Mr. William Tsang reports
DAURA GOLD SECURES OPTION TO ACQUIRE UP TO 80% INTEREST IN THE HIGH-GRADE CERRO BAYO AND LA FLORA GOLD-SILVER PROJECTS, SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
Daura Gold Corp. has entered into a binding letter agreement with Latin Metals Inc., an arm's-length party, granting Daura the right to earn up to an 80-per-cent interest in the Cerro Bayo and La Flora gold-silver projects, located in the prolific Deseado massif, Santa Cruz province, Argentina.
Mark Sumner, president of Daura Gold, commented: "As Daura continues to advance its flagship Antonella project in Peru, this agreement provides the company with excellent optionality on a high-quality, drill-ready target in the Deseado massif, which is one of the world's most prolific gold and silver districts. This agreement directly aligns with Daura's strategy of targeting and advancing high-grade epithermal gold and silver systems in proven mineral belts, complementing the company's exciting projects in Peru."
Cerro Bayo and La Flora: high-grade gold-silver potential in the Deseado massif
The Cerro Bayo and La Flora project lie in the heart of Argentina's premier gold-silver district, the Deseado massif, which has yielded more than 600 million ounces of silver and 20 million ounces of gold since 1990. The district hosts world-class operations, such as Newmont's Cerro Negro mine (approximately seven million ounces (oz) gold equivalent (AuEq)) and Hochschild's San Jose mine (approximately 64 million oz silver equivalent (AgEq)).
Exploration to date at Cerro Bayo has defined a six-kilometre-wide structural corridor with multiple low-sulphidation epithermal-style vein target areas -- the same style responsible for the region's highest-grade precious metal deposits.
Key technical highlights include:
- Nine high-priority drill target areas identified by geochemistry, mapping, IP (induced polarization) surveys and over 100 line kilometres (km) of detailed magnetics;
- Surface samples at La Flora have returned up to 71 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 150 g/t silver (Ag), and 82 g/t Au and 1,239 g/t Ag, and 2.3 g/t Au and 600 g/t Ag at Cerro Bayo;
- Drill ready with 21 fully permitted drill pads, following environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval received in early 2025;
- Year-round access and strong infrastructure supporting a rapid exploration start-up;
- Geological and alteration characteristics consistent with known high-grade gold-silver systems in the Deseado massif.
Option terms
Daura will be granted the option to earn a 75-per-cent undivided interest in the projects for a period of 38 months from the date of execution and delivery of the letter agreement.
To exercise the option, Daura must make aggregate payments of $1.7-million (U.S.) to Latin Metals, assume payments of $400,000 (U.S.) to the underlying vendor (as defined below), complete exploration work commitments, and prepare and deliver to Latin Metals a report prepared in accordance with Form 43-101F1 on the properties, addressed to Latin Metals and containing a mineral resource estimate on the projects.
Irrevocable work commitments to be completed on or before April 30, 2026, are 50 line km of IP profiling, 150 line km of gradient array IP and 1,500 metres (m) of drilling. A total of 28,000 m of drilling must be completed prior to the exercise of the option.
The projects are currently subject to an underlying purchase agreement (see the news release dated June 25, 2025) between Latin Metals and Tres Cerros Exploraciones S.R.L. The underlying vendor retains a 0.75-per-cent net smelter return (NSR) royalty, a 0.5-per-cent royalty of which can be purchased for $1-million (U.S.), which cost will be assumed by Daura.
Top-up right
Concurrently with the exercise of the option, Daura may give notice to Latin Metals of its intention to increase its interest in the projects to 80 per cent. To exercise the top-up right, Daura must make cash payments to Latin Metals based on the measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources included in the mineral resource estimate set out in the technical report, as follows:
- $7 (U.S.) per gold equivalent ounce of measured and indicated resources;
- $5 (U.S.) per gold equivalent ounce of inferred resources.
The issuance of any Daura shares to Latin Metals remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Joint venture
Upon written notice by Daura to Latin Metals of the exercise of the option, Latin Metals and Daura will be deemed to have formed a joint venture in respect of which the initial participating interests of the parties will be 75 per cent Daura (80 per cent if the top-up right is exercised) and 25 per cent Latin Metals (20 per cent if the top-up right is exercised).
Upon the formation of the joint venture, Daura will assume Latin Metals' existing right to repurchase a 0.5-per-cent royalty of the existing 0.75-per-cent NSR royalty from the underlying vendor for $1-million (U.S.).
If the interest of either party falls below 10 per cent, the parties' interest will be converted to a 2-per-cent NSR royalty, of which half (being 1 per cent) can be purchased by the other party for $5-million (U.S.) at any time until three months after a production decision.
Latin Metals royalty option
Following the top-up right expiry date and for 90 days thereafter, Latin Metals may elect in its sole discretion to convert its interest in the joint venture to a 3.0-per-cent net smelter return royalty, leaving Daura with a 100-per-cent interest in the properties. Daura shall have the right to purchase 33.33 per cent (being a 1-per-cent royalty) of the converted royalty upon the payment to Latin Metals of $5-million (U.S.) at any time until the date that is three months after a production decision on the projects has been made, in which case the converted royalty shall be reduced to 2.0 per cent.
About Cerro Bayo and La Flora
In March, 2025, Latin Metals received formal approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), authorizing exploration drilling at Cerro Bayo. The approved permit includes authorization for 21 drill pads across the project area. A total of nine high-priority target areas defined by historical and recent exploration, and the project is year-round accessible, with excellent infrastructure and an experienced workforce in Santa Cruz province.
Exploration work completed to date, including geochemical sampling, detailed mapping and over 100 line km of magnetic surveys, has defined a six km wide structural corridor with multiple low-sulphidation epithermal-style vein target areas.
Strategic position in the Deseado massif
Cerro Bayo and La Flora are located in the heart of the Deseado massif, a prolific region with over 600 million ounces of silver and 20 million ounces of gold discovered since 1990. The district hosts multiple producing mines and advanced-stage projects, including Newmont's Cerro Negro mine (approximately seven million oz AuEq) and Hochschild's San Jose mine (approximately 64 million oz AgEq).
Cerro Bayo's geological setting, structural controls and alteration footprint are consistent with known high-grade gold-silver systems in the region.
About Latin Metals Inc.
Latin Metals is a copper, gold and silver exploration company operating in Peru and Argentina under a prospect generator model, minimizing risk and dilution while maximizing discovery potential. With 18 projects, the company secures option agreements with major mining companies to finance exploration. This approach provides early-stage exposure to high-value mineral assets.
Qualified person (QP)
Stuart Mills, QP, is the company's qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release. He has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Mills is not independent of the company, as he is the company's vice-president of exploration.
Readers are cautioned that the mineral deposits discussed above are adjacent properties and that Latin Metals has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in the deposits, and that mineral deposits on adjacent or similar properties, and any production therefore or economics with respect thereto, are not in any way indicative of mineral deposits on Latin Metals' Cerro Bayo property or the potential production from, or cost or economics of, any future mining of any of Latin Metals' mineral properties.
About Daura Gold Corp.
Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, Daura is advancing high-impact exploration projects in Peru's renowned Ancash region. Daura owns a 100-per-cent undivided interest in over 15,900 hectares of exploration concessions in Ancash, including the 900-hectare Antonella target and the 2,900 hectares of contiguous concessions at Libelulas, which is the primary focus of Daura's current exploration efforts.
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