper-gold set of targets located approximately 18 km east-southeast of the La Caridad copper mining complex in the highly productive Laramide-age Arizona-Sonora copper mining belt.

2026 Exploration Highlights

• High-grade base metals with 5.4% Pb, 320 g/t Ag in veins both as targets and high-level, lateral indicators for the Ariel Porphyry Cu target
• Sampling of veins in the north as shown on maps and cross section below link for the upgrade porphyry Cu target linking Maria Luisa and Ariel targets
• Age dating at Ariel provides similar age to La Caridad and Cananea Mine host rocks further linking the geologic comparisons for the project to major copper districts
• Applying spectral mineral analysis (near-infrared/short-wave infrared methods) to map alteration minerals commonly associated with porphyry and high-sulphidation systems, including advanced argillic assemblages and breccia-related alteration styles documented at Ariel.
• Integrating mapping, alteration interpretation, and regional geophysical datasets to prioritize drill collars within permitted areas with full drive-up easy access.
• Riverside sees the project ready for partnering and moving ahead as it has multiple partnerships with diverse companies on the Riverside portfolio, Ariel is now ready for partnering and drilling toward making a major copper discovery.

Building on Riverside’s consolidation of the Ariel Project through acquisition of the adjacent Maria Luisa concessions, the Company has now conducted expanded early 2026 field work and has received high grade silver and lead samples from veins, porphyry style alterations, and turquoise mines that are all part of the advancing target definition work with detailed mapping, sampling, alteration mineral studies summarized in the graphics below. These high grades are significant because they are comparable to those seen in other major Arizona-Sonora mining camps, where early mining of silver veins later evolved into major copper discoveries at more than a dozen large mines, including Cananea, La Caridad, Bisbee, Resolution, Morenci, and Ray, to name a few.

“Riverside early 2026 field program at the Ariel and Maria Luisa mineral concessions now consolidated into a single, fully permitted drill-ready project area found high grade precious and base metals typical of the major copper mines in the region and now the targets at Ariel continue to improve as the Company derisks the project with systematic fieldwork to sharpen targeting and prepare it for partnering and immediate drilling,” said John-Mark Staude, CEO of Riverside Resources. “The combination of geologic mapping, geochemistry, alteration mineral studies, and integrated geophysics is providing stronger vectors into the most prospective zones. Ariel remains a compelling, undrilled copper district target in a premier belt, with excellent access, safety and infrastructure. The recent geochemistry continues to enhance the porphyry Cu target potential at Ariel.”

Exploration Work and Targeting Progress

Riverside has full mineral title for the Ariel property and has advanced copper exploration through database compilations, field mapping, sampling, remote sensing, mineral concession consolidation and regional geophysical data interpretation, leading to the definition of two principal porphyry target areas (Ariel and Maria Luisa). The project has seen limited to no historical drilling to Riverside’s knowledge, and the Company considers Ariel a high-quality, drill-stage copper district target with extensive exposed targets and additional areas masked by shallow post-mineral cover. The Project is available for partnership per the Company’s business model of project generation; however, the Company could choose to drill the project given the quality exploration district.

Project Highlights

• District-scale, consolidated footprint: Ariel totals 1,640 hectares (16 km²) across five fully titled concessions in good standing, including the Maria Luisa area, providing multiple priority target zones for drill testing.
• Two priority target styles defined: Ongoing work continues to refine (1) a porphyry copper target with near surface copper sulphides and oxides, and (2) an epithermal arget interpreted as the upper portion of a porphyry system, consistent with alteration, veining and breccia styles with walk up safe, easy access on private ranch land.
• Modern scientific exploration tools improving vectoring: Riverside is applying portable geochemical and mineralogical tools (including portable XRF and short-wave/infrared spectral mineral scanning) to distinguish vein and alteration assemblages and prioritize drill-ready areas.
• Strategically located in the Sonora, Mexico Laramide copper belt and less than 20km from the La Caridad Cu-Mo porphyry mining complex, with additional regional porphyry prospects in the district.
• Ariel is underlain by Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Tarahumara Formation intruded by Paleocene (ca. 57 Ma) porphyritic intrusions comparable in age to regional porphyry mineralization events similar to many of the mines in the Arizona- Sonora Belt which includes over 10 significant copper operations.

2026 Sampling North Area – “Maria Luisa” Epithermal Target

New exploration geochemistry results from the early 2026 program for the Maria Luisa part of the Ariel Project have high grade Ag and Pb typical of lateral expressions of porphyry copper like those in Arizona at Resolution, Globe-Miami and Bingham in Utah. Here, silver values reach up to >10 oz/t Ag and Pb values reach up to 5.4%, along with gold anomalies of up to 0.4 g/t Au, as shown in the Table, Summary Map, and Cross Section figures in this news release. The sampling showed multiple sets of parallel veining consistent with what is common in major copper districts. Chip samples ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 m were taken by cutting the veins perpendicularly. Some select sample results include:

Table 1. Highlights of rock sampling in the northern zone of the Ariel project at Maria Luisa target with high silver and lead typical of the Arizona Sonora major copper operating districts by Riverside.

Figure 1. Drone photo looking NNE up the cross-section line from Ariel porphyry in the south toward the yellow loop and the Maria Luisa epithermal shown in blue loop in the north with epithermal Ag-Pb veins and overall distal parts of the drill ready porphyry target.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/285478_b6adfa66842e181f_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Map of the rock chip assays and sampling locations of recent results and other Riverside assay exploration data with expanded area showing some detail of the Maria Luisa high grade veins. Rock chip geochemical samples collected in 2026 (red) and similar results from previous sampling (yellow) part of epithermal target in the north and porphyry copper target of Ariel in the south.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/285478_b6adfa66842e181f_003full.jpg

Figure 3. Schematic section showing copper porphyry in red and epithermal in yellow cross hatch color to the north and over top with assays of >5% Pb and >130 gpt Ag typical for the high sulfidation veins potentially emanating from a related porphyry copper

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/285478_b6adfa66842e181f_004full.jpg

QA – QC, Sampling Management

Rock chip sampling at Ariel was taken generally of 1.5m chip channel and select pieces of rock materials from outcrops. Samples were then shipped for analysis by ACT Labs in Zacatecas, Mexico. Samples were analyzed for by gold fire assay, with pulps analyzed with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mas Spectrometry (“ICP-MS”) following four-acid digestion to determine silver, base metals, and pathfinders. Samples were maintained in chain of custody being delivered to the laboratory in sealed bags. Standards and blanks were inserted every 20 samples and the laboratory also did duplicates every 20 samples as additional check on the quality control. The QA/QC was analyzed with a check for any variations in the standards beyond 2 standard deviations and the standards passed. Historic samples were analyzed using the same procedures with samples delivered to Bureau Veritas (Hermosillo, Sonora) for gold fire assay, with pulps forwarded to Vancouver, Canada for Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mas Spectrometry (“ICP-MS”) following four-acid digestion to determine silver, base metals, and pathfinders.

Qualified Person

The technical content of the news release has been reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo. (British Columbia), a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 who is non-independent and the Vice President Exploration for the Company.

About Riverside Resources Inc.:

Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has a strong balance sheet with over C$5,000,000 cash, no debt and tight share structure with a strong portfolio of gold-silver, copper, and REE assets and royalties in North America. Further information about Riverside is available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.

ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.

“John-Mark Staude”

Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO

For additional information contact:

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., “expect”,” estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285478

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 23, 2026) – West Point Gold Corp. (TSXV: WPG) (OTCQB: WPGCF) (FSE: LRA0) (“West Point Gold” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a 2026 Top 50 Company by the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”).

The TSX Venture 50™ is an annual ranking of the top performing companies from the past year on TSXV based on three equally weighted criteria: market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading value. The TSX Venture 50™ showcases the top 50 of the over 1,600 TSXV issuers.

“We are honoured to be recognized as a member of the 2026 TSX Venture 50™. This recognition reflects the hard work of the team and West Point Gold, which resulted in strong share price performance in 2025. Following the completion of our recent financing, we are well-funded to continue creating value for shareholders in 2026. We thank our shareholders for their ongoing support, and hope to connect with many of them at upcoming events.”

Over the past year, the Company has advanced exploration and technical programs at its flagship Gold Chain project in Arizona, and acquired the Baxter Spring property, expanding its Nevada portfolio. West Point Gold remains focused on operational discipline and building lasting shareholder value.

Upcoming Events
West Point Gold is pleased to be attending the Red Cloud Pre-PDAC event on February 26^th – 27^th, exhibiting at the Metal Investors Forum (“MIF”) — Toronto, on February 27^th – 28^th, and will be exhibiting at the Prospector’s and Developers International Convention (“PDAC”) being held March 1^st – 4^th, 2026 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (“MTCC”) in Toronto, Canada.

February 26 – 27 – Red Cloud Pre-PDAC
West Point will attend the conference at The OMNI King Edward Hotel, and CEO and President Derek Macpherson is scheduled to present from 4:00-4:20 PM in Vanity Fair on Thursday, February 26^th. For more information about the event and registration, please visit the Red Cloud website.

February 27 – 28 MIF Toronto
West Point will be exhibiting at the conference held at the Delta Hotel, where CEO and President Derek Macpherson is scheduled to present at 3:10 PM on Saturday, February 28^th. For more information about the event and registration, please visit the MIF website.

March 1 – 4 PDAC Booth Location
West Point Gold will be exhibiting at booth 3005 in the Investors Exchange located in the MTCC South Building, Level 800. For more information about PDAC and registration, please visit the PDAC website.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5717/284850_79ba8cbf14a3eba9_002full.jpg

About West Point Gold Corp.
West Point Gold is an exploration and development company focused on unlocking value across four strategically located projects along the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada and Arizona, USA, providing shareholders with exposure to multiple discovery opportunities across one of North America’s most productive gold regions. The Company’s near-term priority is advancing its flagship Gold Chain Project in Arizona.

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Aaron Paterson, Corporate Communications Manager
Phone: +1 (778) 358-6173
Email: info@westpointgold.com

Stay Connected with Us:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-point-gold
X (Twitter): westpointgoldUS
Facebook: facebook.com/Westpointgold/
Website: westpointgold.com/

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance and the proposed Offering. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company’s private placement, future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. The use of any of the words “could”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “projected”, “estimated” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company’s current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, silver, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining government approvals and financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, availability of drill rigs, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s ability to complete any payments or expenditures required under the Company’s various option agreements for its projects; and other risks and uncertainties relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, the uncertainties related to resources estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to production, costs and expenses; risks relating to grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; uncertainty related to the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results may vary from those expected; statements about expected results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position may not be consistent with the Company’s expectations due to accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions. The possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with adjacent properties and the Company’s expectations; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); metal price fluctuations; environmental and regulatory requirements; availability of permits, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; fluctuating gold prices; possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, political risks, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the filings on SEDAR+ made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this corporate press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities legislation.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284850

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – February 19, 2026) – West Point Gold Corp. (TSXV: WPG) (OTCQB: WPGCF) (FSE: LRA0) (“West Point Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced “commercially reasonable efforts” private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$25 million (the “Offering”) for 22,727,300 common shares (the “Shares”) at an issue price of C$1.10 per Share (the “Issue Price”) with SCP Resource Finance LP, as lead agent, together with ATB Cormark Capital Markets, Red Cloud Securities Inc., Paradigm Capital Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Inc. (collectively, the “Agents”).

As consideration for their services, the Agents received an aggregate cash commission of C$837,470, which is equal to 5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, other than Shares sold to purchasers on the Company President’s List, which were subject to a reduced cash commission of 2%. Each of SCP Resource Finance LP and Red Cloud Securities Inc. elected to receive 50% of their cash commission in Shares, representing 264,162 Shares at the Issue Price (“Agent Option Shares“). The Agents were also paid an advisory fee of C$34,741. As additional consideration for their services, the Agents were also issued 1,045,456 broker warrants (“Broker Warrants“) equal to 5% of Shares sold, except that no broker warrants were issued for Shares sold to purchasers on the President’s List. Each Broker Warrant issued is exercisable to purchase one Share at the Issue Price until February 19, 2028 (“Broker Warrant Shares“).

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration and advancement of the Company’s Gold Chain Project in Arizona, USA, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

All Shares, including the Agent Option Shares, and Broker Warrants and Broker Warrant Shares issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, expiring June 20, 2026. The Offering remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Directors of the Company including Andrew Bowering, Anthony Paterson and Conrad Nest participated in the Offering and acquired 659,600 Shares for C$725,560. The participation of these insiders in the Offering constitutes a Related Party Transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“). The board of directors of the Company, with Messrs. Bowering, Paterson and Nest abstaining, determined that the transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements based on the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for the related party transaction, as neither the fair market value of securities issued to the insiders nor the consideration paid by the insiders exceeded 25 percent of the Company’s market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the transaction 21 days in advance of the closing of the Offering because insider participation had not previously been confirmed and the shorter period was necessary in order to permit the Company to close the Offering in a timeframe consistent with usual market practice for transactions of this nature.

About West Point Gold Corp.
West Point Gold Corp. (formerly Gold79 Mines Ltd.) is a publicly listed company focused on gold discovery and development at four prolific Walker Lane Trend projects covering Nevada and Arizona, USA. West Point Gold is focused on developing a maiden resource at its Gold Chain project in Arizona, while JV partner Kinross is advancing the Jefferson Canyon project in Nevada.

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Aaron Paterson, Corporate Communications Manager
Phone: +1 (778) 358-6173
Email: info@westpointgold.com

Stay Connected with Us:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-point-gold
X (Twitter): @westpointgoldUS
Facebook: facebook.com/Westpointgold/
Website: westpointgold.com/

looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities legislation.

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

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Not an offer of securities for sale in the United States.

Source: West Point Gold Corp.

Tokenization Was Supposed to Stop Fraud. It Didn’t. Here’s Why.

For the last decade, tokenization has been the “big fix” everyone was promised.

One legacy card rail has issued more than 10 billion tokens. Another states, of its ~5 billion tokens issued, one in four of its transactions is now tokenized and growing. Analysts project that more than 80% of global ecommerce will be tokenized within a few years.

And tokenization delivered real gains. Breach liability shifted away from merchants. PANs stopped sitting in databases where they didn’t belong.

Defenders will point to lower fraud rates on tokenized transactions – and they’re right. But when absolute fraud dollars keep climbing year after year, “less bad” isn’t good enough.

But here’s the problem: fraud keeps climbing.

U.S. card fraud hit $14.3B last year, up from $13.6B the year before.
In the U.S., card-not-present fraud – where tokenization was supposed to help most – now represents 65–70% of all fraud losses. Roughly $10B a year.

During Cyber 5 alone, over 4% of ecommerce transactions were flagged as suspected fraud attempts. And for guest checkout – nearly half of all e-commerce – tokenization doesn’t even apply. The PAN still travels in the clear.

So if token adoption is exploding…why isn’t fraud collapsing?

Because tokens didn’t remove the problem.

They relocated it. A token is still a credential – a value that exists, travels, and can be intercepted or replayed. It still maps back to a PAN – and every system that touches that mapping becomes an attack surface.

Tokens don’t expire in any meaningful way. They sit in merchant systems for months, years – persistent targets waiting to be found.

When attackers find the seams – replay vulnerabilities, wallet provisioning exploits, fallback-to-PAN routing – the fraud vector reopens. Tokenization reduces certain categories of fraud.

But it doesn’t address the root cause:
We still move reusable credentials through the system.

Attackers don’t care whether the credential is a PAN, a token, or a session key. If it works tomorrow, it’s worth stealing today.

That’s why even as tokenization expands, the U.S. remains the global outlier – 25% of global card volume, but 42% of global fraud.

You still pay the price: time lost, accounts frozen, funds drained through a system that was never designed for today’s attack surface.

Tokenization wasn’t a breakthrough. It was a bandaid for decades of payment infrastructure debt – a failure of imagination dressed up as innovation.
It solved the edges. It never solved the architecture.

And it was built for a world before quantum computing and effective artificial intelligence. That world is ending faster than legacy networks or merchants can keep up.

The real question was never “How do we protect credentials?”

It was: Why do credentials need to exist at all?

Next week: No PAN. No token. No problem.

Source: https://mica.io/perspectives

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce high-grade silver drill results from its at-depth drill exploration program at the Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Highlights (all intersections are in core lengths)

• Intersections in the Open-Pit Area:
  • Hole ZG-RC-25-853 intercepted 781 grams per tonne (“g/t”) silver (“Ag”) over 9.0 metres (“m”), including 1,295 g/t Ag over 5.0m
  • Hole ZG-RC-25-855 intercepted 1,454 g/t Ag over 3.0m
• Intersections at Depth Near the Western Fault contact:
  • Hole ZG-SF-25-340 intercepted 336 g/t Ag over 5.5m
  • Hole ZG-SF-25-350 intercepted 2,198 g/t Ag over 1.0m
• Intersections in the Central Area:
  • Hole ZG-SF-25-347 intercepted 3,581 g/t Ag over 4.5m, including 5,893 g/t Ag over 2.5m
  • Hole ZG-SF-25-347 intercepted 1,729 g/t Ag over 4.1m, including 4,480 g/t Ag over 1.5m
  • Hole T28-26-1072 intercepted 6,223 g/t Ag over 3.6m
  • Hole T28-26-1104 intercepted 4,489 g/t Ag over 6.0m
• 3,117m or 10.3% of the 2026 exploration program has been drilled year to date.
  

“Today’s high-grade results once again confirm the strong continuity of silver mineralization both at depth and around the open-pit area,” said Benoit La Salle, President & CEO. “Moreover, the new intersection at depth near the Western Fault contact in hole ZG-SF-25-340 extends mineralization further west, continuing to push the boundary of our current resource model.”

This release contains results from 256 holes, which include 13 surface diamond drill holes (“DDH”), 69 underground DDH, 41 reverse circulation drill hole (“RC”), 101 T28 and 32 YAK holes (T28 and YAK: percussion drilling using an air-compressed hammer). For a full summary of today’s results, refer to Appendix 1.

Table 1 – Best Intercepts at Zgounder in 2025 (core lengths)

* True widths are undetermined; all values are uncut.

Figure 1: Location of Drill Results at Zgounder

Quality Assurance

For core drilling, all individual samples represent approximately one meter in length of core, which is halved. Half of the core is kept on site for reference, and its counterpart is sent for preparation and assaying to African Laboratory for Mining and Environment (“Afrilab”) in Marrakech, Morocco or to ALS Laboratory at the Zgounder Mine site. All samples are analyzed for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc using Aqua regia and finished by atomic absorption spectroscopy (“AAS”). Samples grading above 200 g/t Ag are reanalyzed by fire assay.

For definition drilling using RC, all individual samples represent 1.0m in length and for T28 drilling equipment, all individual samples represent 1.2m in length. Samples are assayed at either the ALS Mine laboratory or at Afrilab. All samples are analyzed for silver, copper, iron, lead, and zinc using Aqua regia and finished by AAS. Samples grading above 200 g/t Ag are reanalyzed by fire assay. Rigorous quality controls (QaQc) are applied at both locations.

David Lalonde, B.Sc. P. Geo, Vice-President Exploration, is Aya Gold & Silver’s Qualified Person and has reviewed this press release for accuracy and compliance with National Instrument 43-101.

About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.

Aya Gold & Silver is a Canadian precious metals mining company anchored in Morocco and active across the full mining value chain. The Corporation has established an exploration track record through a systematic, technology-led, data-driven approach and is focused on expanding its resource base and land package along the Anti-Atlas Fault — one of Africa’s most geologically rich, underexplored and mining-friendly regions.

Aya operates Zgounder, a rare, silver-only mine, producing silver doré from its newly expanded processing facility. Aya’s growth pipeline includes the Boumadine polymetallic project, where feasibility study work is underway. The project hosts a substantial mineral resource, an extensive mineralized footprint, and significant potential for further discovery.

Led by a proven team of mining professionals, Aya is guided by a vision of responsible mining and is committed to delivering sustainable value for shareholders, employees and host communities.

For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.

Or contact

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”), which reflects management’s expectations regarding Aya’s future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “potential”, “strategy”, “target”, and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”, or are “likely” to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to the potential to confirm continuity of mineralization and extent mineralization to the west and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

Forward-looking information is based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such information or statements. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate. Key assumptions upon which the Corporation’s forward-looking information is based include without limitation, the Corporation’s ability to timely receive any requisite approvals, permits or licences; the Corporation’s ability to import goods and machinery; the Corporation’s ability to engage and retain all necessary personnel in order to operate its business properly and without interruption; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments, including the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); the Corporation’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; assumptions regarding development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such explorations activities; the price of silver; the price of gold; exchange rates; taxation levels; fuel and energy costs; future economic conditions; the Corporation’s ability to meet current and future obligations; the Corporation’s ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; anticipated future estimates of free cash flow; estimate future production; the current and future social, economic and political conditions and environment in which the Corporation operates; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties facing the Corporation’s business, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Some of the risks the Corporation faces and the uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Corporation whether due to artisanal miners, access to water, extreme weather events and other or related natural disasters, labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (2) permitting, development, operations and production from the Project being consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; (3) political and legal developments in the Kingdom of Morocco being consistent with its current expectations; (4) the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Moroccan Dirham being approximately consistent with current levels; (5) certain price assumptions for gold and silver; (6) prices for diesel, process reagents, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (7) production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; (8) the accuracy of the current mineral resource estimates of the Corporation; (9) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Corporation’s current expectations; and (10) asset impairment (or reversal) potential, being consistent with the Corporation’s current expectations.

In addition, readers are directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in the Corporation’s Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on SEDAR+, which discussions are incorporated by reference in this presentation, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Corporation’s business and operations.

Although the Corporation believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. As such, these risks are not exhaustive; however, they should be considered carefully. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements found herein. Due to the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Corporation’s business plans, financial performance and condition and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. The Corporation qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

Appendix 1 – Mineral Intercepts from Drilling at Zgounder (core lengths)

* True widths are undetermined; all values are uncut.

Appendix 2 – Drillhole Coordinates of Zgounder Drill Hole with Significant Results

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af8c104e-6542-4a3e-a926-24eb45fc9e24