Jeana Ratcliff, who works as a Senior Sustainability Advisor at Nuton, a Rio Tinto venture, was born to be a scientist. Growing up in Montana, she spent her childhood outdoors with her science-minded parents, rock-hounding and learning about geology.

Her curiosity extended indoors, where – she constantly tinkered with electronics, learning the ins and outs of any machine she could get her hands on. Jeana fondly recalls buying an old keyboard, taking it apart, and attempting to reassemble it with her two sisters. Her inquisitive nature and love for learning have persisted into her current role at Nuton.

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Jeana shared insights about her career journey in the sciences, lessons learned along the way, and the advice she would offer others, especially women, considering a career in science.

What’s your message to young females considering a science-related profession, perhaps in mining specifically?

I think my biggest message is that you don’t have to know everything, and you don’t have to be perfect. A lot of engineers, and scientists, particularly women, struggle with this.

Even as you get further into your career, you should still be learning. There’s a lot of imposter syndrome or fear of asking questions, but I recommend just being curious and allowing yourself to learn more and come up with new ideas. It can feel vulnerable. But realize you don’t have to be 100% perfect at everything to have success.

Casa Grande, AZ and Toronto, ON, January 31, 2025 – Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc. (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) (“ASCU” or the “Company”), an emerging US copper developer, is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated January 9, 2025 (the “January 9 PR”), it has closed its private placement with Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”) of 11,955,270 common shares at a price of C$1.68 for gross proceeds to the Company of C$20,084,853 million (the “Hudbay Placement”). Additionally, Nuton LLC (“Nuton”), a Rio Tinto Venture, exercised its pre-emptive rights in respect of the Hudbay Placement, pursuant to the terms of its investor rights agreement, to maintain its 7.2% equity interest in the Company for gross proceeds of C$1,562,210 (the “Nuton Placement”). Pursuant to the Hudbay Placement and the Nuton Placement, the Company issued a total of 12,885,157 common shares at a price of C$1.68 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$21,647,064 to the Company (the “Private Placement”). The subscription by Hudbay reflects the base offering of 11,852,064 common shares as well as top-up shares of 103,206 common shares to achieve its 9.99% ownership of the Company after giving effect to the Private Placement. 

ASCU President and CEO, George Ogilvie commented, “With the completion of this financing, our company is fully funded with additional runway to complete our 2025 work programs. Our main deliverable in 2025 is the preparation of updated technical data on the entire Parks/Salyer deposit and producing a Pre-Feasibility Study in the second half of the year. We are excited to welcome Hudbay as a strategic investor of the Company; an endorsement by a well-known and sophisticated entity. Hudbay has significant experience in mine development and construction, and we look forward to tapping into that wealth of knowledge as we continue to de-risk the Cactus Project through the remaining study phases to an eventual final investment decision, followed by construction and development. We also value the ongoing support of and partnership with Nuton.”

Concurrent with the closing of the Hudbay Placement, ASCU and Hudbay executed an investor rights agreement substantially on the terms disclosed in the January 9 PR. A copy of the investor rights agreement will be available in due course on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company’s issuer profile. 

Proceeds of the Private Placement are to be allocated for drilling, exploration, technical studies advancement of the Company’s Cactus Project, and for general corporate purposes. 
The common shares issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws, expiring four months after closing the transaction. The Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Scotiabank acted as financial advisor, and Bennett Jones LLP as legal advisor, to the Company, in connection with the Private Placement.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release. 

About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com)
ASCU is a copper exploration and development company with a 100% interest in the brownfield Cactus Project. The Project, on privately held land, contains a large-scale porphyry copper resource and a recent PEA proposes a generational open pit copper mine with robust economic returns. Cactus is a lower risk copper developer benefitting from a state-led permitting process, in place infrastructure, highways and rail lines at its doorstep and onsite permitted water access. The Company objective is to develop Cactus and become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, that could generate robust returns and provide a long-term sustainable and responsible operation for the community, investors and all stakeholders. The Company is led by an executive management team and Board which have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complemented by global capital markets expertise. 

For more information
Alison Dwoskin, Director, Investor Relations 
647-233-4348
adwoskin@arizonasonoran.com

George Ogilvie, President, CEO and Director 
416-723-0458
gogilvie@arizonasonoran.com
    
Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “advancement”, “assumptions”, “become”, “continue”, “could”, “deliverable”, “delivery”, “develop”, “development”, “emerging”, “estimates”, “expected”, “exploration”, “eventual”, “feasibility”, “followed”, “forward”, “future”, “generational”, “going”, “long-term”, “looking”, “near-term”, “objective”, “phases”, “plan”, “proposes”, “risk”, “runway”, “study”, “subject to”, “to be”, and “upgrading”, or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, would, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future, or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect.  Forward-looking statements include the use of proceeds of the Private Placement; the timing and ability of the Company to receive final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange in respect of the Private Placement; the advancement and future of the Cactus Project (including the 2025 work programs and other operations, copper production, returns (economic or otherwise)); the PEA and results thereof; the preparation of an updated technical data on Parks/Salyer (including the timing thereof); the amount of funding required to complete the 2025 work program; the completion and delivery of a Pre-Feasibility Study and other studies on the Cactus Project (including the timing thereof); any eventual investment decision on, or development or construction of the Cactus Project; copper resource at the Cactus Project; permitting; operating costs; any upside in value and/or delivered back to shareholders, sustainability and risk; the Company’s objectives (including the Cactus Project becoming a significant producer of copper cathodes in Arizona and the U.S.); the future plans or prospects of the Company (including sustainability of the Cactus Project and becoming a mid-tier copper producer); and the impact of Hudbay’s and Nuton’s investment and support in respect of the Company and its projects. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth or referenced in this press release, as well as those stated in the technical report for the Cactus Project filed on August 27, 2024 (the “2024 PEA Technical Report”), the Company’s Annual Information Form dated April 1, 2024 (the “AIF”), Management’s Discussion and Analysis (together with the accompanying financial statements) for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the quarters already ended in 2024 (collectively, the “2023-24 Financial Disclosure”) and the Company’s other applicable public disclosure (collectively, “Company Disclosure”), all available on the Company’s website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the “Risk Factors” in the AIF, and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the 2024 PEA Technical Report and the 2023-24 Financial Disclosure. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company’s business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the AIF, the 2023-24 Financial Disclosure and other Company Disclosure. Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and ASCU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this press release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the AIF, the 2024 PEA Technical Report, the 2023-24 Financial Disclosure and other Company Disclosure.

Preliminary Economic Assessments
The Preliminary Economic Assessment (or PEA) referenced in this press release and summarized in the 2024 PEA Technical Report is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the Cactus Project and the economic and technical viability of the Cactus Project has not been demonstrated. The PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the Cactus Project’s potential and design options; there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. For further detail on the Cactus Project and the PEA, including applicable technical notes and cautionary statements, please refer to the Company’s press release dated August 7, 2024 and the 2024 PEA Technical Report, both available on the Company’s website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Mineral Resource Estimates
Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, copper and other mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported “inferred” mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define “inferred” mineral resource estimates as an “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading “inferred” mineral resource estimates to an “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource category. Inferred mineral resource estimates may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a “inferred”, “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve. The mineral resource estimates declared by the Company were estimated, categorized and reported using standards and definitions in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the “CIM Standards”) in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 43-101”), which governs the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.
U.S. Readers
The terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the “CIM Definitions”) in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to United States domestic and certain foreign reporting companies under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (“S-K 1300”). Accordingly, information describing mineral resource estimates for the Cactus Project may not be comparable to similar information publicly reported in accordance with the applicable requirements of the SEC, and so there can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimate for the Cactus Project would be the same had the estimates been prepared per the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements under applicable United States federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to S-K 1300. Further, there is no assurance that any mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate that the Company may report under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared such estimates under S-K 1300.

Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS) (“Gunnison”) and Rio Tinto venture Nuton LLC have been selected to receive US$13.9 million in tax credits (the “48C tax credit”) under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Program (the “48C program”) to expand production of Made in America copper, which is designated a Critical Material for Energy, from its Johnson Camp Mine in Southern Arizona.

The competitive process for funding was managed by the U.S. Department of Energy as advisor to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), which selected recipients based on an extensive review of each project. “We are honored to receive this significant support from the Department of Energy and the IRS,” said Stephen Twyerould, CEO of Gunnison Copper. “This tax credit will allow us to produce significant quantities of copper metal domestically in the United States to directly supply American production in a variety of critical industries such as energy and defense.”

Gunnison is expanding the Johnson Camp Mine, which is under construction, with first copper production expected in mid-2025. The asset is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually.

“The goal of 48C is to support projects that achieve a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. At Nuton, our ambition is to redefine how copper is produced by applying nature-based technologies that achieve more positive social, economic and environmental outcomes,” said Adam Burley, CEO of Nuton. “Our first industrial-scale deployment of the Nuton technology at Johnson Camp is a major step on the journey to achieving that ambition.”

“I am very pleased with the government support for this project.” Said Fred DuVal, Chairman of Gunnison Copper. “We remain committed to providing good jobs, paying prevailing wages, for Cochise County residents and to developing our partnership with Cochise College to implement an apprenticeship program for labor on behalf of Gunnison.”

The 48C tax credit is part of the US$10 billion in funding under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) to intensify clean energy manufacturing and recycling, industrial decarbonization, and critical materials projects in the US. In March 2024, the IRS allocated $4 billion in 48C credits. In April 2024, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with DOE, announced up to $6 billion in a second round of tax credit allocations and Gunnison and Nuton applied for these credits for the Johnson Camp project. Under the IRA, a qualifying advanced energy project credit can either be monetized through its sale for cash or by using it to offset income tax liability. Realization of the full amount of this tax credit is subject to satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code including certification of the operational and employment plans set out in the application.

The tax partnership has a period of two years within which to satisfy the certification requirements and claim the tax credits.

The actual allocation of the 48C tax credits as between Gunnison and Nuton will be determined in a tax partnership agreement that will be entered into between the parties. Final details will be confirmed in a subsequent press release.

ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER

Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.

Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

In addition, Gunnison’s Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in mid 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.

Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.

For additional information on the Gunnison Project please refer to the Company’s technical report entitled “Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment” dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com

ABOUT NUTON

Nuton, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is an innovative venture focused on finding better ways to produce the copper the world needs with the smallest possible environmental footprint. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary nature-based leaching technologies and capabilities that offer the potential to economically unlock copper through bio-heap leaching, including from primary sulfide resources, achieving market-leading recovery rates and increasing copper production at new and ongoing operations. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is our ambition to produce the world’s lowest carbon footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each deployment site across five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.

To learn more about Nuton, visit https://nuton.tech/

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E: info@GunnisonCopper.com
www.GunnisonCopper.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking information” concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company’s mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; (vi) the exploration and development of the Company’s mineral projects; (vii) the satisfaction of final conditions and receipt of 48C tax credits; (viii) the direct supply of American production in a variety of critical industries such as energy and defense.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved” suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company’s operational plans, the allocation of the 48C tax credits between the Company and Nuton, the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the failure to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of the 48C tax credits may be allocated to repay capital expenditures for the Johnson Camp mine, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company’s business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

VANCOUVER, CANADA (December 23, 2024) – Aldebaran Resources Inc. (“Aldebaran” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: ALDE, OTCQX: ADBRF) is pleased to announce that Nuton Holdings Ltd. (“Nuton”), a Rio Tinto venture, has confirmed it will make the second payment (US$20 Million) pursuant to the Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Aldebaran announced on November 7, 2024. Aldebaran anticipates receiving the payment in early January 2025.

Transaction Details

Aldebaran entered into an Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Nuton, whereby Nuton has the exclusive right to acquire a 20% interest in the Altar project by making the following payments:

• US$10 Million upon signing (paid)
• US$20 Million upon delivery of an updated mineral resource estimate (payment confirmed)
• US$30 Million upon delivery of a Preliminary Economic Assessment
  • PEA expected to be completed in Q2-2025
• US$190 Million upon delivery of a Pre-Feasibility Study
  • PFS expected to be completed in H2-2026

On Behalf Of The Aldebaran Board

(signed) “John Black”

John Black
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: +1 (604) 685-6800
Email: info@aldebaranresources.com

Please click here and subscribe to receive future news releases: https://aldebaranresources.com/contact/subscribe/

For further information, please consult our website at www.aldebaranresources.com or contact:

Ben Cherrington
Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: +1 347 394-2728 or +44 7538 244 208
Email: ben.cherrington@aldebaranresources.com

About Aldebaran Resources Inc.

Aldebaran is a mineral exploration company that was spun out of Regulus Resources Inc. in 2018 and has the same core management team. Aldebaran holds a 60% interest in the Altar copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina and can earn an additional 20% interest in the project by completing a further $25 million in expenditures at Altar over the next three years. The Altar project hosts multiple porphyry copper-gold deposits with potential for additional discoveries. Altar forms part of a cluster of world-class porphyry copper deposits which includes Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), El Pachón (Glencore), and Los Azules (McEwen Copper). In November 2024, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Altar, prepared by Independent Mining Consultants, Inc., including the three main porphyry discoveries (Altar Central, Altar East, and Altar United) reported within a single conceptual open pit (see Company news release dated November 25, 2024).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements regarding Aldebaran, including management’s assessment of future-plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran’s control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

Specifically, and without limitation, all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Aldebaran expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and development of the Altar project described herein, and management’s assessment of future plans and operations and statements with respect to the completion of the anticipated exploration and development programs, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran’s control. These risks may cause actual financial and operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Although Aldebaran believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Aldebaran does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities law.

TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — McEwen Copper Inc., a subsidiary of McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX), is pleased to announce closing of an additional $35 million investment by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture.

McEwen Copper previously announced a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 2,333,333 common shares at a subscription price of US$30.00 per common share, for gross proceeds of up to US$70 million (the “Offering”). The first tranche of the Offering was led by a $14 million investment by McEwen Mining and a $5 million investment by Rob McEwen.

In this second tranche of the Offering, Nuton (a Rio Tinto Venture) has purchased an additional 1,166,666 common shares of McEwen Copper for $35 million and two other investors have acquired 66,669 common shares for $2 million. Following the closing of this second tranche of the Offering, McEwen Copper has raised a total of $56 million.

Nuton now owns 17.2% of McEwen Copper on a fully diluted basis. Following these share issuances, McEwen Copper will have 32,804,284 common shares outstanding, giving it a post-money market value of $984 million, and its shareholders are: McEwen Mining Inc. 46.4%, Stellantis 18.3%, Nuton 17.2%, Rob McEwen 12.7%, Victor Smorgon Group 3.0%, and other shareholders 2.0%.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance ongoing work on the feasibility study for the Los Azules copper project, which is scheduled for publication in the first half of 2025.

Subscription for the remaining 466,664 common shares in the Offering is available to qualified accredited investors, subject to a US$1 million minimum investment and certain other conditions. The securities sold in the Offering are private and subject to transfer restrictions until such time when they become listed on a public exchange.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Nuton

Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto’s copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching related technologies and capability – a product of almost 30 years of research and development. Nuton offers the potential to economically unlock copper from primary sulfide resources through leaching, achieving market-leading recovery rates and contributing to an increase in copper production at new and ongoing operations. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world’s lowest footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of our deployment sites, across our five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.

About McEwen Copper

McEwen Copper Inc. holds a 100% interest in the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina and the Elder Creek copper/gold project in Nevada, USA.

Los Azules was ranked in the top 10 largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world by Mining Intelligence (2022). A PEA published in June 2023 for the project estimated a $2.7 billion after-tax NPV8% at $3.75/lb Cu, a 27-year mine life, and an updated copper resource of 10.9 billion pounds at grade 0.40% Cu (Indicated category) and an additional 26.7 billion pounds at grade 0.31% Cu (Inferred category). For more details about the Los Azules PEA click here.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.’s (the “Company”) estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the corporation to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption “Risk Factors”, for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by management of McEwen Mining Inc.

About McEwen Mining

McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns approximately 46.4% of McEwen Copper which owns the large, advanced stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The Company’s goal is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the objective of increasing its share price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has personally invested $225 million in the companies and takes an annual salary of $1.

Phoenix, Arizona–(Newsfile Corp. – October 21, 2024) – Excelsior Mining Corp. (TSX: MIN) (OTCQB: EXMGF) (FSE: 3XS) (“Excelsior” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received all permits to commence operations at the Johnson Camp Mine (“JCM”) in southeast Arizona, which will produce Made in America copper expected to be used domestically to strengthen American supply chains. First copper production is anticipated in H1 of 2025.

Excelsior received the amended Mined Land Reclamation Plan (MLRP) approval from the State of Arizona. The MLRP, along with the recently approved Air Quality Permit (AQP) and the Aquifer Protection Permit (APP), means that all approvals needed to start the production of copper at JCM have been received.

“This final permit is a key milestone bringing us one step closer to copper production at JCM. We believe the partnership with Nuton LLC for the first industrial-scale deployment of their sulfide leaching technology, combined with the oxide ore production, generates an exciting opportunity for both organizations and the wider copper industry,” comments Robert Winton, Senior Vice President Operation & GM of Excelsior Mining. He adds, “Excelsior’s local and state engagement continues to deliver opportunity in Southeastern Arizona.”

About the Johnson Camp Mine

The Johnson Camp Mine is a past producing open pit, heap leach operation, which with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture is in Stage 2 of a process to restart the mine using Nuton technologies, with first copper expected to be produced in 2025. The operation includes two open pits, a fully functioning SX-EW plant capable of producing 25 million pounds of cathode copper per year, a complete set of PLS and raffinate ponds, and full infrastructure (ancillary facilities, access, power, water, and communications).

About Excelsior Mining

Excelsior is a mineral exploration and development company that owns the Gunnison Copper Deposit, the Johnson Camp Mine, and a portfolio of exploration projects, including the Peabody Sill and the Strong and Harris deposits, in Cochise County, Arizona.

For more information on Excelsior, please visit our website at www.excelsiormining.com.

Excelsior’s exploration work on the Johnson Camp mine is supervised by Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of Excelsior and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Excelsior Mining Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44^th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018.

Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E: info@excelsiormining.com
www.excelsiormining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking information” concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of future production from Johnson Camp, the expected production capacity from Johnson Camp, that copper produced from Johnson Camp will be used to strengthen American supply chains, and expectations regarding the exploration and development of the Company’s mineral projects.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved” suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the availability of financing to implement the Company’s operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks relating to variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company’s business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/227130

Phoenix, Arizona–(Newsfile Corp. – October 10, 2024) – Excelsior Mining Corp. (TSX: MIN) (OTCQB: EXMGF) (FSE: 3XS) (“Excelsior” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent (LOI) for a Workforce Development Agreement with Cochise College for a local workforce development partnership for its under-construction Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) and future development Gunnison Copper project in Cochise County, Arizona.

“We believe this collaboration holds great promise and potential for both Excelsior and Cochise College to develop and foster highly skilled mining jobs in the area,” states Craig Hallworth, SVP and Chief Financial Officer of Excelsior Mining. He continues, “Excelsior is rapidly constructing the Johnson Camp Mine which will be a crucial part of the clean energy supply chain and provide dozens of permanent mine jobs and temporary construction jobs to the area.”

“Cochise College is excited to explore workforce training opportunities with Excelsior Mining that will create jobs and strengthen the economic vitality of our County,” comments Dr. James Perey, Executive Vice President for Academics at Cochise College.

Based on the LOI, Excelsior welcomes:

• Engaging Cochise College to design, set up and administer Excelsior’s apprenticeship program.
• Cochise College developing specialized course content, such as Mine Safety and Health Administration (MHSA) training or process plant instrumentation technician training, including the possibility of Excelsior providing for qualified course instructors.
• Excelsior participating in career days and in job boards to advertise available positions.

Excelsior has been hiring a local workforce from the area for over a decade and has made community engagement a key priority. Excelsior participates in community support through its donations of money, people and materials to assist local organizations. Excelsior is a member of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) which promotes economic development in the region.

About Excelsior Mining

Excelsior “The Copper Solution Company” is a mineral exploration and production company that owns and operates the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona. The project is a low cost, environmentally friendly in-situ recovery copper extraction project that is permitted to 125 million pounds per year of copper cathode production. Excelsior also owns the past producing Johnson Camp Mine, which with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture is in Stage 2 of a process to restart the mine using Nuton technologies, with first copper expected to be produced in 2025. Excelsior additionally owns a portfolio of exploration projects, including the Peabody Sill and the Strong and Harris deposits.

For more information on Excelsior, please visit our website at www.excelsiormining.com.

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Excelsior Mining Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44^th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018.

Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E: info@excelsiormining.com
www.excelsiormining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking information” concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms and benefits of the letter of intent with Cochise College, the rapid construction the Johnson Camp Mine, that the Johnson Camp Mine will be a crucial part of the clean energy supply chain, the number of permanent and temporary jobs provided, future production and production capacity from the Company’s mineral projects.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved” suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the availability of financing to implement the Company’s operational plans, the execution of a definitive agreement for the letter of intent with Cochise College, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project or JCM, the risk that a definitive agreement with Cochise College is not executed, risks relating to variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/226227