Rackla Summarizes 2025 Exploration Results And Plans For 2026

(TheNewswire)

Vancouver, British Columbia – TheNewswire - January 20, 2026– Rackla Metals Inc. (TSX-V: RAK) (the “Company”) announces itsyear-end summary of exploration activities on the Grad Property andother targets in the region and outlines plans for 2026.

Despite extensive drilling in 2025, results did notmeet expectations, prompting a detailed review of geochemical data andexploration strategy. This report highlights key findings and prioritytargets for the upcoming season.

Management of the Company is proud of the team and theprogram we completed. The technical team, geologists, mountainclimbers, pad builders, field crews, diamond drillers, and pilotscompleted a technically sound program in difficult terrain and inchallenging conditions.

One of the big challenges Rackla encountered in 2025was a slow turn-around time for analytical results, particularly drillsample results which were not received until months after the drillprogram was completed. This resulted in an inability to adjust theprogram while crews were in the field.

Grad Program Results

The discovery of the BiTe showing in the fall of 2024on the southern cliff face of the North Nahanni Pluton (NNP), returnedmulti-gram gold results with associated anomalous bismuth andtellurium, a geochemical signature typical of a ReducedIntrusion-Related Gold System (RIRGS). These rock grab and channelsamples were taken by a number of different geologists on threeseparate visits to the discovery zone. Each return visit was promptedby the anomalous results of the previous visits. As well, talus-finesampling along the base of the cliff returned anomalous and consistentgold values over a 550m interval that averaged 1.06 g/t gold. Yet the2025 drill program consisting of 4500 m in ten holes failed tointersect significant mineralization at depth. The best result fromthe 2025 drill program was 2.56 g/t gold over 10.5 m in hole G25-009at the intrusive contact with the sediments. All the holes containedintensely veined intrusive; however, they returned long intervals ofbelow detection limits for gold. These results were far belowexpectations surprising both the technical team and external analysts.

Upon receipt of all the geochemical and petrographicresults a thorough review of the data was completed. The geologicalstaff compiled results from 738 surface rock samples and 3081 drillsamples from the work on the Grad property into a specializedgeochemistry and geoscience data analysis program (ioGAS). The program is designed to help geologists detectpatterns, anomalies, andrelationships in large geochemicaldatasets. The study incorporated Correlation Matrices, Scatter PlotMatrices, various Metal:Metal ratios, characterization of theintrusion(s) with Immobile Element plots, Discriminate and Ternaryplots, Re-clustering, Factor Analysis and Spatial Mapping of theresults.

The results from this study showed that the goldmineralization at BiTe is closely correlated with tellurium, bismuth,and antimony. The results also indicate that bismuth to lead ratios(Bi:Pb) could be a useful vector in the search for the geochemicalconditions at BiTe elsewhere in the region, as well as the Te:Bi andBi:Sb ratios.

The study also showed that the geochemical conditionsthat exist at the BiTe showing are distinctly different from thatobserved in drill core and elsewhere in the NNP. Even the intervals indrill core that showed signs of strong alteration had a differentgeochemical response than that on surface at BiTe. The analysisindicates that the BiTe zone area is either a different intrusivesource or phase of the same intrusion, or an alteration zone thatreceived significant fluid flow associated with a structural trap.Studies show the NNP, in general, is primarilyhigh in aluminum content (peraluminous) while the samples from theBiTe showing tend to be low in aluminum and high in calcium(metaluminous) as illustrated in Figure 1. The intervals in drill corethat appeared strongly altered returned a peraluminous signature rather than metaluminous.This difference appears to indicate that the BiTe zone underwent high-temperature, acidic, Ca-rich quartzcarbonate alteration.

Figure 1 – Aluminium saturation ternary plot for surface samplescollected on the North Nahanni Pluton and in drill core.

Click Image To View Full Size

Legend

A plot of titanium versus aluminum in Figure 2 alsoappears to be a useful vector for alteration and can be used as avector for gold mineralization.

Figure 2 – TiO2vs Al2O3 plot for surface samplescollected on the North Nahanni Pluton and in drill core definingalteration zonation.

Click Image To View Full Size

These geochemical differences suggest that drilling in2025 did not test the correct intrusive phase or structuralenvironment responsible for the high?grade BiTe mineralization.These criteria help to explain the difference in conditions on surfaceat the BiTe showing compared to those tested by drilling and thesampling conducted on most other areas on the NNP. The study showsthat there are other areas with a similar signature to BiTe within theNNP and these need to be mapped and sampled further. These resultswill guide the 2026 exploration activities at Grad and regionally, andhopefully this data will play a role in a future discovery.

Regional Exploration Targets

Along with the drill program on the Grad Property,Rackla also conducted regional exploration and identified severalinteresting targets. This work led to the expansion of the claims onthe Ogre property and the staking of the Calypso and Lened properties.Rackla staked an additional twenty-five claims for 26,740 hectares inthe region because of these findings.

Figure 3 – Rackla Metalsproperties and exploration targets in western NWT.

Click Image To View Full Size

Calypso Target

The Calypso property is located 13 km to the west ofGrad, on the southwestern tip of the O’Grady Batholith, a largeTombstone Suite intrusion. The initial discovery was made by follow-upof a Regional Geochemical Survey (RGS) stream sediment Au/Bi anomaly.Several narrow, sheeted quartz veins hosted in the granodiorite wereobserved. Large bismuthinite blebs were observed in quartz veins in anumber of samples that returned multi-gram gold results. Talussampling was conducted and a photogrammetry survey completed. Thetalus sampling defined an 800 m long anomaly that averaged 0.162 ppmAu. The target area is at an elevation of 1,800m and it is located ona north facing cliff, so it will probably be late July before theCompany can enter the area to get any significant mapping done. Theplan for 2026 will include detailed geological mapping, additionalsurface sampling and if warrant drill testing.

Manta Target

Several very high-grade gold-bearing rock grab sampleswere collected from skarnified sediments with sporadic quartz veiningat Manta showing. Late in the season two chip-channel trenches weresampled across the sheeted vein system. The results indicate that,like at Grad, the veining is not necessarily the controlling factorfor the gold mineralization. Detailed geological mapping and samplingare planned in 2026 to determine the controls on mineralization andthe size potential.

Ogre Target

Several sampling days were spent at Ogre and theadjacent 27 Grains target. Although stream and talus geochemistryidentified some good anomalies only a few rock samples returnedinteresting gold numbers and those were mostly from altered sedimentswith associated high arsenic values.

Figure 4 – Ogre target surfacerock and talus-fine sample gold results.

Click Image To View Full Size

The 27 Grains target is the site of a government heavymineral concentrate (HMC) sample that returned 27 gold grains frompanning at a single sample site. Rackla followed it up with panningabove and below the site and obtained 1 to 3 “colours” per panover a 500 m stretch of the creek. A 2.4x2.4 km soil grid wasestablished, and it defined a linear 1.5 km long coincidentAu-Bi-As-Te anomaly. The target is underlain by sediments, and theredoes not appear to be intrusive rocks proximal. This target is lookingto be an orogenic, vein-type target. Follow-up work is planned for2026.

Lened Deposit

During the regional program, Rackla evaluated threeCretaceous intrusions at the historical Lened Tungsten Deposit areafor gold potential. One of the stream sedimentsamples from Lened Creek returned a very strong gold anomally of 6.5g/t Au. This sample will be followed up in 2026.

While working in the region, Rackla crews found thatmuch of the historic drill core from the work on the tungsten depositremained on the property and that it appears to be recoverable withbox tags and marker blocks in reasonable condition. The Company became aware that deposit was much more advancedthat it had previously recognized, that tremendous potential existedand that it was open for staking. The Company immediately staked thedeposit.

The history of the Lened Tungsten Deposit dates todiscovery in 1960. In 1976, Union CarbideExploration Corporation purchased the Lened property and from 1977 to1982 explored the site intensively, advancing the project topre-feasibility. Their work included detailed geological mapping, avariety of geochemical and geophysical surveys, metallurgical testing,drilling 26,900 m in 178 holes, economic andenvironmental studies. This work led to the discovery of anotherfifteen tungsten occurrences over a 15 km strike along thenortheastern bank of Lened Creek.

Figure 5 – Lened Tungsten Depositmineral showings and historical drill hole locations.

Click Image To View Full Size

In 1980, Union Carbide produced the first mineralresource estimate for the project on two of the identified zones, theWestern Skarn and Stephens Ridge. That resource which indicated 2.82million tonnes at a grade of 1.27 WO3 (not  NI 43-101 compliant.) UnionCarbide reported the deposit to contain copper and some interestinggold grades up to 1 g/t in selected core samples. There are severalzones outside of this resource with high grade tungsten, in places upto 10% W03.

Rackla has been able to acquire the original UnionCarbide documents including original drill logs, assay sheets,metalurgical, environmetal, resource, economic studies, mylar maps,geophysical studies and geological mapping, etc. This package iscurrently being catalogued and scanned. The scanned data will undergoOptical Character Recognition (OCR) using propretary software designedfor geological data and the maps will be georeferenced and preparedfor import into geological modeling software. The Company expects tohave the digital products before the end of January. Once receivedRackla will bring the dataset into 3D visualisation software anddesign an exploration program to bring the resource up to an NI43-101standard. Field plans for 2026 include recovering, re-logging andre-sampling of the historical core to systematically test for copper,gold and any other metals that might be associated with the tungsten,and testing of the other high-grade showings tungsten showings on theproperty.

South Lened Rare Earths

Additionaly, the regional stream sediment samplingprogram along the Lened Creek returned some very intruiging anomalousrare earth element (REE) results (Table 1). Eleven samples werecollected at nominal 200 m intervals covering a 2.4 km stretch ofLened Creek. Researching government stream sediment sample datafurther, Rackla found that the stream further to the southwest, SouthLened Creek, also contained anomalous REE geochemistry. In Yukon andwestern NWT Government Regional Geochemical Survey (RGS) surveysanalyzed for the rare earth elements La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu aswell as the associated elements Y and Sc, theSouth Lened Creek area returned the highest La, Ce, Sm, Tb and Ybvalues in all of Yukon and western NWT and was in the top 5 for Eu,Lu, Y and Sc.

Table 1 – Rackla 2025 stream sediment sample rare earth elementresults from Lened Creek. (all amounts are ppm)

Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 6 – South Lened Rare Earthsstream sediment geochemistry rose diagram plot showing relative Ce,La, Pr and Nd values.

Click Image To View Full Size

The smaller tributaries draining from the LenedTungsten Deposit on the northeast side of Lened Creek into Lened Creekwere not anomlaous for REEs, indicating that the source does notappear to be associated with the tungsten mineralization. Withanomalies isolated to Lened Creek and South Lened Creek, it wouldappear that the source is the ridge in between. There is no documentedhistory of exploration on this ridge and, at this point, little isknown about the geology of the ridge. Government regional geologicalmapping shows it as underlain by Neoproterozoic phyllite and clasticsediments. The Company suspects that the phyllite and sediments on theridge may host an orogenic carbonatite complex and plans to test thistheory in 2026.

Historically, much of rare earth element production andsupply has come from alluvial placer deposits. Rackla also plans toevaluate the Lened and South Lened creeks for the the possibility ofan economic placer occurrence in 2026.

Qualified Person

Scott Casselman, B.Sc., P.Geo., Vice-PresidentExploration of the Company, is a member of the Association ofProfessional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and isthe Company’s Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument43-101. Mr. Casselman has reviewed and approved the technicalinformation contained in this news release.

AboutRackla

Rackla Metals Inc. (TSX-V: RAK) is a Vancouver, Canadabased junior gold exploration company.  The Company is targetingReduced Intrusion-Related Gold Systems (RIRGS) mineralization on thesoutheastern part of the Tombstone Gold Belt in eastern Yukon andwestern Northwest Territories.  Management believes that this area,which is underexplored for RIRGS deposit types, has the potential tobe the next frontier for the discovery of these large goldsystems.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Simon Ridgway,
CEO and Director

Tel: (604) 801-5432; Fax: (604) 662-8829
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.racklametals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange norits Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in thepolicies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for theadequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in thisnews release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaningof Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein,other than statements of historical fact, are forward- lookingstatements and include, without limitation, the Company’sexploration plans for 2026; and general business and economicconditions. Often, but not always, these forward looking statementscan be identified by the use of words such as “estimate”,“estimates”, “estimated”, “potential”, “open”,“future”, “assumed”, “projected”, “used”,“detailed”, “has been”, “gain”, “upgraded”,“offset”, “limited”, “contained”, “reflecting”,“containing”, “remaining”, “to be”, “periodically”, orstatements that events, “could” or “should” occur or beachieved and similar expressions, including negativevariations.

Forward-looking statements involveknown and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which maycause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Companyto be materially different from any results, performance orachievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Suchuncertainties and factors include, among others, whether explorationplans will proceed as anticipated; changes in general economicconditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venturepartner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration anddevelopment goals; risks associated with the results of explorationand development activities, estimation of mineral resources and thegeology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costsand expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in theCompany’s quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available underthe Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identifyimportant factors that could cause actual actions, events or resultsto differ materially from those described in forward-lookingstatements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events orresults to differ from those anticipated, estimated orintended.

Forward-looking statements containedherein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations andopinions of management, including but not limited to: that theCompany’s stated goals and planned exploration activities at itsproperties will be achieved; that there will be no material adversechange affecting the Company, its properties or its securities; andsuch other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statementsare made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims anyobligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as aresult of new information, future events or results or otherwise,except as required by law. There can be no assurance thatforward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actualresults and future events could differ materially from thoseanticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should notplace undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.