Barksdale Resources Corp. reported positive results from its first phase of metallurgical test work on copper mineralization at the San Javier copper-gold project located in Sonora, Mexico. A comprehensive testing program was completed in eight column tests utilizing material sourced from four large-diameter diamond core holes that were drilled by Barksdale in August and early September of 2022.

The objective of the program was to help guide optimum processing options for the project. Test work was completed by McClelland Labs Inc. under the supervision of Steve Dixon, a metallurgical consultant to the Company. The metallurgical test program was conducted at McClelland Laboratories Inc. in Reno, Nevada, under the supervision of Jack McPartland, Metallurgist /President at McClelland, with additional oversight by Steve Dixon, Barksdale's consulting metallurgist.

The San Javier copper deposit contains predominately oxide copper mineralization with isolated zones of sulfides and mixed oxide/sulfide mineralization. Four composites representing three oxide and one sulfide dominant mineralized zone were evaluated by column leach tests to see the impacts of an acid cure on the extraction of copper for material crushed to a P80 of 25mm (1.0 inch). Each composite had two column tests - one column was acid agglomerated with a 5.0 kilogram per tonne acid cure and the other column was completed without an acid agglomeration cure.

Acid agglomeration is an operating process where ores are pretreated with acid and cement prior to being stacked on a heap leach pad in order to maximize copper recoveries and prevent degradation of the leach pad's physical characteristics. This process can add significant processing costs. Raffinate used for the tests contained 5 grams per liter of sulfuric acid and the irrigation rate was 6 L/hr/m2.

The primary irrigation time was 120 days, after which the columns were washed and rinsed for 4-5 days and then unloaded, screened, and assayed. Copper extraction was still climbing for all composites after the full irrigation program was completed, pointing to the potential for continued extraction of copper in the second cycle of irrigation once a new lift is place on the ore that completed the first cycle of irrigation. Additional tests will be completed that focus on evaluating optimal timing of the primary and secondary leach cycle times.

While the Cerro Verde deposit predominately contains oxide copper mineralization, there are zones of both sulfide dominate and mixed oxide/sulfide mineralization where understanding the metallurgical response is warranted. Composite 4726-001 contained a higher insoluble copper content than the other composites at Cerro Verde and the results of the column leach tests utilizing this composite demonstrate that the use of soluble copper assays in future ore control programs will likely be very effective in identifying the sulfide zones, which will allow the Company to only place material on the heap leach pad ifthe recoverable copper estimates meet the required cut-off grades based on copper recovery, acid consumption, and metal prices.