Mr. Victor Feng reports

AURO METALS INTERSECTS 625.12M GRADING 0.64 G/T GOLD AND 0.10% COPPER AT THE SANTA BARBARA GOLD-COPPER PROJECT, ECUADOR

Auro Metals Inc. has released the second batch of drill assay results for three drill holes from the 2026 phase I drill program at its 100-per-cent-owned Santa Barbara gold-copper project, located in the Zamora-Chinchipe province in southeastern Ecuador. Since the commencement of the drill program, 16 holes have been completed and assay results for the first six holes (including the three holes released on June 22, 2026) have been received.

Summary of drill results

These three holes were drilled at the southern part of the known mineralized porphyry system of the project (Santa Barbara South), which is believed to be the core area of the known porphyry mineralization system. These holes were designed to test the continuity of mineralization between historical drill intercepts and the extension of mineralization in updip and downdip directions. Results of the drilling are as follows:

• Drill hole DSB-59 intersected 625.12 metres (m) grading 0.64 gram per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 0.10 per cent copper (Cu) from 81.43 m to the end of hole. This hole terminated in mineralized porphyritic diorite due to drilling difficulties.
• Drill hole DSB-58 intersected 130 m grading 0.60 g/t Au and 0.09 per cent Cu from 12.0 m right below overburden sediments.
• Drill hole DSB-57 intersected 59 m grading 0.67 g/t Au and 0.10 per cent Cu from surface, and 37.5 m grading 0.5 g/t Au and 0.10 per cent Cu from 92.5 m.

All three holes intersected wide mineralization starting from surface or near-surface, with drill intercepts summarized in table 1. These drill results demonstrate that mineralization is open in both updip and downdip directions, and show good consistency of gold-copper grades. Drill hole specifications of all completed drill holes are provided in table 2.

"This second batch of drill assay results from our phase I drill program at Santa Barbara South continue to highlight the scale and consistency of the project," said Victor Feng, chief executive officer of Auro. "DSB-59 intersected 625 metres of continuous gold-copper mineralization starting from near surface and ended in mineralization at depth. The gold grade from this hole is roughly 23 per cent higher than the gold grade of the inferred resource from our mineral resource estimate. DSB-57 and DSB-58 both confirm that mineralization remains open in the updip direction towards surface. To date, geochemical analysis of six holes has been completed, 10 holes are pending assays and the four rigs on site continue turning. We look forward to sharing assay results when they become available."

Description of holes

Hole DSB-57 was drilled to a depth of 315.7 m to test the updip extension of the mineralized zone intercepted by historical holes DSB-23 and DSB-33A at the southern portion of Santa Barbara South, and intersected 59 m (from 0.00 m to 59 m) grading 0.67 g/t Au and 0.10 per cent Cu, and 37.5 m (from 92.5 m to 130.0 m) grading 0.50 g/t Au and 0.10 per cent Cu. Drill results from this hole indicate gold-copper mineralization is open in the updip direction to surface.

Lithology in the upper half of the hole is aphanitic basaltic andesite, which is cut by quartz-hematite veining associated with potassic, chlorite and epidote alteration in patches and along fractures. Mineralization is characterized by pyrite and chalcopyrite in fine dissemination and narrow veinlets. The low portion until the end of the hole is dominated by volcano sediments with disseminated primary pyrite and local patchy epidote and jasperoid alteration cut by calcite veining, but generally lacks potassic alteration and chalcopyrite. Between the mineralized basaltic andesite and unmineralized volcano sediment sequence is interpreted to be a roughly north-south-striking subvertical fault.

Hole DSB-58 was drilled to a depth of 274.80 m to test the updip extension of the mineralized zone intercepted by the historical hole DSB-34 at the north end of Santa Barbara South, and intersected 130 m (from 12.0 m to 142 m) grading 0.60 g/t Au and 0.09 per cent Cu. Drill results from this hole indicate gold-copper mineralization is open in the updip direction to surface.

Lithology in the upper portion of the hole is dominated by dark aphanitic basaltic andesite sporadically cut by narrow lighter color postmineralization andesite dikes. From surface to a depth of 12 m is overburden sediments. Basaltic andesite extends from a depth of 12 m throughout to a depth of 142 m and is contacted by porphyritic diorite intrusion, which continues to the end of the hole at a depth of 274.80 m. Gold-copper mineralization occurs in the upper portion of dark basaltic andesite, characterized by quartz veining with pyrite and chalcopyrite in forms of both dissemination and veinlets in surrounding basaltic andesite, usually with patchy secondary biotite (potassic alteration). In the lower diorite intrusion pyrite is identified as dissemination and narrow veinlets, but the amount of chalcopyrite is much less than in the upper basaltic andesite, which well explains the generally barren nature.

Hole DSB-59 was drilled in the approximately central area of Santa Barbara South from the top of the western hilltop in an easterly dipping direction to test the updip and downdip extension of the mineralized zone intercepted by historical hole DSB-21 and intercepted 625.12 m (from 81.43 m to 706.55 m at the end of hole) grading 0.64 g/t Au and 0.10 per cent Cu. This hole terminated in mineralization due to drilling difficulties.

Lithology of the first 84 m from surface is conglomerate and fine volcano sediment with disturbed laminations. From 84 m to 505 m is dominated by dark basaltic andesite sporadically cut by dikes of andesite and diorite. Between the shallow sediments and the basaltic andesite is interpreted to be a fault. The basaltic andesite generally mineralized, cut by quartz and quartz-hematite veining, associated with alteration of potassic, chlorite and epidote. From 505 m depth to the end of hole at 706.55 m depth is porphyritic diorite with pervasive sericitic alteration plus local patchy potassic alteration and cut by numerous quartz veining, with mineralization of pyrite and chalcopyrite in forms of both dissemination and narrow veinlets. Hole DSB-59 is very important as it signifies that diorite intrusion is also an important host to mineralization in addition to the basaltic andesite. However, the extent of mineralization in the diorite intrusion remains unknown as the hole is terminated in mineralization due to drilling difficulties.

Quality assurance and quality control

All samples in respect of the exploration program at the project discussed in this news release were shipped in securely sealed bags by a chartered commercial truck, directly from the field to the sample preparation facilities of SGS in Guayaquil, Ecuador, for preparation, and to SGS in Lima, Peru, for geochemical analysis. SGS is a global leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification. It is an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory independent from Auro. All samples go through fire assay (SGS code FAA313) for gold and multiacid digestion ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) multielement assay (SGS code ICP40B) for other elements. Certified reference materials, various types of blank samples and duplicate samples are inserted into normal drill core sample sequences prior to delivery to the laboratory for preparation and analysis. The overall ratio of quality control samples in sample sequences is around 20 per cent.

Qualified person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang, PGeo, a director of the company, who is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The qualified person has verified the information disclosed herein, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and is not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties that could be expected to affect reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein.

About Auro Metals Inc.

Auro Metals is a mineral exploration company that holds a 100-per-cent interest in the Santa Barbara gold-copper project in the Zamora copper-gold belt of southeastern Ecuador. The Santa Barbara project is a large-scale porphyry system comprising indicated resources of 29.8 million tonnes grading 0.73 g/t gold and 0.10 per cent copper containing 697,000 ounces gold and 68 million pounds copper, and inferred resources of 205.7 million tonnes grading 0.52 g/t gold and 0.09 per cent copper containing 3,418,000 ounces gold and 426 million pounds copper. For more details, see the company's mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by SRK Consulting, effective March 23, 2026, which can be found on SEDAR+ and the company's website.

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