Star Copper Completes Initial Four Diamond Drill Holes Across Multiple Porphyry Targets in Golden Triangle Expansion

Star Copper Advances District-Scale Exploration Model with Multi-Target Drilling Campaign

Star Copper’s 2026 exploration strategy deliberately expands beyond the established Star Main porphyry discovery. The company is shifting "beyond individual discovery to systematically validate a district-scale exploration model," reflecting increased confidence in the broader mineral potential of the Star Project property in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle.

CEO Darryl Jones highlighted this strategic evolution, stating: "Our objective in 2026 has been to move beyond a single discovery and systematically test the broader mineral endowment across the entire Star property." The company’s integrated exploration model leverages induced polarization surveys, airborne magnetic data, geochemical analysis, structural interpretation, and historical exploration records to identify new porphyry centers across the property. This methodical approach has yielded confirmatory results from the initial drilling phase.

Star East Yields Extensive Continuous Mineralization

The first drill hole at Star East, SE-2026-001, intersected over 160 metres of continuous porphyry-style copper mineralization hosted within a strongly altered intrusive. Visible chalcopyrite was observed throughout multiple mineralized intervals as disseminations, quartz-sulphide veinlets, and localized sulphide clusters, accompanied by pervasive potassic, chlorite-epidote, and magnetite alteration. The strongest continuous interval between 84.6 and 88.5 metres contained up to 1% visible chalcopyrite with approximately 7% pyrite in disseminated and vein-hosted sulphides.

A notable semi-massive sulphide interval at 44.4 metres contained up to 25% pyrite with associated chalcopyrite and potassium feldspar alteration, indicating "localized structural upgrading within the mineralized system." The continuity of chalcopyrite mineralization suggests Star East hosts "a large, fertile, hydrothermal system capable of supporting additional mineralization," potentially enabling discovery of higher-grade zones at depth or laterally.

Star North Confirms Robust Porphyry System at Scale

Drill hole SN-26-002 at Star North intersected approximately 180 metres of continuous porphyry-style copper mineralization, confirming the scale and continuity of the hydrothermal system at this satellite target. Visible chalcopyrite appeared throughout multiple mineralized intervals as disseminations, quartz-epidote veinlets, and localized sulphide-rich breccias within a strongly potassic-altered intrusive. The strongest continuous mineralization was recorded between 146.4 and 153.0 metres depth.

Similar to Star East, Star North shows evidence of localized structural control on mineralization. Sulphide-rich breccias between 199.0 and 202.0 metres indicate "localized upgrading of the mineralized system." The company describes Star North as "another robust porphyry copper system with potential to host stronger mineralization," based on broad chalcopyrite distribution, pervasive potassic alteration, and well-developed quartz-sulphide stockwork veining.

Copper Creek Emerges as Most Visually Mineralized Target to Date

The Copper Creek target is described as "one of the Company’s most compelling discovery targets." Drill hole CC-26-002 is the "strongest visually mineralized hole completed to date," intersecting over 200 metres of porphyry-style copper mineralization characterized by abundant chalcopyrite in disseminations, stockwork veinlets, and sulphide-rich breccias. The main mineralized interval extends from 140.5 to 151.0 metres within a strongly sericite-altered intrusive, with additional sulphide-rich intervals between 168.0 and 173.4 metres and 231.0 and 232.0 metres.

Follow-up hole CC-26-003 also showed promise, intersecting a broad hydrothermal alteration system with persistent chalcopyrite mineralization from approximately 88 metres to the hole’s end at 306 metres. Copper mineralization is closely associated with increasing potassic alteration at depth, suggesting the hole "remained within an active porphyry system at termination and may have been vectoring toward a stronger mineralized core," indicating potential for higher-grade zones deeper or along strike.

Drill Program Details and Sample Processing

The four completed holes represent the initial phase of Star Copper’s fully funded 15,000-metre 2026 diamond drilling program. Drill hole collar data specify locations, orientations, and depths: CC-26-002 reached 279 metres, CC-26-003 306 metres, SN-26-002 246 metres, and SE-2026-001 230.6 metres, totaling 1,054 metres.

All samples have been submitted to ACT Labs for geochemical assay analysis. While no timeline for assay results was provided, the company states these results will guide prioritization of follow-up drilling as it advances its district-scale exploration strategy. With multiple mineralized systems confirmed across the property, Star Copper believes the Star Project could evolve into a significant copper-gold district within British Columbia’s Golden Triangle.

Technical Review and Qualified Person

Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and an independent contractor for the company, reviewed and approved the technical content of the announcement. This ensures compliance with Canadian securities regulations governing mineral exploration disclosure.

Integration with Star Copper’s Broader Exploration Plans

The Star Project includes multiple high-priority copper-gold porphyry-style targets such as Star Main, Star North, East & West, Copper Creek, and Copperline. Historical exploration and drilling have confirmed "open mineralization at depth and in all directions." Planned activities include geological mapping, geophysical surveys, diamond drilling of high-priority zones, environmental baseline studies, permitting groundwork, and data analysis to support a future NI 43-101 resource estimate.

Beyond the Star Project, Star Copper has acquired the Indata and Zymo properties, aiming to advance these with follow-up drilling, trenching, surface sampling, and infrastructure improvements. The company positions its exploration efforts within the context of meeting "surging industrial demand to support global electrification needs."

Investor Outlook and Upcoming Developments

The completion of the initial four drill holes and confirmation of porphyry-style mineralization across three satellite targets mark key milestones in Star Copper’s exploration program. Investors will likely anticipate assay results from ACT Labs, which will provide quantitative data on copper, gold, and other elements, informing future drilling priorities and potentially impacting market perception of the Star Project’s district-scale potential.

The announcement does not specify expected timing for assay results or provide production guidance or resource estimates. The Star Project remains in early-stage exploration, with inherent uncertainty typical of mineral exploration. Additional historical drilling and geological data are available in the company’s February 26, 2025 technical report, accessible via its SEDAR+ profile.