Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026) - Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: ALEX) ("Alpha" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has started both core and reverse circulation drilling ("RC") at its Aburna Gold Project. The Company plans approximately 6,500 metres of drilling in this fully funded 2026 phase one exploration campaign. This drilling is designed to expand the footprint of the shallow gold mineralization discovered by the Alpha team at the Hill 52, Central and Northeast prospects and test several high-priority targets within the Aburna corridor. The Aburna corridor is a tract of prospective terrain measuring some 7 by 2 kilometres defined by numerous gold-in-soil anomalies, shallow rotary air blast ("RAB") sampling results, compelling geological features interpreted to control the gold mineralization, and artisanal workings.
The Aburna Gold Project is located within Alpha's 100% owned, 514 km² Kerkasha Project located in Eritrea. Alpha is also exploring the large target footprint Anagulu Copper-Gold Porphyry Project some 7 kilometres south of Aburna, with these projects being two of three significant discoveries made by the Alpha team on the Kerkasha licence.
HIGHLIGHTS of ABURNA GOLD PROJECT EXPLORATION DRILLING PLAN
Fully funded exploration drilling has commenced at the Northeast Prospect and will continue during Q3 & Q4 at the Hill 52 and Central expansion target areas
In addition, seven new priority gold targets identified from shallow RAB drilling results, gold-in-soil anomalies and updated geological interpretations will be drill tested
The initial 2026 Aburna drilling plans to deploy 60% of the metres on expansion of the existing prospect footprints, both along trend and to modest depths, and 40% testing compelling newly identified targets within the 7-kilometre long Aburna corridor
Regular batches of drilling results will be reported as they become available over the coming months
HIGHLIGHTS to DATE of ABURNA GOLD PROJECT: HILL 52, CENTRAL and NORTHEAST PROSPECT DRILL INTERCEPTS
ABD012: 18 metres grading 15.33 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold
ABD001: 23 metres grading 6.74 g/t gold
ABRD142: 29 metres grading 2.89 g/t gold
ABRD105: 22 metres grading 1.70 g/t gold
ABR037: 16 metres grading 14.10 g/t gold
ABR092: 9 metres grading 10.00 g/t gold
ABD013: 49 metres grading 2.75 g/t gold
ABR100: 20 metres grading 2.80 g/t gold
ABR064: 34 metres grading 1.50 g/t gold
ABR044: 13 metres grading 4.20 g/t gold
Based upon current data and interpretation these previously reported intercepts have estimated true widths ranging between 70% and 90% of the drilled intersections. For further information and references see the notes of Figure 1.