Abitibi Metals (CSE: AMQ) confirms 12.83% CuEq at B26, deepens Western Down-Plunge continuity

Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE: AMQ) (OTCQB: AMQFF) (FSE: FW0) has reported one of its strongest copper-gold intercepts to date at the B26 Polymetallic Deposit in Québec, returning 12.83 percent copper equivalent over five metres as part of its Phase 3 drill campaign. The result, located in the Western Down-Plunge High-Grade Zone, reinforces continuity and grade consistency across a high-value segment of the system and positions the company to expand its resource base ahead of Phase 4 drilling.

The intercept, which also included 6.15 percent copper and 7.93 grams per tonne gold within a broader 19-metre zone averaging 3.59 percent CuEq, is one of several recent assays that continue to define scale, coherence, and open-ended potential within the B26 system. Abitibi Metals Corp. holds a 50 percent stake in the project and retains an option to earn an additional 30 percent interest from SOQUEM Inc., a subsidiary of Investissement Québec.

How does the 12.83% copper equivalent intercept reshape growth expectations for the B26 deposit?

The 12.83 percent CuEq result, reported from hole 1274-17-269W6, is not an isolated outcome. It sits within a broader high-grade zone approximately 125 metres east and up-dip from hole 1274-17-269W5, which previously delivered 17.91 percent CuEq over 6.3 metres. Taken together, these results confirm grade continuity across a core area of the Western Down-Plunge zone and demonstrate the growing coherence of this high-value shoot.

According to Abitibi Metals Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Deluce, the intercepts “continue to exceed expectations” and reinforce the team’s confidence in expanding what is already one of the most advanced copper-gold targets in the company’s portfolio. Using current spot prices, the intercept equates to 18.15 percent CuEq over five metres, highlighting the disproportionate contribution of gold to project economics and block model valuation.

In a market increasingly focused on copper supply security and jurisdictional stability, this zone’s exceptional copper-gold tenor and high metal factors could offer a rare blend of grade and scale within one of Québec’s most infrastructure-ready districts.

What does the Phase 3 drilling campaign reveal about down-plunge continuity and system scale?

The Phase 3 drilling campaign, which concluded in December 2025, encompassed 24,544 metres across 40 drill holes. Several holes have not yet returned assay results, but the structural narrative emerging from completed holes suggests that B26’s Western Down-Plunge High-Grade Zone may be evolving into a more extensive and deeper mineralized corridor than previously modeled.

Holes 1274-25-374W1 and 1274-25-374W2, drilled to the west and at depth, intersected the B26 copper-gold horizon and expanded the mineralized footprint by an additional 250 metres down plunge. Though their grades were lower—ranging from 1.31 percent to 2.04 percent CuEq over two to eight metres—these intercepts extend the known envelope of mineralization and offer vectors for further step-out drilling.

Importantly, these lower-grade hits still meet the threshold for inclusion in a potential resource model, particularly in the context of copper’s upward price momentum and the metallurgical recovery pathways typically associated with this type of polymetallic system.

With the high-grade zone now defined over 500 metres laterally and 250 metres vertically, Abitibi Metals Corp. will likely prioritize infill and expansion drilling along the western and deeper portions of the system in Phase 4. The zone remains open in both directions.

Why is gold a critical component in the copper equivalent value proposition at B26?

While B26 is widely described as a copper-dominant deposit, recent high-grade intercepts underscore the significant value contribution from gold. The 12.83 percent CuEq result, for instance, includes nearly eight grams per tonne gold—a grade that, when converted using current spot pricing, lifts the copper equivalent by approximately 5.3 percentage points.

This gold-rich profile gives Abitibi Metals Corp. optionality. Depending on future metallurgical test work and recovery flowsheets, the company may be able to leverage gold credits to lower its effective cash costs or pursue a dual revenue strategy under a polymetallic production scenario. That flexibility could prove useful in financing discussions or joint venture arrangements with mid-tier producers looking to secure copper-gold exposure in Tier 1 jurisdictions.

Gold also introduces value resilience, offering a hedge during periods of copper price volatility. The asset’s dual commodity profile is especially relevant amid macroeconomic uncertainty, where demand visibility for electrification metals is strong, but pricing remains influenced by geopolitical and policy-driven shocks.

How does the B26 project compare with other advanced copper-gold targets in Québec?

B26 is strategically located just seven kilometres southeast of the historical Selbaie mine, a former high-grade polymetallic operation with deep processing and access infrastructure. The proximity offers logistical advantages that could materially lower capital intensity in the development phase.

The current mineral resource estimate for B26 includes an indicated resource of 11.3 million tonnes at 2.13 percent CuEq and an inferred resource of 7.2 million tonnes at 2.21 percent CuEq. While not yet at the scale of major development assets like Taseko’s Florence or Foran’s McIlvenna Bay, B26 holds a competitive grade advantage, particularly in the context of its growing high-grade zones.

Moreover, Québec’s favorable permitting environment, coupled with its electrified power grid and skilled labor pool, gives Abitibi Metals Corp. a jurisdictional tailwind that distinguishes B26 from peer-stage deposits in less predictable regulatory regimes.

With SOQUEM Inc. and Investissement Québec as partners, the project also aligns with the province’s strategic resource development agenda, increasing its eligibility for infrastructure support or provincial investment co-participation in a future build-out scenario.

What is the strategic significance of Abitibi’s earn-in structure and project pipeline?

Abitibi Metals Corp. currently holds a 50 percent interest in the B26 Project, with the option to earn an additional 30 percent from SOQUEM Inc. The earn-in structure incentivizes aggressive exploration while minimizing dilution and preserves balance sheet flexibility as the company progresses toward a potential preliminary economic assessment or feasibility study.

Beyond B26, Abitibi Metals Corp. also holds the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling returned notable intercepts such as 55.63 grams per tonne gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 grams per tonne over 8.75 metres. Though still early-stage, the Beschefer Project adds depth to the company’s exploration narrative and could serve as a strategic asset depending on future commodity cycles or acquisition interest.

By focusing on high-grade, infrastructure-adjacent assets within Québec, Abitibi Metals Corp. is positioning itself not only as a project generator but as a potential development-stage operator in a politically stable and mining-friendly region.

What execution risks or market headwinds could impact future development timelines?

Despite the strong intercepts and jurisdictional advantages, several risks could affect Abitibi Metals Corp.’s ability to advance the B26 project toward development. Metallurgical recovery remains a key unknown. The deposit’s polymetallic nature may require complex processing circuits, especially if zinc, silver, and gold are to be recovered economically alongside copper.

Additionally, while Abitibi has reported consistent results, resource conversion from inferred to measured and indicated categories will require extensive infill drilling. Capital markets also present a challenge. Junior miners have faced constrained access to equity in recent months, and even promising assets are struggling to raise project-level financing without strategic partnerships.

The company will also need to navigate permitting and environmental impact assessments, even in a supportive jurisdiction like Québec. Public consultation, First Nations engagement, and baseline environmental work will form critical components of the pre-feasibility pathway.

How are institutional and retail investors likely to interpret this update?

The 12.83 percent CuEq intercept is likely to generate renewed interest among institutional investors who track high-grade copper-gold systems, particularly those with near-term development potential. The continuity of grade and the ability to show growth vectors beyond existing resource boundaries lend credibility to Abitibi Metals Corp.’s value proposition.

The stock may also draw attention from retail traders on the Canadian Securities Exchange, particularly given the high metal factor of recent hits and the relative scarcity of comparable junior copper-gold plays in Tier 1 jurisdictions.

While short-term trading volume may rise on the back of the intercept announcement, the more meaningful catalyst for rerating will depend on the clarity and execution of Phase 4 plans, additional assays from pending holes, and eventual resource updates that reflect the expanded high-grade footprint.

What are the key takeaways from Abitibi Metals Corp.’s B26 Phase 3 drilling update in Québec?

• Abitibi Metals Corp. reported a standout 12.83 percent copper equivalent intercept over five metres at its B26 Polymetallic Deposit in Québec.

• The intercept confirms high-grade continuity in the Western Down-Plunge Zone and builds on a previous hit of 17.91 percent CuEq over 6.3 metres.

• Gold grades are playing a critical role in enhancing copper equivalent values and project economics.

• The Phase 3 campaign has expanded the mineralized footprint by 250 metres down plunge and remains open to the west and at depth.

• Phase 4 planning will likely focus on infill drilling and deeper step-outs to test the growing high-grade corridor.

• The current resource stands at 11.3 million tonnes indicated and 7.2 million tonnes inferred, both above 2 percent CuEq.

• Proximity to the historic Selbaie mine and existing infrastructure enhances development feasibility.

• Abitibi Metals Corp. holds a 50 percent stake in the project with an option to earn an additional 30 percent from SOQUEM Inc.

• Metallurgical testing, infill requirements, and financing remain key execution challenges before development decisions.

• Institutional and retail sentiment may improve following this intercept, but long-term valuation depends on future resource conversion and economic studies.