Collective Mining Drills its Best Hole to Date at the Recently Discovered Ramp Zone by Intersecting 75.80 Metres at 8.01 g/t Gold Equivalent

Rhea-AI Summary

Collective Mining (NYSE: CNL) has announced exceptional drilling results from its Apollo system at the Guayabales Project in Caldas, Colombia. The company's best hole to date, APC105-D1, intersected 75.80 metres at 8.01 g/t gold equivalent in the newly discovered Ramp Zone, including a high-grade section of 21.00 metres at 24.16 g/t gold equivalent.

A second hole, APC103-D3, cut 20.30 metres at 6.68 g/t gold equivalent before being terminated by a post-mineral dyke. The Ramp Zone's dimensions now measure at least 75 metres of strike by up to 480 metres width by 150 metres vertical and remain open in all directions.

The company is executing an aggressive 60,000-metre drill program for 2025 with six rigs currently operating, and two additional rigs expected to join in late Q1 and early Q2. The Ramp Zone discovery shows similarities to the multi-million-ounce Marmato Deeps deposit located 1.75 kilometres southeast.

Positive

• Best drilling results to date with 75.80m @ 8.01 g/t gold equivalent
• Ramp Zone dimensions expanded significantly
• Fully funded 60,000-metre drill program for 2025
• Addition of two new drill rigs planned for Q1/Q2 2025
• Potential for larger mineralization area based on new 3D model

Negative

• APC103-D3 hole terminated prematurely due to post mineral dyke

Insights

Mining Analyst

Collective Mining's latest drill results from the Ramp Zone represent exceptional high-grade intercepts that significantly enhance the potential value of their Apollo system. The headline result of 75.80 metres at 8.01 g/t gold equivalent is extraordinary by industry standards, where many operating mines work with grades of 1-2 g/t. The included 21.00 metres at 24.16 g/t gold equivalent represents bonanza-grade material that could substantially impact project economics.

The geological significance cannot be overstated. The Ramp Zone's dimensions (75m strike × 480m width × 150m vertical) remaining open in all directions suggest considerable expansion potential. Most importantly, management's new 3D model indicates this high-grade mineralization may extend beyond the breccia body when younger porphyry rocks intrude older ultramafic country rocks - potentially unlocking a much larger mineralized system than initially anticipated.

The comparison to the multi-million-ounce Marmato Deeps deposit located just 1.75km away provides critical context for the discovery's potential scale. With six rigs operating (expanding to eight) in a fully-funded 60,000-metre drill program, the company is aggressively delineating what appears to be a significant new high-grade gold system. These results represent exactly what exploration companies and investors hope for - expanding dimensions, increasing grades, and a geological model suggesting much more mineralization to be found.

Financial Geologist

This announcement contains the technical and financial hallmarks of a potentially transformative discovery. The 75.80 metre intercept grading 8.01 g/t gold equivalent ranks among the best gold exploration results globally this year based on grade-thickness values (607 gram-meters). For perspective, open-pit mines typically operate at 0.5-1.5 g/t, while underground operations generally require 3-5 g/t to be economic - this discovery substantially exceeds those thresholds.

What's particularly compelling is the evidence of a coherent geological model emerging. The identification of specific conditions where Ramp-style mineralization forms (younger porphyry intruding older ultramafic rocks) provides a predictable exploration framework that could significantly accelerate resource definition. The implication that this mineralization style might occur over a much larger area than the known breccia body suggests resource growth potential well beyond current dimensions.

The company's aggressive approach - six active drill rigs expanding to eight with a 60,000-metre fully funded program - demonstrates management's confidence in the discovery. For a company with a $527 million market capitalization, these results represent material value creation potential. While still early-stage, the grade, width, continuity, and expanding dimensions of this discovery position it as a potential company-maker that could attract interest from larger miners seeking high-grade gold assets in the Americas.

• Drill hole APC105-D1 cut 75.80 metres at 8.01 g/t gold equivalent and represents the longest and best intercept on a grade accumulation basis (grams x metres) encountered to date in the new Ramp Zone discovery.
• Drill hole APC103-D3 intersected 20.30 metres @ 6.68 g/t gold equivalent before entering a post mineral dyke at an oblique angle and being terminated.
• The two holes announced in this press release have expanded the Ramp Zone discovery to the west and southwest with the Ramp Zone remaining open in all directions for further expansion.
• To date, the Company has received assay results for six holes drilled into the Ramp Zone from three drill pads. Two additional drill holes have been completed with assays pending and a further three holes are currently in progress. The Company continues to aggressively expand the Ramp Zone in all directions and has now expanded the program to include a third rig from a new pad situated on the northeastern side of Apollo. 

TORONTO, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for two drill holes designed to expand the dimensions of the new Ramp Zone discovery ("Ramp"). Ramp is located in the deeper portion of the Apollo system ("Apollo") which is the Company's flagship discovery within the multi-target Guayabales Project in Caldas, Colombia. The Ramp Zone is a bonafide new discovery characterized by high-grade gold associated with minor amounts of bismuth and tellurium and shares similar characteristics with the multi-million-ounce Marmato Deeps deposit located only 1.75 kilometres to the southeast.

Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: "We continue to be pleasantly surprised by the high-grade Ramp Zone discovery. Importantly, we now have an internal 3D model for Ramp and a working hypothesis explaining why the zone formed.  If correct, the hypothesis implies that Ramp style mineralization can occur over a very large area as it won't be relegated only to the breccia body at Apollo.  Aggressive drill planning is underway with more details to follow in due course."

The Company currently has six drill rigs operating as part of its fully funded 60,000-metre drill program for 2025 with four rigs drilling at Apollo, one drilling at the Tower Target and a final rig testing the San Antonio Project. Two additional rigs are expected to begin operating in late Q1 and early Q2, respectively. Approximately 110,000 metres of diamond drilling has been completed to date at the Guayabales Project, including 74,000 metres in 163 holes at Apollo. There are currently eight drill holes pending assay results for the Guayabales and San Antonio projects with results to be reported in batches once received and compiled by the Company.

The 2025 objectives for the portion of the drilling program targeting the Apollo system are:

• Drill test newly modeled high-grade sub-zone targets scattered throughout the top 1,000 vertical metres from surface to improve the grade profile (and size) of the system.
• Grow the overall dimensions of the system by expanding vertically and laterally the recently discovered high-grade Ramp Zone.
• Test the northern extension potential of Apollo at shallower elevations.

Details (see Table 1 and Figures 1-4)

• Drill hole APC105-D1, collared from mother hole APC-105D (Pad 18), was designed to test the Ramp Zone in a northeasterly direction. The hole intercepted continuous and high-grade mineralization within the Apollo host breccia body and consisted of veinlets of pyrite, pyrrhotite and minor amounts of bismuth and tellurium sulphides. APC105-D1 is the best hole and widest intercept drilled to date into the Ramp Zone on a grade accumulation basis (grams x metres) with assay results as follows: 
  • 75.80 metres @ 8.01 g/t gold equivalent from 469.60 metres including:
    • 21.00 metres @ 24.16 g/t gold equivalent from 487.60 metres
• APC103-D3 was drilled from mother hole APC-103D (Pad 16) and orientated in a southwesterly direction across the Ramp Zone. The hole initially intersected an interval of modest mineralization at a shallower elevation above Ramp. Further down hole, the Ramp Zone was intersected before being cut-off prematurely by a post mineral dyke. Assays results for APC103-D3 are as follows:
  • 13.25 metres @ 3.13 g/t gold equivalent from 127.90 metres (Upper Zone)
    • 20.30 metres @ 6.68 g/t gold equivalent from 247.45 metres (Ramp Zone)

Drilling announced herein has expanded the Ramp Zone to the west with dimensions of the Ramp Zone now measuring at least 75 metres of strike by up to 480 metres width by 150 metres vertical and open in all directions.

• An initial 3D model of the Ramp Zone discovery has been constructed by the Company highlighting an NNW striking zone which dips to the southwest. Additionally, it appears that the conditions required for Ramp Zone style mineralization (Au-Ag-Bi-Te) to form occurs when younger porphyry host rocks intrude the older ultramafic country rocks. As a result, the model suggests that Ramp might cover a large volume of rock and be hosted within more than one type of host rock. Aggressive step-out drill holes are now being planned as the scale of Ramp is potentially larger in strike and vertical dimensions than previously assumed.
• To date, the Company has received assay results for six holes drilled into Ramp Zone from three drill pads. Two drill holes have been completed with assays pending and a further two holes are currently in progress. The Company continues to aggressively expand the Ramp Zone in all directions and has now expanded the program to include a third rig from a new pad situated on the northeastern side of Apollo.

Table 1: Assays Results for Drill Holes APC103-D3 and APC105-D1

Hole #	From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au g/t	Ag g/t	AuEq g/t*	Zone
APC103-D3	127.90	141.15	13.25	3.13	7	3.13	Upper Zone
And	247.45	267.75	20.30	6.62	20	6.68	Ramp Zone
APC105-D1	469.60	545.40	75.80	8.06	15	8.01	Ramp Zone
Incl.	487.60	508.60	21.00	24.42	37	24.16	Ramp Zone

*AuEq (g/t) is calculated as follows: (Au (g/t) x 0.97) + (Ag (g/t) x 0.015 x 0.85) utilizing metal prices of Au – US$2,000/oz and Ag – US$30/oz and recovery rates of 97% for Au and 85% for Ag. Recovery rate assumptions for metals are based on metallurgical results announced on October 17, 2023, April 11, 2024, and October 3, 2024. True widths are unknown, and grades are uncut.

About Collective Mining Ltd.

To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com.

Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines. 

The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives are to improve the overall grade of the Apollo system by systematically drill testing newly modeled potentially high-grade sub-zones, expand the Apollo system by stepping out along strike to the north and expanding the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth, expand the Trap system and drill a series of newly generated targets including Tower and X. 

Management, insiders and a strategic investor own approximately 44.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on the NYSE American and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL" and on the FSE under the trading symbol "GG1". 

Qualified Person (QP) and NI43-101 Disclosure

David J Reading is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG).

Technical Information

Samples were cut by Company personnel at Collective Mining's core facility in Caldas, Colombia. Diamond drill core was sawed and then sampled in maximum 2 metres intervals, stopping at geological boundaries. Drill hole core diameter is a mix of PQ, HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. 

Core samples have been prepared and analyzed at ALS laboratory facilities in Medellin, Colombia and Lima, Peru. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Crush rejects and pulps are kept and stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program.

Information Contact:

Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) on X

Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 27, 2024. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Collective Mining Ltd.

FAQ

What are the latest drilling results from Collective Mining's (CNL) Ramp Zone discovery?

The latest drilling yielded 75.80 metres at 8.01 g/t gold equivalent in hole APC105-D1, including 21.00 metres at 24.16 g/t gold equivalent, marking the best intercept to date.

What are the current dimensions of CNL's Ramp Zone at the Apollo system?

The Ramp Zone measures 75 metres of strike by 480 metres width by 150 metres vertical, remaining open in all directions for expansion.

How many drill rigs does Collective Mining (CNL) currently have operating in 2025?

CNL currently operates 6 drill rigs, with 2 additional rigs expected to begin operating in late Q1 and early Q2 2025.

What is the total planned drilling program for Collective Mining (CNL) in 2025?

CNL has a fully funded 60,000-metre drill program planned for 2025.

How many meters has Collective Mining (CNL) drilled at the Guayabales Project to date?

Approximately 110,000 metres of diamond drilling has been completed at Guayabales, including 74,000 metres in 163 holes at Apollo.