Alaska Energy Metals launches drilling program at McBride, Quebec
HIGHLIGHTS:
Planned core drilling program (8 holes - 2,125 meters) to test the McBride prospect where copper-nickel-iron sulfide showings at surface are underlain by coincident electromagnetic - magnetic geophysical and geochemical anomalies.
Authorization for impact-causing exploration work (ATI) permit has been received.
Drill crew is expected to mobilize in mid-August 2026.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 10, 2026 / Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V:AEMC)(OTCQB:AKEMF) ("Alaska Energy Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed planning for a core drilling program to test geological - geophysical - geochemical targets at the McBride prospect, that forms part of its Angliers Project in Quebec, Canada. The Company's geochemical - geophysical results and historical drill results for the McBride Prospect were released in a press release dated January 21, 2025. The core drilling program includes plans for eight holes for a total of 2,125 meters. Authorization for impact-causing exploration work (ATI) permit has been received from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The drilling is anticipated to start in mid-August.
In 2024, AEMC completed a 200x100m grid surface soil sampling and prospecting program over the McBride Prospect. Multiple anomalous zones of copper, zinc, nickel, silver, and gold have been revealed that correspond to a series of Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic ("VTEM") anomalies that align within an east-west trending zone. Several significant anomalous rock samples containing magmatic sulfides collected in 2024 include:
Sample 135040 : Massive sulfides (pyrrhotite, pyrite and minor chalcopyrite) - 302 ppm copper, 153 ppm zinc, 1.02 ppm silver and 0.5 ppb gold
Sample 135042 : Silicified with sulfides (pyrite and chalcopyrite in blebs and stringers) - 1287 ppm copper, 2433 ppm nickel, 260 ppm zinc, 522 ppm cobalt, 0.63 ppm silver, and 2.0 ppb gold
VTEM surveys conducted by the Company in 2024 identified strong, low-resistivity and conductive zones immediately beneath sulfide and banded iron formation occurrences. Interpreted banded iron formations show a sharp, narrow increase in magnetic response in the VTEM survey. In locations of surficial massive sulfide samples, a broad magnetic response is encountered prior to the sharp, narrow increase in magnetic response from the banded iron formation. It is hypothesized that the conductive zone and broad magnetic response may be caused by copper-nickel sulfides adjacent to the banded iron formations in an underexplored VMS stratigraphic setting. Multiple drill holes are planned to test for massive sulfide mineralization along these anomalies, shown in Figure 2.
Figure 1. 2026 McBride Prospect Drill Program. Note: Historic drill collar locations have not been verified in the field and data from these holes and trenches is reliant on Quebec Assessment Report GM20938 and GM22119.
Sampling and Analytical Procedures
The rock sample results mentioned in this press release were collected and analyzed according to the procedures summarized below. Rock sample locations were recorded with Android rugged smart phones running Q-Field data collection software in map datum UTM WGS84 Zone 17N. Each sample was photographed and placed in a plastic bag with a uniquely numbered tag. The bag was then sealed with a plastic tie-wrap. Blanks and standards were inserted at regular intervals for QAQC purposes. Up to ten samples were placed in rice bags, sealed with numbered tamper proof tie wraps and then delivered in person to Manitoulin Transport in New Liskeard, Ontario from where they were transported to SGS Laboratory ("SGS") in Lakefield, Ontario.