Centenario Gold Corp. (TSXV: CTG) has completed the first phase exploration program at the Los Reyes Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, revealing high-grade copper mineralization in underground workings. The project, located 225 km south of Chihuahua City near Highway 49, comprises two mineral claims: El Rey (36.0 hectares) and El Rey 2 (9.3 hectares). The El Rey claim, where most historical mining occurred, hosts Cu-rich skarn mineralization along a north-south trending granodiorite-limestone contact.
The exploration program included geological mapping and collection of 58 rock samples from surface outcrops, old mine dumps, and underground workings at the Tuesda and Jibosa mines. These workings were originally developed by ASARCO in the late 1800s to early 1900s, with historical records indicating approximately 200,000 tons of Cu-Zn-Ag material were extracted. The sampling targeted skarn zones where copper mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite, azurite, and chalcocite in irregular lenses up to 60 meters wide and potentially extending over 125 meters in length.
At the Tuesda shaft, mineralized zones showed thicknesses up to 20 meters, while at Jibosa, the mineralized body was up to 15 meters thick. Surface alteration extends up to 120 meters in width, with typical skarn zoning from intrusive to limestone. Higher sulfide content is anticipated north of the Tuesda shaft, supported by fragments of magnetite and skarn with magnetite and specularite found in old dumps, suggesting Cu-Au skarn-type mineralization.
All 58 samples were transported to ALS Chemex in Chihuahua for analysis using fire assay for gold and acid digestion for 34 other elements. Results are expected by mid-June 2026. The company plans to use these assays to refine drill targets for a 1,500-meter drill program scheduled to begin in July 2026, targeting down-dip extensions greater than 50 meters below surface near the Jibosa and Tuesda shafts.
Derrick Strickland, an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical disclosure. The company emphasizes that mineralization on adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Los Reyes property. Centenario Gold Corp. is committed to responsible exploration and working with local communities, as stated by President and CEO Doug Fulcher. Further details are available on the company's website at www.centenariogold.com.
This announcement is significant as it provides the first modern systematic sampling of underground workings at Los Reyes, potentially upgrading the project's prospectivity and leading to a drilling campaign that could define a copper resource. The historical production and proximity to infrastructure enhance the project's appeal, and positive assay results could attract further investment or partnership opportunities.