Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) has announced that field crews are mobilizing to its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project in north-central Yukon to commence the first phase of drilling targeting the project's 3D induced polarization (IP) chargeability anomalies. The first drill hole(s) are expected to commence within approximately 10 days, focusing on the Central Zone, a roughly 2 km corridor between the Company's West Zone and East Zone deposits.
The upcoming drill holes mark the first drilling to directly test the priority 3D IP chargeability anomalies identified in the Company's recently completed survey (see news release dated April 27, 2026). Notably, the Lower Central Zone and New Mountain Top areas exhibit interpreted chargeability anomalies that are several times greater in areal extent than the chargeability response over the defined West Zone mineralization. The Company intends to complete as many holes as site and weather conditions allow before the current field season concludes in mid-September 2026, anticipated to be one to two holes.
These holes represent the first phase of a planned multi-phase drill program built around the Company's 3D IP targeting model. Phase 1 begins this summer, pauses over the winter period, and is planned to resume and expand in spring and summer 2027. During the winter break, the Company plans to mobilize equipment over the seasonal winter road to establish camp infrastructure and an airstrip, positioning the project for an expanded exploration program in subsequent phases.
The Blende Project hosts an existing NI 43-101 mineral resource and is one of the larger known carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead occurrences in Western Canada. The current drill program is designed to test whether mineralization extends beyond the currently defined zones. Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO, stated: “Blende is not a greenfield story. We already hold one of the larger known carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead resources in Western Canada, and our objective now is to test whether that resource can be expanded. Our 3D IP survey identified chargeability anomalies, coincident with low resistivity, that cover a larger area than the chargeability response over the West Zone that anchors our existing resource, and this program puts a drill directly into those targets for the first time.”
The drill targets were ranked based on the criterion of a chargeability high coincident with low resistivity, as that combination may indicate sulphide mineralization. Prior review of the inversion data indicated that historical drilling in the Central Zone (13 holes drilled along and down the spine of the ridge toward the East Zone) appears to have been positioned between two distinct chargeability anomalies, rather than directly testing the strongest responses. The Company's interpretation is that these observations warrant drill testing for possible extensions of mineralization between the West Zone and the East Zone.
The Blende Project has been described as hosting the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon (M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin, Economic Geology, 1995). A mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff was disclosed in the Company's news release dated May 20, 2021. The estimate was prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services, an independent Qualified Person, and has not been updated to reflect current metal prices.
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sarah Palmer, P.Geo., an independent consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Blende Silver Corp. is a Vancouver-based junior resource company focused on silver-zinc-lead exploration and development at its flagship Blende Project. The property covers 5,345 hectares, is winter road accessible, and is located approximately 63 km northeast of Keno Hill, Yukon. The property lies within the Keno Hill silver district, one of Canada's highest-grade historic silver producing districts. The property has undergone more than $9.2 million in past exploration, including 25,195 meters of drilling in 132 drill holes.
