Atico Continues to Expand VMS Footprint with High Grade Copper-Gold Intercepts Reporting 3.70% Cu, 2.80 g/t Au, 40.63 g/t Ag and 4.53% Zn over 3.94 meters and Reinitiates Regional Exploration at La Plata Project in Ecuador

Rhea-AI Summary

Atico Mining Corporation reports promising results from its 2021 drilling program at the La Plata project in Ecuador. Recent assays confirmed new mineralization zones, particularly around the North Block, with highlights including drill hole CMLP-21-181 yielding 3.02 m at 6.97 g/t Au. Since the start of the year, the company has drilled about 5,500 meters across 26 holes, showcasing continuity in mineralization. The project is under an option agreement to earn 75% ownership, with a preliminary economic assessment indicating inferred resources of 1.9 million tons with attractive grades.

Positive

• Confirmed new mineralization zones at La Plata project, enhancing growth potential.
• Recent drills yielded significant assay results, including 3.02 m at 6.97 g/t Au.
• Drilled approximately 5,500 meters, indicating strong exploration momentum.
• A robust option agreement to earn 75% ownership in the La Plata project.
• Preliminary assessment indicates attractive inferred resources of 1.9 million tons.

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atico Mining Corporation (the “Company” or “Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF) is pleased to report on the latest results of its 2021 drilling program at the La Plata precious metals-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (“VMS”) project in Ecuador. These latest results confirm additional new zones outside of the known envelopes, more precisely along strike and below the North Block.

La Plata Drilling Highlights Include:

Hole	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Cu (%)	Zn (%)
CMLP-21-181	145.83	148.85	3.02	6.97	53.95	0.13	0.58
CMLP-21-182	114.47	116.55	2.08	3.79	144.41	0.18	9.67
CMLP-21-185	140.42	140.72	0.30	9.95	34.00	0.31	3.23
CMLP-21-186	198.13	202.07	3.94	2.80	40.63	3.70	4.53
CMLP-21-188	217.36	223.20	5.84	0.81	35.24	3.31	0.79

True widths are dependent on uncertainties in the local strike and dip of the mineralization and are estimated to be between 76% and 83% of the drill intercept.

• In this sequence, drilling was performed to test the mineralization extension at depth below the North Block. Results, including CMLP-21-181, CMLP-21-182 and CMLP-21-185 confirm additional copper and gold mineralization zones are present at depths down to 148.85m. See Figure 1 below.
  
• Holes, CMLP-21-186 and CMLP-21-188 which were drilled between the South and North Blocks, confirmed an extension of the massive sulfide mineralization in this vicinity potentially connecting the two blocks. See Figure 1 below.
  

2021 Successful drilling of the VMS footprint continues to expand mineralisation

Atico has drilled close to 5,500 meters since the beginning of this year’s exploration campaign on La Plata. The 26 diamond drill holes completed this year have contributed to the confirmation of our interpretation around the continuity of mineralization as the drilling progressed at depth under the known North Block and continue to report interesting intervals. Also, the “Guatuza Extension” of the North Block has also been confirmed with this campaign. As is evident, the North Block will require further drilling at depth and also along strike as secondary lenses were encountered in the Guatuza extension during this recent exercise. As the drilling encountered the anticipated mineralized zones, these holes also reported various additional intercepts of mineralized rock of interesting thickness reporting the possible presence of displaced lateral lenses.

In addition, drilling is presently being performed to test the continuity of the South Block towards the North Block. Mineralized intercepts are progressively confirming our new assumption that a significant mineralized lens is forming, potentially merging of the South and North Blocks. See Figure 1 below.

2021 Regional exploration and Drilling

Atico Mining has reinitiated regional exploration on La Plata. During last year’s pandemic crisis in country, Atico decided to reduce its regional activities and concentrated its drilling efforts on the mine vicinity area only. Part of this year’s exploration plan is to restart the regional program and test several targets identified further to the north along the concession’s copper anomaly trend. Previously, the exploration team sampled bedrock in drainages over half a kilometer north of the Guatuza zone. These samples were analyzed and reported up to 4.5 g/t Au, 51.3 g/t Ag, 16.55% Cu, and 5.83% Zn (refer to Toachi Mining’s news release dated January 16^th, 2019).

In addition, The San Pablo target area, located approximately one kilometer north along the copper trend will also be included in this year’s program. The San Pablo target had been historically drilled during a campaign supervised by Dr. Duncan Derry between 1965 and 1967, with results at the time reporting 22 meters of 1.8% copper.

Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d364ec38-af87-4059-870e-c9de6e1cf091

Drill Program Assay Results:

						Intercept*
Hole ID	Azimuth (°)	Dip (°)	Total Length (m)		From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Cu (%)		Pb (%)		Zn (%)
CMLP-20-171	262	-58	148.17		78.85	80.02	1.17	0.56	8.00	2.28		0.02		1.15
CMLP-20-172	282	-59	152.72		83.29	89.48	6.19	0.43	3.02	0.42		0.03		1.70
CMLP-20-173	305	-45	141.89		No Significant Intercept
CMLP-20-174	305	-55	145.14		62.80	72.30	9.50	1.42	22.34	0.36		0.38		3.07
and					88.34	94.30	5.96	1.56	4.22	0.67		0.26		1.67
CMLP-20-175	305	-49	161.43		141.69	142.55	0.86	1.78	70.00	0.37		0.36		1.29
and					145.37	148.80	3.43	0.73	8.76	0.37		0.78		2.34
CMLP-20-176	290	-40	123.67		No Significant Intercept
CMLP-20-177	291	-52	150.04		110.00	111.90	1.90	1.36	69.00	0.63		0.19		1.11
and					142.55	146.31	3.76	1.04	10.68	1.49		0.17		1.68
CMLP-20-178	254	-47	157.14		130.50	134.50	4.00	2.99	26.63	0.77		0.18		3.11
and					135.50	136.67	1.17	1.29	31.00	1.28		0.06		6.51
CMLP-20-180	247	-65	166.27		No Significant Intercept
CMLP-20-181	251	-66	218.68		145.83	148.85	3.02	6.97	53.95	0.13		0.36		0.58
CMLP-20-182	245	-55	197.09		99.10	99.60	0.50	5.59	99.00	0.40		0.68		7.91
and					114.47	116.55	2.08	3.79	144.41	0.18		1.47		9.67
and					167.90	170.67	2.77	1.69	20.81	0.66		0.28		4.14
and					174.00	176.45	2.45	3.93	36.02	1.02		1.19		4.40
and					188.50	189.10	1.07	1.07	9.00	5.02		0.02		4.40
CMLP-20-183	235	-61	210.00		No Significant Intercept
CMLP-20-184	318	-43	134.50		No Significant Intercept
CMLP-20-185	277	-67	171.32		140.42	140.72	0.30	9.91	34.00	0.31		2.28		3.23
CMLP-20-186	242	-51	228.77		198.13	202.07	3.94	2.80	40.63	3.70		0.18		4.53
and					208.39	217.00	8.61	0.65	2.85	1.01		0.01		0.07
CMLP-20-187	238	-64	159.51		144.64	151.10	6.46	2.78	29.49	0.46		0.20		0.49
CMLP-20-188	248	-53	245.57		217.36	223.20	5.84	0.81	35.24	3.31		0.05		0.79
and					225.20	227.20	2.00	1.58	14.00	1.13		0.20		0.81

True widths are dependent on uncertainties in the local strike and dip of the mineralization and are estimated to be between 76% and 83% of the drill intercept.

La Plata Project

Gold-bearing sulphide mineralization at La Plata occurs as compositional banding composed of chalcopyrite, sphalerite and pyrite laminae with barite occurring as clasts and also as layers. The mineralized lenses have also been dislocated by a few faults and dolerite dikes cutting the body.

The La Plata project is amongst the highest-grade gold-copper VMS deposits in which base and precious metal mineralization is interpreted to have formed as part of multiple volcanic episodes that created a stacked volcanic-exhalite hydrothermal sequence considered favorable for hosting additional VMS lenses. The recent drilling results in the southern portion of the deposit have encountered deeper mineralization, and an extension of mineralization to the north has been discovered by recent trenching results.

The La Plata independent Amended and restated NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment of the La Mina VMS Project Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador (“PEA”) originally dated March 30th, 2019, amended and restated July 17, 2019 was prepared by SGS Canada Inc. Mineral Services, Daniel Leroux, M.Sc., P.Geo. Brian Wolfe. M.Sc., MAIG, David Orava, P.Eng., Simon Meik, FAusIMM (CP), Qinghua (Jason) Jin, P.E and pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) and reports the La Plata inferred resources at 1.9 million tons at an average grade of 4.1 g/t Au, 49.4g/t silver, 3.3% Cu, 4.5% Zn, 0.6% Pb as available on SEDAR. Preliminary economic assessments are preliminary in nature, that include inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 

The La Plata project consists of a concession covering a total area of 2,300 hectares along its 9-kilometer length, which contains known mineralization in two VMS lenses and nine priority exploration targets.

The Company has a binding option agreement with a private Ecuadorean company to earn up to 75% in the La Plata project, of which the first option to acquire the initial 60% ownership has been exercised. Please refer to the Company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019 for further details.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

Before sampling, a centerline, representing bottom of hole (or a reference line when this is not known) is marked on the drill core. The core is cut and sampled, always sampling the right-hand side of the drill core. Samples are selected based on logged geological features, such as rock type, mineralization, alteration, veining etc. Sample length does not exceed 2.5 m nor is smaller than 20 cm. A total of 10% of the samples submitted are certified blanks and standards and field duplicates with, as a minimum, one blank submitted at the beginning of each sample batch. Certified standards are submitted at an average of 6% of the samples submitted. Field duplicates are taken at a rate of 1 in 20 of the samples taken. For all drill holes, analysis was completed by ALS Chemex in Lima, Peru with sample preparation completed in Quito. The lab is accredited with International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 9001:2015. All major ALS Geochemistry analytical laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for specific analytical procedures.

Qualified Control

Dr. Michael Druecker, CPG, is a qualified person under NI 43-101 standards and independent of the company, is responsible for ensuring that the information contained in this news release is an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by Atico Mining Corporation. Dr. Druecker has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

About Atico Mining Corporation

Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company generates significant cash flow through the operation of the El Roble mine and is developing it’s high-grade La Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Fernando E. Ganoza
CEO
Atico Mining Corporation
Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF

Investor Relations
Igor Dutina
Tel: +1.604.633.9022

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This announcement includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects; the world-wide economic and social impact of COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the coronavirus pandemic is minimized or not long-term; disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other health and safety issues, or the responses of governments, communities, the Company and others to such pandemic or other issues; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the prospectus of the Company dated March 2, 2012 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com

FAQ

What are the latest drilling results from Atico Mining's La Plata project, ATCMF?

Atico Mining reported new mineralization zones at La Plata, with highlights including significant gold and copper grades from recent drilling.

How much drilling has been done at the La Plata project in 2021?

In 2021, Atico Mining has drilled about 5,500 meters across 26 drill holes at the La Plata project.

What are the inferred resources reported for the La Plata project, ATCMF?

The La Plata project has inferred resources of 1.9 million tons with average grades of 4.1 g/t Au and 3.3% Cu.

Is there an ownership agreement for the La Plata project by Atico Mining, ATCMF?

Yes, Atico Mining has a binding option agreement to earn up to 75% ownership in the La Plata project.

What significant assay results were reported by Atico Mining for the La Plata project, ATCMF?

Significant assay results included 3.02 m at 6.97 g/t Au from drill hole CMLP-21-181.