Luca Mining drills 19 metres of 6.3 g/t AuEq from Creston Vein, Tahuehueto Mine, Mexico
Luca Mining Corp. [TSXV: LUCA; OTCQX: LUCMF; FSE: Z68] reported new assay results from its ongoing 2026 exploration drill program at the Tahuehueto gold-silver mine in Durango, Mexico.
The latest results are highlighted by an intersection of 18.7 metres of 6.28 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) at the Creston Vein, which returned a wider and higher-grade mineralized interval than previously anticipated in the resource model. Located close to existing underground infrastructure, the intersection is within an area scheduled for mining during the first half of 2027 and has the potential to provide additional high-grade mill feed in the near term.
Additional high-grade results from the Catorce and Santiago veins continue to demonstrate the potential for near-mine resource expansion at Tahuehueto. At Catorce, an underexplored area interpreted to represent a southern extension of the Creston Vein system, drilling returned 13.7 metres of 3.33 g/t AuEq and 3.6 metres of 6.67 g/t AuEq. At Santiago, drilling intersected 11.6 m of 5.21 g/t AuEq as ongoing infill and step-out programs continue to define this growing mineralized system.
Highlights: High-grade intersection at the Creston Vein, exceeding expectations for both width and grade, in close proximity to existing underground infrastructure and areas scheduled for mining in H1 2027:
TRT26-15: 18.7 mettres of 6.28 g/t AuEq (2.65 g/t Au, 75.08 g/t Ag, 0.86% Cu, 4.61% Pb and 11.16% Zn) from 30.4 metres, including 7.8 metres of 7.14 g/t AuEq (2.85 g/t Au, 83.40 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, 5.26% Pb and 13.51% Zn) from 30.4 metres and including 7.1 metres of 8.55 g/t AuEq (3.76 g/t Au, 103.83 g/t Ag, 1.09% Cu, 6.29% Pb and 14.43% Zn) from 42.0 metres.
TRT26-14: 1.9 m of 5.02 g/t AuEq (4.38 g/t Au, 24.72 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.59% Pb and 0.79% Zn) from 52.4 metres.
Continued high-grade results from first exploration drillholes at the Catorce Block since 2008 – DDH26-RCE-05: 13.7 m of 3.33 g/t AuEq (2.21 g/t Au, 88.80 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.48% Pb, 0.68% Zn) from 184.8 metres, including 0.7 metres of 8.57 g/t AuEq (4.50 g/t Au, 373.00 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.29% Pb, 0.37% Zn) from 184.8 metres and 2.0 metres of 4.99 g/t AuEq (3.49 g/t Au, 119.35 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.69% Pb and 0.89% Zn) from 187.3 metres.
The Catorce Block is located approximately 300 metres from existing underground development and is interpreted to represent a southern extension of the Creston Vein within an area of structural complexity. Luca has completed seven diamond drillholes totalling 1,532 m as part of its renewed exploration program in this area.
Continued high-grade intercepts from the Santiago vein – DDH26-SGO-12: 11.6 metres of 5.21 g/t AuEq (4.72 g/t Au, 42.47 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.04% Pb, 0.13% Zn) from 122.1 metres including 1.2 metres of 9.90 g/t AuEq (9.60 g/t Au, 26.00 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.03% Pb and 0.08% Zn) from 128.0 metres.
DDH26-SGO-11: 8.8 m of 3.09 g/t AuEq (2.61 g/t Au, 21.38 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.21% Pb, 0.21% Zn) from 170.9 metres, including 3.1 metres of 3.53 g/t AuEq (2.87 g/t Au, 24.26 g/t Ag, 0.45% Cu, 0.16% Pb and 0.16% Zn) from 176.7 metres.
DDH26-SGO-10: 1.3 m of 3.58 g/t AuEq (3.05 g/t Au, 25.50 g/t Ag, 0.10% Cu, 0.86% Pb, 0.54% Zn) from 161.9 m and an interval of 1.7 m of 5.40 g/t AuEq (4.72 g/t Au, 52.33 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.25% Pb, 0.13% Zn) from 172.1 metres.
Exploration continues across multiple targets at Tahuehueto, with two contracted diamond drill rigs currently on site, an additional surface rig en route and Luca’s underground Termite rig supporting near-term mineral definition. To date, the company has completed 67 underground drillholes totalling 11,450 metres and 38 surface drillholes totalling 7,236 metres.
“These results continue to support our view that mineralization at Tahuehueto is continuous and that the broader system remains underexplored, with significant potential for further resource growth,” stated Paul D. Gray, Vice President Exploration of Luca Mining. “The standout result of 18.7 metres at 6.28 g/t AuEq from the Creston Vein exceeded our previous interpretation of the zone in both width and grade. Importantly, this mineralization is located close to existing underground development, and we anticipate being able to bring this area into production in 2027, with the potential to improve mill head grades and mining efficiency given the width of the mineralized interval.
“We are also encouraged by the continued high-grade results from Catorce and Santiago, which highlight the exploration potential across multiple vein systems at Tahuehueto. Looking ahead, our program will focus on continued definition drilling at Creston, Perdido, Catorce and Santiago, as well as testing the highly prospective gap between the Creston and Santiago vein systems. We believe these efforts can both support near-term mine planning and unlock additional resource growth across the property.”
Drillholes DDH26-RCE-02 through DDG26-RCE-07 targeted mineralization previously identified within the Catorce Block, a known, but under-drilled Tahuehueto mineralized zone that is interpreted to be a southern extension of the Creston Vein System and has not seen any exploration efforts since 2008.
Drillholes DDH26-SGO-10 through DDH26-SGO-12 targeted mineralization within the Santiago Vein through in-fill drilling bolstering 2025 drilling success in the zone.
To date, Luca has completed 67 underground holes for 11,450 metres and 38 surface holes for 7,236 metres using “HQ”, “NQ” and/or “BQ” sized diamond drill core (Creston, Perdido, El Rey, Catorce and Santiago targets).
Key Intercepts – Catorce: DDH26-RCE-05 returned 13.7 metres of 3.33 g/t AuEq (2.21 g/t Au, 88.80 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.48% Pb, 0.68% Zn) from 184.8 metres, including 0.7 metres of 8.57 g/t AuEq (4.50 g/t Au, 373.00 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.29% Pb, 0.37% Zn) from 184.8 metres and 2.0 metres of 4.99 g/t AuEq (3.49 g/t Au, 119.35 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.69% Pb and 0.89% Zn) from 187.3 metres.
DDH26-RCE-02: 3.6 metres of 6.67 g/t AuEq (4.84 g/t Au, 98.29 g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, 1.30% Pb, 3.49% Zn) from 195.0 metres, including 0.7 metres of 14.86 g/t AuEq (11.20 g/t Au, 93.70 g/t Ag, 0.53% Cu, 3.68% Pb, 12.76% Zn) from 197.9 metres and additional intersection of 1.3 m of 3.81 g/t AuEq (2.23 g/t Au, 17.01 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 0.99% Pb, 8.29% Zn) from 205.3 metres.
DDH26-RCE-06: 3.5 metres of 4.19 g/t AuEq (1.41 g/t Au, 250.59 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.53% Pb, 0.20% Zn) from 168.8 metres, including 0.8 metres of 12.91 g/t AuEq (4.17 g/t Au, 813.00 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.15% Pb, 0.37% Zn) from 170.5 metres.
Santiago – DDH26-SGO-12: 11.6 metres of 5.21 g/t AuEq (4.72 g/t Au, 42.47 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.04% Pb, 0.13% Zn) from 122.1 metres, including 1.6 metres of 8.05 g/t AuEq (7.10 g/t Au, 86.23 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.04% Pb, 0.08% Zn) from 122.1 metres and 1.2 metres of 8.40 g/t AuEq (7.90 g/t Au, 43.52 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 0.02% Pb and 0.11% Zn) from 126.1 metres and including 1.2 metres of 9.90 g/t AuEq (9.60 g/t Au, 26.00 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.03% Pb and 0.08% Zn) from 128.0 metres.
DDH26-SGO-11: 8.8 metres of 3.09 g/t AuEq (2.61 g/t Au, 21.38 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.21% Pb, 0.21% Zn) from 170.9 m including 4.7 metres of 3.47 g/t AuEq (3.03 g/t Au, 23.22 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 0.27% Pb, 0.25% Zn) from 170.9 metres and including 3.1 metres of 3.53 g/t AuEq (2.87 g/t Au, 24.26 g/t Ag, 0.45% Cu, 0.16% Pb and 0.16% Zn) from 176.7 metres.
DDH26-SGO-10: 1.3 metres of g/t 3.58 AuEq (3.05 g/t Au, 25.50 g/t Ag, 0.10% Cu, 0.86% Pb, 0.54% Zn) from 161.9 metres and an interval of 1.7 metres of 5.40 g/t AuEq (4.72 g/t Au, 52.33 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 0.25% Pb, 0.13% Zn) from 172.1 metres.
As part of the Tahuehueto exploration program a Luca owned and operated Termite drill rig capable of drilling “BQ” sized drill core up to 100 metres in length has been added to bolster near underground workings verification and mineral definition. Drill core from this drill rig are handled by the Tahuehueto exploration department and treated the same as exploration drill core (processing, logging and sampling) and is now being utilized to more accurately define the mineralized zones anticipated to be part of the near-term mine plan objectives.
Drillholes TRT26-09 through TRT26-11 were drilled from Level 12 of the Tahuehueto mine and targeted the Perdido vein in areas that are scheduled to be mined during H1 2027. Drillholes TRT26-12 through TRT26-15 were drilled from Level 25 and targeted the Creston Vein in areas that are scheduled to be mined during H1 2027.
Of particular significance, drillhole TRT26-15 intersected a wider and higher-grade interval than previously anticipated within the Creston Vein, providing additional geological information that may support the inclusion of high-grade material in the Company’s 2027 mine plan.
TRT26-15: 18.7 m of 6.28 g/t AuEq (2.65 g/t Au, 75.08 g/t Ag, 0.86% Cu, 4.61% Pb and 11.16% Zn) from 30.4 metres, including 7.8 m of 7.14 g/t AuEq (2.85 g/t Au, 83.40 g/t Ag, 1.05% Cu, 5.26% Pb and 13.51% Zn) from 30.4 metres and including 7.1 metres of 8.55 g/t AuEq (3.76 g/t Au, 103.83 g/t Ag, 1.09% Cu, 6.29% Pb and 14.43% Zn) from 42.0 metres.
TRT26-14: 1.9 metres of 5.02 g/t AuEq (4.38 g/t Au, 24.72 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.59% Pb and 0.79% Zn) from 52.4 metres. True widths are estimated to be approximately 85-90% of drilled intervals.
The Tahuehueto property comprises a large epithermal gold-silver vein system with approximately 11 km of known vein strike length and numerous mineralized structures. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth across most modeled Mineral Resource areas. The current campaigns represent the first substantive exploration drilling conducted on the property in more than 12 years, and the first since the addition of key concessions to the land package.
Luca’s 2026 exploration program builds on the success of the 2025 campaign. The program is designed to expand known mineral resources, adding near-term mineable material and defining the vertical and lateral extent of mineralization, as well as to identify additional thick, high-grade breccia zones known to occur within the epithermal vein system, and test multiple underexplored vein systems.
In addition to the four veins that currently support the mineral resource, at least 14 additional prospective veins have been documented within the concession area with potential to host epithermal Au-Ag (±Cu-Zn-Pb) mineralization. In several cases, these targets may represent extensions of the existing mineralized structures.
Overall, the company has identified more than 11 km of prospective vein structures along strike, compared to approximately 4.5 km of mineralized veins incorporated into the current mineral resource model, highlighting significant exploration upside across the property.
Luca Mining has two 100%-owned producing mines within the Sierra Madre mineralized belt in Mexico which hosts numerous producing and historical mines along its trend. The company produces gold, copper, zinc, silver and lead from these mines that each have considerable development and resource upside.
The Campo Morado polymetallic VMS mine is an underground operation located in Guerrero State within a 121 km2 land package. It produces copper-zinc-lead concentrates with precious metals credits. It is currently undergoing an optimization program which is already generating significant improvements in recoveries, grades, efficiencies, and cashflows.
The Tahuehueto Mine is a large property of over 100 km2 in Durango State. The project hosts epithermal gold and silver vein-style mineralization. Tahuehueto is a newly constructed underground mining operation producing primarily gold and silver. The company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in commercial production.