Mr. Craig Parry reports
VIZSLA COPPER SECURES EXTENSION OF TRUST LAND LEASE AT THE PALMER PROJECT
Vizsla Copper Corp. has reached agreeable terms with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office (TLO) to extend Upland Mining Lease 9100759 for an additional seven years, through Aug. 31, 2033.
This lease extension ensures continuity of exploration and technical work at the Palmer project, Vizsla Copper's critical minerals asset in southeast Alaska, including advancement of regional exploration in areas directly adjacent to the project's mineral resource (see the updated mineral resource estimate effective Jan. 13, 2025).
Highlights
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Agreement reached with TLO to extend the Palmer project Upland mining lease through Aug. 31, 2033;
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All federal and state permits in place to support exploration and technical study data collection;
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Palmer's 62,500-acre mineral land package is located entirely within an area designated by the State of Alaska for multiuse, including mineral development.
Craig Parry, executive chairman and chief executive officer, commented:
"Securing this lease extension provides long-term certainty for continued exploration at Palmer. The project sits within a state-designated multiuse forest that was specifically created to balance environmental protection with responsible resource development. We believe the Palmer project can advance in a way that reflects that original vision."
Peter Mercer, senior vice-president, Alaska, added:
"With state and federal permits in place and secure mineral tenure, we are advancing the technical studies required to move the Palmer project toward economic evaluation. The 2026 diamond drilling and surface field programs are being finalized with crews expected to mobilize in May. As planning progresses, we will provide advance notice of field activities through social media and local communication channels."
Secure tenure and advanced project readiness
With the agreed lease extension, the Palmer project now benefits from long-term mineral tenure, providing a stable platform for continued exploration and technical studies.
The project is supported by a comprehensive regulatory framework, with all required federal and state permits in place to support ongoing exploration and the collection of data necessary for economic studies. The federal plan of operations remains in effect without expiration, while the state plan of operations is valid with the option of a renewable five-year term after 2028.
Together, this combination of secure land tenure, available permits and advanced technical work positions the Palmer project for systematic advancement toward economic evaluation.
Land-use framework
Palmer project's land tenure is located within and adjacent to the Haines State Forest, a large, contiguous management area in the Chilkat Valley that is specifically designated by the State of Alaska for multiple uses. The state forest was created to support a balanced combination of resource development, timber harvest, recreation and other economic activities while maintaining environmental and cultural values across the region. This multiuse designation provides a clear and predictable land-use framework for responsible mineral exploration and development.
Within this broader management area, the Palmer project's approximately 62,500-acre land package lies within a well-recognized volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) belt known for its critical-minerals endowment. The region hosts significant mineral occurrences, deposits and operating mines. A substantial portion of the project area is leased from the Alaska Mental Health Trust. These lands were selected by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in 1994 for inclusion in the trust's land base. This area and was chosen specifically for its high mineral potential.
The current land-use structure in the Chilkat Valley reflects a historic consensus agreement reached in 1982 among environmental organizations, industry representatives, local governments, and state and federal agencies. This agreement resulted in the creation of the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, with a conservation-first mandate, while the surrounding Haines State Forest was established as a multiple-use area intended to support responsible resource development. The compromise was widely described as an "Alaskan solution" to land management conflicts, balancing conservation priorities with economic opportunity.
About Vizsla Copper
Corp.
Vizsla Copper is a critical-minerals-focused exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. The company is primarily focused on its Palmer VMS project in southeast Alaska, and its Poplar and Woodjam porphyry-related projects in British Columbia.
Qualified person and national instrument 43-101 disclosure
The company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Mercer, PGeo, senior vice-president, Vizsla Copper. Mr. Mercer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.
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