Sama Resources and Ivanhoe Electric Commence 2026 Regional Exploration Program at the Polymetallic Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project, Cote d'Ivoire

(TheNewswire)

Montreal, Québec – February 4,2026 – TheNewswire -Sama Resources Inc. (“Sama” or the“Company”) (TSXV: SME | OTC: SAMMF), together with its jointventure partner Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSE American: IE | TSX: IE),is pleased to announce the commencement of a discovery-driven regionalexploration program for 2026 at the district-scale polymetallicSamapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project (the “Project”) in Côted’Ivoire, West Africa.

The Project includes the polymetallic Samapleu andGrata Deposits, which were the focus of the 2024 Preliminary EconomicAssessment (the “2024 PEA Area”) (refer to Sama’s March 21, 2024news release). The Project is a60/40 joint venture between Ivanhoe Electric and Sama, with Samaacting as the operator (the “Joint Venture”). In addition to a 60%interest at the Project level, Ivanhoe Electric also owns 22.7% of thecommon shares of Sama.

Building District Scale Through Regional Exploration TargetingSamapleu-Grata Look-alikes

The 2026 exploration program is designed to demonstratethe Project's significant district-scale potential through thediscovery of new high-grade polymetallic mineralization, targetingmore than 20 high-priority, untested electromagnetic (“EM”)targets (2013-2018 Airborneelectromagnetic surveys) with comparablefeatures and scale as the Samapleu and Grata Deposits, distributedthroughout the 879 km² land package (Figure 1). The 2026program will build on the success of the limited 500-meter 2025regional exploration program, which led to the discovery of theMossikro Prospect, located 10 kilometers to the south-southwest of the2024 PEA Area.

Key components of the 2026 program include:

• Approximately 4,500 metres of regional explorationdiamond drilling;  

• EM plate modelling of high-priority anomalies from theregional airborne surveys, which could characterize conductive massivesulfide mineralization; 

• Subsequent ground gravity surveys over thehigh-priority EM plate models to further refine potential massivesulfide zones; and 

• Continuing ongoing updated environmental and socialbaseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area to support advancementtoward a mining permit application (refer toSama’s May 3, 2024news release) 

Drilling is scheduled to commence in early February2026, initially focusing on high-priority EM targets within theGlanlé (PR-839) and Zoupleu (PR-837) permits. The ground gravitysurvey, starting in February and scheduled for completion at the endof Q2 2026, will systematically cover all remaining untested EManomalies across the Project, with follow-up drilling planned fortargets showing the strongest combined EM and gravityresponses.

Recent discoveries, including new polymetallicmineralization at the Mossikro Prospect (referto Sama’s September 9,2025 news release), demonstrategeophysical signatures, mineralization styles, and host lithologiescomparable to the Samapleu and Grata Deposits, providing furthervalidation of the regional exploration model and reinforcing thedistrict-scale potential of the Project. The 2025 Mossikro Prospectdiscovery was made 10 kilometers to the south-southwest of the 2024PEA Area, and by targeting an EM anomaly comparable to the Samapleuand Grata Deposits.

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Sama Resources, commented, “The 2026exploration program is a pivotal step in unlocking the fulldistrict-scale potential of the 879 km2 Project area and builds on our successful2025 exploration program. With multiple high-quality targets remaininguntested and a proven discovery track record, we are executing afocused regional exploration strategy targeting new high-gradepolymetallic discoveries across our vast land package. Importantly,this program also advances the environmental and social baseline workrequired to position the Project for long-term development andpermitting.”

Environmental and Social Studies Advancing Project Readiness

In parallel with exploration, Sama continues to advanceenvironmental and social baseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area.Field programs completed by SIMPAE, a Côted’Ivoire-based environmental consulting firm,include:

• Wildlife and vegetation inventories; 

• Surface and groundwater sampling; and 

• Socio-environmental baseline data collection 

These studies were completed in accordance with currentnational and international standards and are designed to supportfuture permitting and development milestones.

Figure 1: Polymetallic Samapleu-GrataNickel-Copper Project showing the 2024 PEA Area, prior drilling, pastairborne EM results, and mineralized zones.

Click Image To View Full Size

National Instrument 43-101Disclosures

Core logging and sampling were performed at Sama’sfield facilities. Sample preparations are conducted at the BureauVeritas Mineral Laboratory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Sample pulpswill be delivered to Activation Laboratories Ltd, Ancaster and ThunderBay, Ontario, Canada, for assaying. All samples will be assayed forNi, Cu, Co, Fe, S, Pt, Pd and Au using sodium peroxide fusion ICP forthe first five elements and by Fire Assay ICPOES for the last three.

A technical report entitled “NI 43-101 PreliminaryEconomic Assessment for the Samapleu and Grata Deposits Project”with an effective date of March 21, 2024 (the “Technical Report”)with respect to the Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project was preparedunder National Instrument 43-101 and filed on May 3, 2024. TheTechnical Report includes important information regarding the MineralResources and 2024 PEA disclosed in this news release, including theeffective date of the Mineral Resource estimate, the key assumptions,parameters, and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources andother factors that could materially affect the potential developmentof the Mineral Resources. For readers to fully understand theinformation in this news release, they should read the TechnicalReport in its entirety when it is filed on SEDAR, including allqualifications, assumptions, and exclusions that relate to theinformation to be set out in the Technical Report. The TechnicalReport is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not beread or relied upon out of context.

The 2024 PEA is preliminary in nature and includesInferred Mineral Resources, considered too speculative in nature to becategorized as mineral reserves. Mineral Resources that are notmineral reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. Additional trenching and/or drilling will be required to convertInferred Mineral Resources to Indicated or Measured Mineral Resources.There is no certainty that the results of the 2024 PEA will berealized.

The independent Qualified Persons responsible forpreparing the Technical Report include Todd McCracken, P. Geo.,Bahareh Asi, P. Eng., Kevan Ford, M. Eng., and Jason Van Schie, P.Eng., each from BBA International Inc., Chris Martin, C. Eng., anIndependent Consultant, and Wilson Muir, P. Eng. From Knight PiésoldLtd.

All other scientific and technical informationcontained in this news release not related to the 2024 PEA has beenreviewed, verified, and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P.Geo, thePresident and Chief Executive Officer of Sama, and a Qualified Personas defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Audet is not independentof Sama.

Grant of Stock Options

The Company is also pleased to announce, subject toregulatory acceptance, that it has granted an aggregate total of815,000 incentive stock options to certain officers, employees andconsultants, subject to certain vesting provisions. These options willbe exercisable at a price of $0.07 per common share and will expire onFebruary 4, 2036.

About Sama Resources Inc.

Sama is a Canadian-based, growth-oriented resourcecompany focused on exploring the Samapleu nickel-copper project inCôte d’Ivoire, West Africa. The Company is managed by experiencedindustry professionals with a strong trackrecord of discovery. Sama is committed to advancing the Samapleu-GrataNickel-Copper Project. Sama’s projects are located approximately 600km northwest of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and are flanked to thewest by the Ivorian and Guinean borders. Sama’s projects are locatedadjacent to the large world-class nickel-cobalt laterite deposits ofSipilou and Foungouesso, forming a 125 km-long new Base Metal Camp inWest Africa. Sama owns 40% interest in the Samapleu nickel-copperproject in Côte d’Ivoire with its joint venture partner IvanhoeElectric owning 60%.

For more information, please visit  www.samaresources.com

AboutIvanhoe Electric Inc.

Are a United States domiciled minerals explorationcompany with a focus on developing mines from mineral depositsprincipally located in the United States. We seek to support Americansupply chain independence by finding and delivering copper and othercritical metals vital to advanced manufacturing, infrastructuredevelopment, technology, and national security. We use our powerfulTyphoon™ geophysical surveying system, together with advanced dataanalytics provided by our 94.3% owned subsidiary, ComputationalGeosciences Inc. (“CGI”), to accelerate and de-risk the mineralexploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of criticalmetals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional explorationtechnologies. We believe the United States is significantlyunderexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries ofcritical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper aswell as other metals including nickel, cobalt, platinum groupelements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio ofcritical metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa CruzCopper Project in Arizona we intend to contribute to domestic supplyby developing resources that support industrial and strategic sectors.We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian MiningCompany ("Maaden") to explore for minerals on ~48,500km2of underexplored Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, weestablished an exploration alliance with BHP Mineral Resources Inc.(“BHP”), a subsidiary of BHP Group Limited, to search for criticalminerals in the United States.  

Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASECONTACT:

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P. Geo, President and CEO
Tel: (514) 726-4158

Mr. Matt Johnston, Vice President Corporate Development
Tel: (604) 443-3835 or (877) 792-6688, Ext. 5

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and informationcontained in this news release are "forward-lookingstatements" or “forward-looking information” within themeaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statementsand forward-looking information, such as “will”, could”,“expect”, “estimate”, “evidence”, “potential”,“appears”, “seems”, “suggest”, are subject to a variety ofrisks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results todiffer from those reflected in the forward-looking statements orforward-looking information. These include, without limitation, theability of the company to convert Mineral Resources to highercategories of confidence or to mineral reserves, the completion ofexploration programs and studies, its ability to produce apre-feasibility study or a feasibility studyregarding the project, its ability to execute on its development plansin terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financingfor activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretationof drill results and the estimation of Mineral Resources and Reserves,the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibilitythat future exploration, development or mining results will not beconsistent with the Company's expectations or justify futureactivities, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatoryrequirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediationand mitigation, risk of title loss or failure to obtain new titlesupon expiry, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labourdisputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions inexploration, the potential for delays in exploration activities, theinherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential forunexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currencyfluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risksand uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements containedin this news release are based upon what management of the Companybelieves are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assureinvestors that actual results will be consistent with theseforward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are madeas of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified intheir entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicablesecurities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to updateor revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflectevents or circumstances occurring after the date of this newsrelease.

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