Vancouver, British Columbia — January 13, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Mercado Minerals Ltd. (CSE: MERC) has commenced its first field exploration program at the Copalito Project in Sinaloa, Mexico.
The company’s technical team has mobilized to the project site to execute the first phase of exploration activities, according to a recent announcement.
The program includes detailed mapping and prospecting across 40% of the project area, which remains unexplored. Additionally, the team will re-sample silver, gold, lead, and zinc vein mineralization in select historical drill core from the six principal known veins.
Historical results from these veins include 347 g/t silver, 0.22 g/t gold, 0.17% lead, and 0.38% zinc over 13.10 meters from 54.00 meters in BDH-20-004 at the 5 Senores vein, and 125 g/t silver, 2.00 g/t gold, 0.34% lead, and 0.58% zinc over 23.00 meters from 78.00 meters in BDH-21-055 at the El Agua vein.
The team will also re-log targeted historic drill core to refine geological understanding and advance logistics for the upcoming first-phase diamond drill program, further refining drill targets at Copalito.
CEO Daniel Rodriguez stated that the exploration work will lead to drilling at Copalito. The company remains on track to begin its first-phase, 3000-meter drill program in Q1, focused on its highest-priority targets. Rodriguez also mentioned his plan to join the technical team for the initial stage in the field.
Mercado’s exploration team will integrate geophysical data with data from the surface sampling program to help further define high-potential exploration targets. All samples collected will be sent for laboratory analysis to support the development of additional drill targets.
Selected intervals of historical drill core will be re-logged and re-sampled to verify and align previously collected data with Mercado’s internal standards.
The company is progressing with field preparations, including securing drill pad access, water sources, power, drill and equipment contractors, and other necessary operational infrastructure for the planned Phase 1 drill campaign.
The technical information in the news release has been reviewed and approved by Kelson Willms, P.Geo., of Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited, a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
Qualified Person
Kelson Willms, P.Geo., of Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited, reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
Daniel Rodriguez
CEO & Director
Phone: (604) 353-4080
Email: drodriguez@mercadominerals.com
John Fraser
VP Business Development & Director
Phone: (604) 838-7677
Email: jfraser@mercadominerals.com
Source: Mercado Minerals Ltd.
