TORONTO, ON — February 19, 2026 — Leads & Copy —
Sterling Metals Corp. (TSXV:SAG)(OTCQB:SAGGF) has commenced its 2026 drill campaign at the Soo Copper Project, located an hour north of Sault Ste Marie, near Batchawana Bay, Ontario.
The program plans for a minimum of 20,000 meters. The winter portion will focus on testing larger scale targets along strike and below the MEPS discovery area.
The 2026 drill program will systematically delineate the scale of the MEPS Discovery area and evaluate additional targets generated from surface copper occurrences and geophysical data. Recent drilling has demonstrated a strong correlation between resistivity lows, favorable structural trends, and copper mineralization, reinforced through physical property testing in drill core. The scale of the resistivity low associated with the MEPS Discovery and the resistivity lows associated with 2026 targets suggests potential for a larger system than delineated in 2025.
CEO and Director Mathew Wilson stated that there is a strong sense that last year only revealed the tip of the iceberg. He cited the grade, rock type, geophysics, the 30km copper system, and association with the Midcontinent Rift as indicators of large potential scale. Wilson added that the company’s focus in 2026 will be to determine the extent of this system as quickly as possible by taking advantage of year-round access and infrastructure. He believes the combination of timing and location is ideal to pursue what could become a significant copper discovery.
The company is aware of assay delays and is working with the laboratory to resolve the backlog on outstanding holes and improve turnaround times. Sterling Metals says it will provide updates as results are received.
The Soo Copper Project is located 20 minutes off the Trans-Canada Highway, one hour north of Sault Ste. Marie, and 20km from rail and deep-water access. Sterling Metals sees the potential for Soo Copper to become a nationally significant asset as Canada accelerates its efforts to secure strategic copper resources.
Sterling Metals is a mineral exploration company focused on Canadian exploration opportunities. It is advancing the 25,000-hectare Soo Copper Project in Ontario and the 29,000-hectare Adeline Project in Labrador. The company says both projects have demonstrated potential for important new copper discoveries.
Sterling Metals acknowledges that its exploration activities within the Soo Copper project are conducted on the traditional lands of the Batchewana, Garden River, and Michipicoten First Nations of the North Shore of Lake Superior. The company says it is committed to engaging in a manner that is respectful, transparent, and inclusive.
An updated investor presentation is available on the Company’s website.
Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration and Evaluation for Sterling Metals has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.
Source: Sterling Metals Corp.
