Star Metro - Solitario Files Drilling Plan of Operations for Its Bright Angel Gold - Copper Project

Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario, stated, "With both gold and copper trading near all-time highs, and copper being designated as a critical metal by the U.S. government, we are very excited to move this project forward. Results from previous drilling point to a definitive, and potentially significant, gold-copper porphyry target.

"We believe that Bright Angel represents an alkalic pipe-like porphyry characterized by high grades for both gold and copper with deep roots. Over the years, the industry's understanding of porphyry copper systems has evolved considerably. It is now recognized that an alkalic subclass, first clearly documented at the world-class Ridgeway-Cadia system in Australia, commonly hosts pipe-like geometries, with higher copper and gold grades than calc-alkaline copper porphyry systems common in the Arizona and Chilean copper belts.

"We look forward to working with the US Forest Service in executing an environmentally sound program that protects surface and water resources. The plan envisions very limited surface impacts with all drill holes completed to state and federal abandonment standards to protect ground water systems."

History and Geology of the Bright Angel Project

Drilling at Bright Angel began in the late-1960s when its initial owner completed 186 very shallow (~16 meters) and widely spaced drill holes. Twelve of the more mineralized holes were deepened to depths of up to 200 meters. Two of the holes reportedly intersected significant grades of gold and copper but are not reported here as Solitario is unable to verify the historic drill hole assay results. However, Solitario's surface rock sampling produced gold/copper grades (see Solitario news release dated January 22, 2026) consistent with the grades in the upper 20 meters of the reported historic drill holes. Drilling will be required to confirm drill hole grades reported in the historic files.

Anaconda Copper, formerly one of the largest mining companies in the world, leased the property in 1970 and drilled 11 widely spaced core holes ranging in depth from 270 to 783 meters. Anaconda's exploration program was designed to test for a classic large-scale mushroom-shaped, calc-alkaline copper porphyry system common in the Arizona and Chilean copper belts. Calc-alkaline copper systems tend to be laterally extensive but gold poor.

Anaconda intersected significant sections of 0.1% up to 0.3% Cu in six of their core holes but generally did not assay for gold as gold price was fixed at $38 per ounce at that time and its exploration priority was a primary copper resource. Anaconda concluded that the Bright Angel porphyry was not a calc-alkaline porphyry system but continued to hold the lease for 10 years before exiting the mineral exploration business, when the property was dropped.

Plans are also underway to conduct a drone magnetic survey and possibly an Induced Polarization geophysical survey in the upcoming field season.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Walter Hunt, a qualified person as defined by Canadian instrument NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Solitario

Solitario is a natural resource exploration company focused on high-quality Tier-1 gold, copper, zinc and critical metals (molybdenum and rhenium) projects. Solitario's 100%-owned Golden Crest properties in South Dakota constitute strategic land holdings (31,500 acres) along the western and southwestern extensions of the Homestake-Wharf mining district that has produced approximately 52 million ounces of gold. Golden Crest is scheduled for a major drilling campaign in 2026.

In addition to its Bright Angel and Golden Crest projects, Solitario holds a 100% interest in the Cat Creek critical minerals project (molybdenum-rhenium) in Colorado, also slated for drilling in 2026. Solitario also has a 50% joint venture interest (Teck Resources 50%) in the high-grade Lik zinc deposit in Alaska and a 39% joint venture interest (Nexa Resources 61%) in the high-grade Florida Canyon zinc project in Peru. Both Florida Canyon and Lik represent advanced exploration projects with over $110 million spent collectively on the properties. Solitario is carried to production on its Florida Canyon project through its joint venture arrangement with Nexa.

The Company is traded on the NYSE American ("XPL") and on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("SLR"). Solitario's Management and Directors hold approximately 8.0% (excluding options) and Newmont Corporation owns 9.3% of the Company's 92.4 million shares outstanding. Solitario's cash position stands at approximately US$8.2 million. Additional information about Solitario is available online at www.solitarioresources.com.

Solitario has a long history of committed Environmental, Social and Responsible Governance ("ESG") of its business. We realize ESG issues are also important to investors, employees, and all stakeholders, including communities in which we work. We are committed to conducting our business in a manner that supports positive environmental and social initiatives and responsible corporate governance. Importantly, we work with joint venture partners that not only value the importance of ESG issues in the conduct of their business on our joint venture projects but are leaders in the industry in this important segment of our business.

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (and the equivalent under Canadian securities laws), that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and address activities, events or developments that Solitario expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and are based on current expectations and assumptions. Technical data from the Bright Angel project was derived primarily from historic Anaconda files thought to be accurate, but have not verified by QAQC quality controls as defined by NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expectation of the projected timing and outcome of engineering studies; expectations regarding the receipt of all necessary permits and approvals to implement a mining plan, if any, at any of its mineral properties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks relating to risks that Solitario's and its joint venture partners' exploration and property advancement efforts will not be successful; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, and molybdenum; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource estimates; availability of outside contractors, and other activities; uncertainties relating to obtaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory authorities; the possibility that environmental laws and regulations will change over time and become even more restrictive; and availability and timing of capital for financing the Company's exploration and development activities, including uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; as well as those factors discussed in Solitario's filings and reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including Solitario's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings (and Canadian filings) including, without limitation, its latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company does not intend to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Solitario Resources Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

S.Morin--SMC