Zodiac Gold Initiates First Diamond Drilling at Lewis Target on Liberia’s Monterra Trend

Diamond Drilling Begins at Lewis Target Along Monterra Trend

Zodiac Gold has officially started diamond drilling at the Lewis target, situated at the southeastern end of the company’s 16-kilometre Monterra Trend within the flagship Todi Gold Project in Liberia. Operations kicked off on July 21, 2026, marking a key milestone in the company’s systematic exploration of this district-scale gold corridor. Lewis is the third target along the Monterra Trend to undergo drill testing as part of Zodiac Gold’s 2026 exploration plan.

The exploration effort at Lewis follows a disciplined, phased strategy aimed at enhancing geological understanding before scaling up operations. The initial Phase 1 program will involve up to 3,000 metres of diamond drilling, with a potential Phase 2 expansion to 5,000 metres contingent on Phase 1 results. This phased approach enables the company to refine drilling based on real-time geological and subsurface data.

Encouraging Trenching Results Inform Drill Targeting

Advancement to drilling at Lewis was driven by positive surface exploration outcomes. Trenching revealed a standout 30-metre intersection grading 1.04 grams per tonne gold within a broader 84-metre interval at 0.51 g/t Au. Additional trench results included 6 metres at 0.98 g/t Au within 54 metres at 0.34 g/t Au, and 8 metres at 0.7 g/t Au within 136 metres at 0.26 g/t Au. These findings confirm significant near-surface gold mineralization at the target.

The Phase 1 drilling is designed to test the southern east-west gold-in-soil trend at Lewis, which spans 1.8 kilometres and represents the strongest, most consistent gold-in-soil anomaly on the property. Drill targeting integrates trenching data, geological mapping, LiDAR structural interpretation, and soil geochemistry surveys, reflecting a data-driven methodology to pinpoint high-potential drill sites.

Structural Analysis Highlights Mineralized Shoot Targets

Zodiac Gold’s interpretation of new LiDAR data combined with field mapping has identified intersecting northwest- and northeast-trending structural corridors that align with zones of anomalous gold-in-soil geochemistry. These structural intersections suggest the presence of mineralized shoots plunging southward, providing a robust geological framework for Phase 1 drill planning. Structural interpretation has been pivotal in determining drill hole locations and orientations.

Drilling will also target the amphibolite-melanocratic gneiss package identified at other successful Monterra Trend sites, including the nearby Arthington discovery and Ben Ben target. This geological continuity supports the hypothesis that similar mineralized host rocks and structural settings extend along the Monterra Trend, validating the exploration model.

Concurrent Surface Exploration on Parallel Northern Trend

While Phase 1 drilling concentrates on the southern gold-in-soil trend, the company is simultaneously advancing a parallel northern trend at Lewis through mapping, prospecting, and trenching. Surface results from this northern zone will guide decisions on additional drill targets during or after Phase 1. This parallel approach allows multiple drill prospects to be developed while initial drilling progresses.

The soil sampling grid at Lewis has been extended to cover an approximately one-kilometre gap between existing survey coverage and the licence boundary, with results pending. This expansion demonstrates Zodiac Gold’s commitment to thoroughly evaluating the Lewis target area and identifying further gold anomalies for follow-up.

Lewis Target and Monterra Trend Overview

Previously known as the Youth Camp target, Lewis was identified via a greenfield soil survey in an area with extensive artisanal workings. The survey uncovered two parallel, 1.8-kilometre east-west trending gold-in-soil anomalies. Lewis lies within the Monterra Trend, a continuous corridor of gold-in-soil anomalies that also includes the Arthington discovery, Ben Ben, and Feh Feh targets, indicating a significant district-scale mineralized zone.

Additional artisanal workings beyond the northern and southern gold-in-soil trends at Lewis have been documented, with field visits underway. These historical workings provide valuable context for interpreting the company’s soil and structural anomalies and are integrated into the exploration model as indicators of gold potential.

Advancing Multiple Targets Across the Todi Gold Project

The Lewis drilling launch takes place amid ongoing exploration across the Todi Gold Project. President and CEO David Kol highlighted that the Lewis drilling "marks another important milestone in our systematic evaluation of the 16-kilometre Monterra Trend." He noted that with "rigs now turning at multiple locations," Zodiac Gold is advancing high-priority targets simultaneously across its extensive land package.

The Todi Gold Project covers 2,316 square kilometres along the prolific Todi Shear Zone in Liberia. The project has been significantly de-risked, featuring proven gold occurrences at surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets—three already drilled delivering high-grade gold intercepts. This multi-target advancement strategy aims to maximize exploration efficiency and accelerate discovery of economic mineralization.

Qualified Person and Technical Compliance

Tom Dowrick, Zodiac Gold’s Director of Exploration and a Chartered Geologist of the Geological Society of London, serves as the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Dowrick has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information in this release, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Trench intersections are reported as intervals exceeding 0.1 g/t Au with minimum lengths of 2 metres and allowing up to 2 metres of consecutive samples below 0.1 g/t Au. Reported intervals represent trench lengths rather than true thicknesses, which cannot yet be accurately estimated due to early exploration stages. No top cut has been applied to assay results.

Project Location and Jurisdictional Advantages

The Todi Gold Project is situated in Liberia, a West African country characterized by political stability, a mining-friendly environment, and underexplored geology. The project area hosts multiple large-scale gold and iron ore deposits, underscoring its prospectivity. Zodiac Gold emphasizes Liberia’s favorable jurisdictional profile for mining investment.

The Lewis target, at the southeastern edge of the Monterra Trend, lies within the broader Todi project area, which also holds iron ore potential. While current exploration focuses on gold, this multi-commodity potential may influence long-term development plans.

Upcoming Developments and Investor Focus

Phase 1 drilling aims to generate data to inform Phase 2 decisions. The initial up to 3,000-metre program’s results will determine whether the drilling expands to 5,000 metres. Investors will closely monitor drill intercept announcements from Lewis as drilling advances. Additionally, outcomes from the extended soil grid and northern trend exploration may further enhance project outlook.

Zodiac Gold’s ongoing multi-target exploration across the Monterra Trend and Todi Gold Project signals sustained momentum. Timely updates on drill results and Phase 2 plans will be key indicators for investors tracking the company’s progress.