Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 16, 2026) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG) (OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional assay results from the Chinchilla Sulfide CRD discovery at the Selena project ("Selena" or "Project") in Nevada (Figure 1).
Core hole SE25-054 was a 700 meter ("m") step-out northeast of discovery hole SE25-053 (see December 18, 2025 press release HERE) and intersected an "upper" oxide mineralized intercept of 3.1m grading 86.5 g/t silver ("Ag"), 0.3% zinc ("Zn"), 3.8% lead ("Pb), 2.9 g/t gold ("Au"), and 0.07% antimony ("Sb") (353.1 g/t AgEq or 14.7% ZnEq) starting at 639m downhole (Table 1 & Figure 2). The drillhole was paused at a depth of 916m in mid-December due to winter weather constraints and the Company anticipates re-entering and continuing the hole in the spring to a target depth of up to 1,200m to ensure the hole fully tests the MT target anomaly (Figure 2).
Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President, CEO & Director commented, "Our 2025 drill program has intersected high-grade CRD mineralization in 2 of 3 holes with individual samples grading up to 379 g/t silver, 27% zinc and 2.9 g/t gold. We are very encouraged with the results of the first phase of drilling, and we anticipate a big year ahead now that we have a stronger understanding of the structural controls on mineralization at the Chinchilla Sulfide discovery. Drill planning is in progress, and we anticipate our fully funded 2026 drill program to begin in May."
Chinchilla Sulfide Zone - Discovery Highlights
SE25-054: 3.1m grading 86.5 g/t Ag, 0.3% Zn, 3.8% Pb, 2.9 g/t Au, and 0.07% Sb (353.1 g/t AgEq or 14.7% ZnEq) starting at 639m downhole, true thickness unknown (Figure 2)
- Hole 54 intersected the faulted and mineralized lower section of what equates to the same host horizon as the Chinchilla Oxide zone that outcrops ~2.5km to the east (See long-section A-A' HERE)
- Drilling did not fully test the same lower Chinchilla Sulfide horizon that was intersected in hole SE25-053. The hole was paused in prospective carbonate host rocks and the Company intends on completing additional geophysics this spring followed by deepening of hole 54 during the 2026 drill program
SE25-053: 1.1m grading 60.1 g/t Ag, 27.1% Zn, 0.7% Pb, 1.5 g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, and 0.03% Sb (766.4 g/t AgEq or 31.9% ZnEq) starting at 943m downhole, true thickness unknown (Table 1 & Figure 2)
- And: 17.4 meters grading 35.6 g/t Ag, 6.0% Zn, 0.5% Pb, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, and 0.1% Sb (219.9 g/t AgEq or 9.2% ZnEq) (Figure 2 & Picture 1)
- Including: 8.6 meters grading 21.1 g/t Ag, 10.4% Zn, 0.3% Pb, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, and 0.1% Sb (273.6 g/t AgEq or 11.4% ZnEq)
- And: 8.7 meters grading 13.9 g/t Ag, 7.0% Zn, 0.3% Pb, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, and 0.01% Sb (175.5 g/t AgEq or 7.3% ZnEq) (Picture 2)
Borehole Electromagnetic Survey
- The Company intends on completing two borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) surveys at the start of the 2026 drill campaign on hole SE25-053 and SE25-054
- The BHEM survey will detect conductive anomalies such as the massive sulfide zones intercepted in SE25-053 and can detect conductive anomalies up to 250m outside of the borehole, which will improve drill targeting and geologic modeling within the survey areas
- This method is especially effective for detecting massive sulfide deposits and is commonly used in CRD, VMS and magmatic nickel sulfide exploration
- The BHEM survey will detect conductive anomalies such as the massive sulfide zones intercepted in SE25-053 and can detect conductive anomalies up to 250m outside of the borehole, which will improve drill targeting and geologic modeling within the survey areas
Figure 1: Plan view map showing the Chinchilla Sulfide CRD discovery in hole SE25-053 & SE25-054 within a kilometer-scale MT anomaly (coloured contours) that outlines the Chinchilla Sulfide target
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Table 1: Table of significant drill assays from 2025 drilling at the Chinchilla Sulfide Discovery
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For a 2025 drilling collar table click HERE
Figure 2: X-Section B-B' showing high-grade CRD intercepts from SE25-054 and SE25-053 at the Chinchilla Sulfide discovery. Note SE25-054 tested the upper horizon but did not fully test the lower horizon
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Click HERE to view Chinchilla Sulfide Long-Section A-A'
Earn-In Terms - The Project is currently operated by Ridgeline under Phase 1 of an earn-in agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Limited ("South32"), where South32 may earn up to an 80% interest in the Project by satisfying all commitments under the earn-in agreement (see August 22, 2024 news release HERE). South32 retains the right to earn an initial 60% interest in the Selena project by funding a minimum of US$10 million in qualifying work expenditures on the Project over an initial five-year term, following which South32 will have a further option to increase its interest in the Project to a total of 80% by funding an additional US$10 million in qualifying work expenditures (for an aggregate spend of US$20 million) over an additional three-year term. If South32 wishes to exercise the Phase 2 option, it must arrange for and provide draft definitive documentation in respect of a debt facility from which (if executed) Ridgeline may draw on to sufficiently fund Ridgeline's share of costs (20% pro-rata) associated with development of a mine at Selena through to commercial production.
QA/QC Procedures
Samples are submitted to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) of Sparks, Nevada, which is a certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Independent check samples are shipped to Paragon Geochemical Labs (PAL) of Sparks, Nevada. Samples are prepared using industry-standard prep methods and analysed using FA-PB30-ICP (Au; 30g fire assay) and ICP-5AM48 (48 element Suite; 0.5g 5-acid digestion/ICP-MS) methods. AAL also undertakes its own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. Ridgeline's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results completed by the Company's Qualified Person, Michael T. Harp, Vice President, Exploration.
The technical information contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of, and approved by Michael T. Harp, CPG, the Company's Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Harp is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Selena Project
Selena is located in White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 64 kilometers ("km") north of the town of Ely, NV. The Project is currently being operated by Ridgeline under Phase 1 of an earn-in agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Limited ("South32") and shares a property boundary with the Butte Valley project, a $33M earn-in agreement between Freeport-McMoRan and the underlying owner, Falcon Butte Minerals. The Project is comprised of 39 square kilometers of highly prospective exploration ground including Ridgeline's shallow-oxide Ag-Au ± Pb-Zn Chinchilla Oxide and deeper Chinchilla Sulfide discoveries. Subsequent drilling has continued to highlight the potential for high-grade CRD type mineralization (Ag-Zn-Pb-Au ± Cu-Sb-W) between Chinchilla Oxide and Freeport-McMoRan's Butte Valley Cu-Au-Ag-Zn porphyry located directly west of the property. (View the Selena VRIFY Deck Here). For additional information regarding the South32 earn-in agreement terms view the August 22, 2024 news release HERE.
About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.
Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management team and a 200 km2 exploration portfolio across seven projects in Nevada, USA. The Company is a hybrid explorer with a mix of 100%-owned exploration assets (Big Blue, Atlas, Bell Creek & Coyote) as well as two earn-in exploration agreements with Nevada Gold Mines at its Swift and Black Ridge projects and a third earn-in with South32 at its Selena project. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.ridgelineminerals.com.
On behalf of the Board
"Chad Peters"
President & CEO
Further Information:
Chad Peters, P.Geo.
President, CEO & Director
Ridgeline Minerals Corp.
+1 775 304 9773
cpeters@ridgelineminerals.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release
Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated benefits of the Earn-In Agreement and the transaction contemplated thereby. The words "potential", "anticipate", "meaningful", "discovery", "forecast", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that TSX Venture Exchange approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; the current objectives concerning the Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline and may 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. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Ridgeline does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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