Sama Resources Inc. together with its joint venture partner Ivanhoe Electric Inc. announce the commencement of a discovery-driven regional exploration program for 2026 at the district-scale polymetallic Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project (the ?Project?) in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. The Project includes the polymetallic Samapleu and Grata Deposits, which were the focus of the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the ?2024 PEA Area?). The Project is a 60/40 joint venture between Ivanhoe Electric and Sama, with Sama acting as the operator (the ?Joint Venture?).
In addition to a 60% interest at the Project level, Ivanhoe Electric also owns 22.7% of the common shares of Sama. Building District Scale Through Regional Exploration Targeting Samapleu-Grata Look-alikes The 2026 exploration program is designed to demonstrate the Project's significant district-scale potential through the discovery of new high-grade polymetallic mineralization, targeting more than 20 high- priority, untested electromagnetic (?EM?) targets (2013-2018 Airborne electromagnetic surveys) with comparable features and scale as the Samapleu and Grata Deposits, distributed throughout the 879 km² land package. The 2026 program will build on the success of the limited 500-meter 2025 regional exploration program, which led to the discovery of the Mossikro Prospect, located 10 kilometers to the south-southwest of the 2024 PEA Area.
Key components of the 2026 program include: Approximately 4,500 metres of regional exploration diamond drilling; EM plate modelling of high-priority anomalies from the regional airborne surveys, which could characterize conductive massive sulfide mineralization; Subsequent ground gravity surveys over the high-priority EM plate models to further refine potential massive sulfide zones; and Continuing ongoing updated environmental and social baseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area to support advancement toward a mining permit application. Drilling is scheduled to commence in early February 2026, initially focusing on high-priority EM targets within the Glanlé (PR-839) and Zoupleu (PR-837) permits. The ground gravity survey, starting in February and scheduled for completion at the end of Second Quarter 2026, will systematically cover all remaining untested EM anomalies across the Project, with follow-up drilling planned for targets showing the strongest combined EM and gravity responses.
Recent discoveries, including new polymetallic mineralization at the Mossikro Prospect (refer to Sama's September 9, 2025 news release), demonstrate geophysical signatures, mineralization styles, and host lithologies comparable to the Samapleu and Grata Deposits, providing further validation of the regional exploration model and reinforcing the district-scale potential of the Project. The 2025 Mossikro Prospect discovery was made 10 kilometers to the south-southwest of the 2024 PEA Area, and by targeting an EM anomaly comparable to the Samapleu and Grata Deposits. Environmental and Social Studies Advancing Project Readiness: In parallel with exploration, Sama continues to advance environmental and social baseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area.
Field programs completed by SIMPAE, a Côte d'Ivoire-based environmental consulting firm, include: Wildlife and vegetation inventories; Surface and groundwater sampling; and Socio-environmental baseline data collection. These studies were completed in accordance with current national and international standards and are designed to support future permitting and development milestones.
