Toronto, Ontario — February 17, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Nine Mile Metals Ltd. has announced it has received certified assays for drill hole WD-25-02 at the Wedge Mine in the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick (BMC).
Drill hole WD-25-02 was collared on the same drill pad as WD-25-01. It was drilled at an azimuth of 310 degrees and a dip of -50 degrees to a depth of 203 meters. The purpose was to expand on the mineralization intersected in drill hole WD-25-01.
The drill hole intersected 32.10 meters of Cu bearing mineralization within a sediment / volcanic package that includes 3 distinct VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au) horizons between 138.72 and 170.82 m.
The 3 Horizons are characterized by elevated Ag and Au, with assays up to 70 g/t Ag and 1.19 g/t Au respectively.
Horizon 1 mineralization consists of Cu bearing pyritic VMS and has a true width of 2.5 meters (138.72 – 141.22 m.) occurring at a brecciated contact between sheared graphitic argillite and massive VMS, assaying 3.09% Cu, 1.02% Pb, 4.88% Zn, 61.57 g/t Ag, and 1.01 g/t Au.
Horizon 2 is defined by a sequence of weakly mineralized (Py, Cpy) and massive copper bearing sulphides (VMS- Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au) between 150.30 and 165.32 m., a true width of 15.02 meters, assaying 2.14% Cu, 0.52% Pb, 1.00 % Zn, 11 g/t Ag, and 0.40 g/t Au.
Included in Horizon 2 is 6.02 meter (true width) of massive VMS mineralization between 159.30 – 165.32 m. assaying 4.63% Cu, 0.27% Pb, 0.79% Zn, 12.50 g/t Ag, and 0.42 g/t Au. Within this interval, sample 338291 was the highest Cu assay in the drill hole, returning 6.52% over 1 meter between 161.30 – 162.30 meters.
Horizon 3 is a 2.82-meter intercept (true width) of massive VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au) assaying 2.91% Cu, 0.96% Pb, 7.13% Zn, 36.65 g/t Ag, and 0.72 g/t Au.
Mike Dufresne, Technical Team & President of Apex Geoscience, stated, “Well it is quite thrilling to see the increase in Cu grades to the West in the VMS and mostly coincident with increase gold and roughly approximating the Conductive Plate Modelling. The Copper and Gold is well associated.”
Horizon 1 mineralization occurs at a graphitic argillite, massive pyritic VMS contact. The mineralization is fine grained with some visible chalcopyrite and minor galena (Pb) and sphalerite (Zn). The sheared graphitic contact is a marker horizon with the same style of VMS mineralization also occurring in drill holes WD-25-01, WD-25-2B, WD-W5-04 and WD-25-05.
Gary Lohman, P.Geo., VP Exploration & Director commented, “We are quite pleased by the results from WD-25-02. Not only do the assays confirm the presence of copper at depth, but the multi-element nature of the VMS mineralization is best reflected in the copper equivalent calculations where the presence of Ag, Au and Zn significantly changes the rock value. We will report on the assays from drill hole WD-25-01 as soon as the lab completes analysis of elements that were over limit. With the assays arriving and compilation – modeling underway, permitting of additional drill holes in the west will allow us to expand on the success of this program. Down hole geophysics (BHEM) is planned for the 2 holes collared in the northwest and select drill holes in the south to target additional mineralization along strike and at depth as these deposits typically have multiple, mineralized lenses that can pinch and swell.”
The first appearance of copper mineralization in Zone 2 occurs at 150.30 – 154.40 meters with local chalcopyrite noted within a sedimentary sequence. A contact zone followed by a small void between 155.00 – 158.00 meters where VMS mineralization is present on both the upper and lower sides, the latter consisting of 95% sulphides. Visible semi massive to massive chalcopyrite is seen throughout the sequence.
Immediately below Zone 2, a third, massive pyritic VMS lens was intersected consisting of 95% sulphides including visible pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. The multi-element nature of the mineralization is reflected in the assays.
Patrick J. Cruickshank, MBA, CEO & Director, stated, “DDH WD-25-02 certified assays are just outstanding. The multi element nature is terrific. High Copper, Silver, Gold & Zinc results add to the success of this hole. The confirmation of 3 distinct geological zones is proven across many of the Drillholes in this campaign, as our summaries have stated. Now fully funded and with strong capitalization, we are already confirming the next stage of drilling with the objective to test this high-grade Copper Multi Element series of horizons at depth and from the other side of the shear zone. As each VMS deposit in the BMC camp has multiple mineralized lenses constituting the deposit, planned BHEM surveying will assist in targeting these and what lies below and to the West. All 7 holes were capped so we have the flexibility to re-enter and conduct our BHEM Surveys in the best possible locations, including the lower southwest area. Upon receiving the BHEM results, our next phase of drilling will not have permit restrictions or winter challenges with access roads to exactly where we want to setup our drill pads. Our technical Team lead by Mike Dufresne & Gary Lohman have secured our BHEM Survey Vendor and will decide which Hole in the Southwest to choose as a BHEM Survey hole, along with the 2 Holes in the upper Northwest area. The CuEq over this width is very strong and supports the next stage for this exploration model.”
Copper Equivalent (Cu-Eq) for the drill hole samples is calculated based on February 13, 2026, pricing: US$ 5.85/lb Cu, US$ 0.87/lb Pb, US$ 1.50/lb Zn, US$ 77.32/oz Ag, and US$ 5041.00/oz Au, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals.
Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration Company focused on VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the renowned Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), located in New Brunswick, Canada. The Company’s primary business objective is to explore its four VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS Project, California Lake VMS Project, the Canoe Landing Lake (East – West) VMS Project, and the Wedge VMS Project. The Company is focused on Critical Minerals Exploration, positioning itself for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge on Gold.
Source: Nine Mile Metals Ltd.
