Turmalina Metals Corp. announced its 2023 exploration program is well underway and drilling has recently begun at the Company’s 403 km2 San Francisco project located in the prolific mining province of San Juan, Argentina. The drill rig is currently testing the first target of the program, Breccia Ethan, which was targeted based on its surface size of approximately 80 m by 100 m and encouraging surface sampling.

Rock-chip samples have yielded high grade results including 4 rock chip samples over 1 g/t Au and 12 rock chip samples over 1% copper with the most notable assay returning 14.6% copper. A second mineralized breccia outcrop, located immediately north of the main Breccia Ethan outcrop, extends over a 40 m by 60 m area and will also be tested by the current drilling program. During the construction of access roads, Breccia Ethan was cut at surface exposing extensive copper oxide and sulphide mineralization.

Three trenches were then excavated and sampled with assays currently pending. The Company intended to utilize a reverse circulation rig (RC), however, due to mechanical challenges, the company has mobilized a high-performing diamond drill rig. This will help ensure efficient and rapid inaugural drill testing of seven high-priority targets.

By comparison the surface expression of the main breccia outcrop exposed at Breccia Ethan is slightly larger than that of the San Francisco Breccia (approximately 80 m by 100 m for Breccia Ethan compared to 30 m by 70 m for the San Francisco Breccia). The size and strong surface mineralization illustrate the merit of Breccia Ethan being a primary target of the Company’s 2023 program designed to delineate high grade material that could be evaluated for low capex styles of extraction. Drilling activities are being supported from Villa Nueva where Turmalina has established a local presence and infrastructure to support its exploration activities.

The program is now expected to include approximately 3,000 m of diamond drilling that test seven undrilled priority targets.