Arika Resources Initiates Extensive 20,000-Metre Drilling Program Across Western Australia's High-Grade Gold Projects

Project Portfolio: Two Tier-1 Gold Assets in Western Australia's Premier Gold Belt

Arika Resources operates the Kookynie and Yundamindra projects, both situated in the Leonora-Laverton Belt, a historically prolific gold district with over 30 million ounces produced. The company has full ownership of these projects, controlling about 150 square kilometres at Kookynie, which is the second-largest landholding in the area after Genesis Minerals. Both projects are secured on granted Mining Leases, providing a solid base for exploration and development activities.

The Kookynie project lies along strike from Genesis Minerals' Ulysses Gold Project, which boasts a mineral resource of 2.23 million ounces of gold. This proximity places Arika’s tenure within a proven gold corridor. The company’s view of the Leonora-Laverton Belt as a premium gold district is supported by its rich production history and ongoing exploration successes by other operators, forming a strong geological foundation for Arika’s exploration plans.

Drilling Campaign Details: RC and Diamond Drilling Across Multiple Targets Through 2026

Arika’s outlined drilling program totals approximately 20,000 metres to be completed by the end of 2026. The campaign combines reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling across various prospects and both project sites. At Kookynie, RC drilling is underway at the Cosmopolitan prospect, with further RC drilling planned at Altona and Ithaca in the latter half of 2026. Diamond drilling at Cosmopolitan is co-funded by the Exploration Incentives Scheme (EIS), enhancing financial support for this phase.

At Yundamindra, the program focuses on growth drilling at Pennyweight Point and Yellow Brick Road, alongside maiden drilling at Emerald City. This activity is expected to produce a steady stream of assay results through 2026, ensuring ongoing news flow. The multi-prospect, multi-project approach aims to advance both immediate resource growth and long-term discovery potential.

Cosmopolitan and Altona: Core Focus of Technical Assessment and Drilling Acceleration

Independent technical evaluations, including 3D modelling and target definition, at Cosmopolitan and Altona have yielded promising outcomes. These assessments have guided the prioritization of these prospects within the drilling schedule. Cosmopolitan is currently undergoing RC drilling, while Altona’s RC drilling is slated for the second half of 2026, reflecting a phased exploration strategy.

Previous drilling at these sites has delivered intercepts that validate the geological models supporting Arika’s exploration strategy. The independent assessments have refined target definitions and established a solid framework for the ongoing systematic drilling, underscoring the company’s commitment to a disciplined, data-driven approach.

Emerging Gold Systems: Pennyweight Point and Yellow Brick Road Show Strong Growth Potential

Pennyweight Point and Yellow Brick Road are identified as emerging gold systems with established discovery momentum. Both are undergoing continuous growth drilling as part of the 20,000-metre program, aiming to expand mineralisation boundaries and test extensions of known zones. These efforts align with Arika’s view of these prospects as significant resource expansion opportunities.

Recent high-grade intercepts in 2025 and 2026 at these prospects support ongoing drilling investments. Continuous drilling and assay results are expected to enhance and potentially upgrade mineral inventories at Pennyweight Point and Yellow Brick Road, maintaining a steady flow of assay data through the end of the year.

New and Expansion Drilling: Emerald City Maiden Campaign and Altona, Ithaca Growth Targets

The program includes maiden drilling at Emerald City in the second half of 2026, marking the first systematic exploration of this prospect. Large-scale targets at Altona and Ithaca are also scheduled for RC drilling in the same period. These prospects represent diverse exploration scenarios: Emerald City as untested ground with discovery potential, and Altona and Ithaca as near-term drill targets.

This phased drilling approach balances maintaining momentum at active sites like Cosmopolitan and Pennyweight Point while advancing exploration at less-developed targets. The variety of drilling objectives—from maiden to growth and resource expansion—reflects the portfolio’s range of exploration maturity.

Historical Drilling Highlights Supporting Current Exploration Targets

Historical drilling results underpin current exploration targeting. At Leipold, drilling returned 10 metres at 7.44 grams per tonne gold from 108 metres depth (hole LPRC0049). McTavish drilling yielded 5 metres at 25.9 grams per tonne gold from 28 metres depth (hole McTRC0049). Champion drilling reported 28 metres at 1.83 grams per tonne gold from 72 metres depth (hole CPRC0041). These previously reported intercepts provide technical context for the geological models guiding the current program.

Arika notes these historical results highlight gold mineralisation potential across its projects and justify ongoing exploration investment. The depth, grade, and thickness of these intercepts have informed the company’s targeting and resource growth goals. The company also cautions that these historical data were disclosed previously and are not reported under the JORC Code 2012.

Underexplored Land Offering District-Scale Discovery Opportunities

The Kookynie project contains substantial underexplored and unexplored ground within a major gold-producing district. The Leonora-Laverton Belt’s production of over 30 million ounces establishes it as a Tier-1 gold system, yet significant portions of Arika’s tenure remain relatively untested. This combination of proven district scale and underexplored tenure underpins the company’s discovery thesis and supports the scale of the 20,000-metre drilling program.

With a large landholding and multiple prospects at different exploration stages, Arika is well positioned to pursue both near-term resource growth and longer-term discovery. The drilling campaign is designed to systematically evaluate these targets across both projects, from maiden testing to growth drilling on established systems.

Continuous Assay Results and Sustained News Flow Through 2026

Arika anticipates continuous assay results through the end of 2026, integrated into the 20,000-metre drilling plan. Results are expected from ongoing RC and EIS co-funded diamond drilling at Cosmopolitan, growth drilling at Pennyweight Point and Yellow Brick Road, and scheduled drilling at Altona, Ithaca, and Emerald City in the latter half of 2026. The company forecasts a strong news flow including drilling updates, assay releases, and potential resource growth announcements.

This structured drilling and assay schedule aims to maintain investor engagement and market awareness throughout 2026. The staggered timelines across multiple prospects support a continuous stream of exploration news, contrasting with more episodic programs.

Strategic Advantages and Exploration Economics

As the second-largest landholder in the Leonora-Laverton Belt after Genesis Minerals, Arika benefits from scale in exploration. Full ownership of both projects enables complete control over exploration strategy and timing. Granted Mining Leases at key prospects reduce tenure risk and provide a clear regulatory path for potential development.

Co-funding of diamond drilling at Cosmopolitan through the Exploration Incentives Scheme enhances exploration economics by leveraging government support, allowing more extensive drilling within budget constraints. The portfolio approach, targeting multiple prospects with varied drilling objectives, helps manage exploration risk while maximizing value creation opportunities.

Market Context: Timing Aligns with Gold Sector Exploration Interest

Accelerating the drilling program to 20,000 metres through 2026 reflects Arika’s confidence in its assets and position within a premier gold district. The Leonora-Laverton Belt’s strong production history and ongoing exploration successes by peers confirm the district’s prospectivity. Arika’s extensive tenure and multiple prospects offer several potential value pathways.

The timing and focus on continuous assay delivery align with gold investors’ preference for near-term discovery and resource growth stories. By sustaining drilling activity and assay flow through 2026, Arika aims to provide ongoing exploration catalysts, supporting investor interest in tangible progress and discovery momentum.