Astra Exploration Inc. provided an update of its exploration operations in northern Chile. Highlights: The defining of a drill-ready copper porphyry target consisting of a large, coherent chargeability high corridor coincident with intrusion-related hydrothermal tourmaline breccias at surface. On-time advancement of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) required for next phase of drilling at Pampa Paciencia gold-silver targets with drill permit expected in fourth quarter of 2023.

Fluid inclusion and petrography studies further confirm preservation of the epithermal boiling zone across the entire strike of the Paciencia Vein System, from 50 to 250 metres deep. Dominador Porphyry Copper Target. Astra geologists have defined a north-south striking corridor of 1.7 km x 500 m which is considered highly prospective for porphyry copper systems of the type known at the nearby giant Spence and Sierra Gorda mines.

Astra has mapped and assayed surface samples of intrusion-hosted tourmaline-cemented hydrothermal breccias from the Dominador area northeast of Pampa Paciencia. The Dominador corridor (a combination of the tourmaline breccia outcrops with tourmaline, silicic and argillic alteration) marks the contact of a large diorite to granodiorite intrusion in the east with granite to granodiorites to the west. The Dominador tourmaline breccia shares characteristics with the multi-phase breccia complex that hosts the nearby Sierra Gorda mine, being characterized by open space fill tourmaline cement mineralized by late hydrothermal fluids.

The breccia locally contains clasts of porphyry style quartz veinlets and late silicification and oxide material that could be related with late hydrothermal activity hosted in the tourmaline breccia. The Dominador corridor coincides with the western edge of a large, coherent chargeability high geophysical anomaly defined by reconnaissance IP and follow up pole-dipole IP. Previous explorers completed minor drilling prior to the IP survey, and available data indicates drilling intersected a multi-phase intrusive complex overprinted by the breccia and sericite-pyrite alteration with low level copper.

These holes were mostly shallow and not directed towards or intercepting the easternmost geophysical anomaly. The coincidence of the Dominador corridor with the IP chargeability anomaly is encouraging and well-known porphyry sulphide zoning models provide excellent tools for defining vectors to copper- bearing (chalcopyrite and/or bornite) sulphide zones within the overall larger pyritic dominated corridor. Pampa Paciencia - Exploration Update: The advancement of the EIA continues on schedule and is expected to conclude in Fourth Quarter of this year, at which time the Company will receive its permit to continue drilling at the Pampa Paciencia gold-silver project.

Astra is currently in the process of responding to questions from the Super intendency of Environment (SMA) and expects to have its answers submitted this week. Management expects there will be one more round of questions from SMA, to which the Company will have until October 7 to respond. To date, no objections to the permit have been raised by authorities or local stakeholders.

At Impaciencia Oeste, trenching with heavy equipment reached a maximum depth of approximately four metres but failed to reach bedrock or vein and the operations were terminated. Company geologists believe it is likely that a vein exists below the bottom of the trenching and drilling will be more cost efficient and effective at locating veins. The Paciencia Vein System is a uccession of four events with a multi-episodic evolution.

Two hydrothermal and tectono-hydrothermal, one tectonic and one supergene event were identified and can be summarized in a paragenetic sequence. Event 1 is composed of two stages: QBC (Colloform banded quartz) formed by quartz and banded silica veinlets and BxQ (Quartz breccia) formed by at least two tectonic-hydrothermal breccia pulses with siliceous cement. Event 2 is composed of two stages: BPA (Bladed calcite & adularia bands) is formed by four successive colloform-crustiform banded and breccia textures composed by recrystallized silica, chalcedony and carbonate pulses accompanied by platy calcite, amethyst, adularia, and sulphides related to dark ginguro bands.

BxSi (Siliceous breccia) is a tectonic and hydrothermal breccia with siliceous cement and disseminated sulphides. Event 2 is the main mineralizing event for the Paciencia Vein System. Sulphides are mainly pyrite and marcasite, with zinc, copper, and lead sulphides.

The presence of free gold grains (25 to 50 microns) within the oxidized parts of the veins suggests that this metal is most likely associated with pyrite in the primary zones of the deposit. Highest gold grades were recorded in close association with this BPA pulse; however, the BxQ and BxSi events are also important contributors of gold. Event 3 or BLIM (limonitic breccia) stage represents a post-mineral tectonic breccia with quartz vein and/or host rock clasts in a limonitic matrix.

Event 4 or OxMn Veinlet (Mn oxide veinlets) stage is a late event formed by an open network of supergene manganese oxides and gypsum filling veinlets or cavities within the vein system. Mn-oxides may correspond to supergene replacements of previous manganese-rich minerals such as manganocalcite, rhodochrosite or another manganese-bearing gangue mineral. Fluid inclusion studies of different grades and depths (50 m to 250 m below surface) of the mineralizing pulse show an average salinity of 4% NaCla eq., and a temperature of 227.1°C which is consistent with a low sulphidation epithermal system.

Coexisting gas and liquid bubble indicate boiling processes, compatible with the presence of platy-calcite, colloform banding and adularia in the same event. The positive correlation of temperature and salinity in the fluid inclusions indicates mixing of hydrothermal fluids in addition to boiling as precipitation mechanisms.