Founders Metals Commences Airborne Geophysics and Auger Sampling Programs at Antino

Rhea-AI Summary

Founders Metals (OTCQX: FDMIF) has initiated comprehensive exploration programs at its Antino Gold Project in Suriname. The company launched property-wide geophysical and geochemical surveys, including an 8,000-sample auger sampling program and advanced airborne electromagnetic and magnetics surveys.

The company is executing an aggressive 60,000-meter drilling program with four active drills across multiple targets. Notable results include 22.5 meters of 11.88 g/t gold at Maria Geralda. Additionally, Founders Metals announced the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as its new auditor, replacing MS Partners LLP.

Positive

• Comprehensive exploration program with 8,000 auger samples planned
• Significant gold mineralization discovered with 22.5m of 11.88 g/t Au at Maria Geralda
• Aggressive 60,000m drilling program with four active drills
• More than half of the property remains unexplored, indicating significant exploration potential

Negative

• Large portions of the property remain completely unexplored
• Results from geophysical surveys not expected until mid Q4 2025

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 18, 2025) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of property-wide geophysical and geochemical surveys at the Antino Gold Project ("Antino" or "Project") in southeastern Suriname (Figure 1). The surveys are intended to support growth-focused drilling around current targets, further improve the Company's understanding of regional-to-deposit scale controls on gold mineralization, and identify new exploration targets.

Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented, "More than half of the Antino Property remains completely unexplored by modern systematic exploration methods. This fall we intend to complete property-wide auger sampling at a spacing that has been effective at identifying major gold occurrences elsewhere at Antino. Additionally, the concurrent airborne geophysical surveys use the latest technology to provide high-resolution datasets that we believe are key to unlocking the full exploration potential of the target-rich geological environment at Antino. We are continuing aggressive exploration drilling on the project with our ongoing 60,000 m program, and we look forward to providing an update to the market with results in the near-term."

Auger Sampling
As shown in Figure 2, extensive property wide auger sampling programs comprising approximately 8,000 samples are underway to:

• Extend recent and historical auger grids to gain full regional coverage across Antino at 400 m line spacing with 50 m sample spacing along lines
• Infill regional coverage at 200 m line spacing over areas of historical auger gold anomalies and where mapping/prospecting work identified quartz veining and shearing at surface
• Construct targeted 100 m line spaced grids over the Maria Geralda, Van Gogh, and Da Vinci gold trends (in progress). These more tightly spaced grids provide higher resolution geochemical data over regional-scale structures linked to Antino gold mineralization.

Airborne Geophysics
Founders has engaged Expert Geophysics Surveys Inc. to conduct a coincident airborne time-domain electromagnetic (EM) and magnetics survey at 100 m line spacing across the entire Project (Figure 3). The helicopter flown TargetEM26 system employed will deliver high resolution 3D conductivity-resistivity and magnetics data to up to 300 m vertical depth below surface. This system is widely recognized for its effectiveness in similar geologic terranes where it is known to successfully delineate key geological features associated with gold mineralization such as major faults, fold patterns, and the presence of intrusive complexes. These high-resolution datasets will aid in drill targeting on Founders' intermediate and emerging target areas as well as give new insights into areas that, to date, remain completely unexplored. Founders expects preliminary data from these surveys by mid Q4.

Ongoing Work at Antino
Founders Metals continues to aggressively advance drilling at Antino, with four drills turning: two drills at Upper Antino, one newly arrived drill at Parbo, and one drill at Maria Geralda. Current work includes:

• Continued drilling at Upper Antino to extend gold mineralization along strike and between Froyo and Donut
• Maiden 2,000 m drill program now underway at the Parbo target
• Increased drill program at Maria Geralda following up on initial results in MG003 of 22.5 m of 11.88 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and subsequent 1,300 m long auger gold anomaly
• Ongoing trenching, mapping, and prospecting to provide structural context for the second phase of drilling across high-priority targets including Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and Lawa during this dry season

Figure 1: Antino Property Map

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/266950_58cdd6e9942ef8d6_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Planned Auger Survey

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/266950_58cdd6e9942ef8d6_002full.jpg

Figure 3: Geophysics Survey Map

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Notice of Change of Auditor

The Company's Board of Directors ("BoD") has appointed Davidson & Company LLP as the Company's new auditor, replacing MS Partners LLP ("MS Partners"). MS Partners resigned as auditor of the Company effective September 8, 2025. Davidson & Company LLP was appointed as the Company's auditor effective September 15, 2025. The Company has filed Notices of Change of Auditor in respect of this change under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Founders Metals Inc.
Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 20,000 hectares and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. The Company is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. Founders is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield.
¹2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrançois, BSc, P.Geo.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Contact Information

Katie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate Development
Tel: 306 537 8903 | katiem@fdrmetals.com

Harp Gosal, Director, Investor Relations
Tel: 236 301 4211 | IR@fdrmetals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

Quality Assurance and Control

Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 µm. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility).  A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/266950

FAQ

What exploration programs did Founders Metals (FDMIF) announce for the Antino Gold Project?

Founders Metals announced an 8,000-sample auger sampling program and airborne electromagnetic and magnetics surveys across the entire project, along with a 60,000-meter drilling program using four drills.

What are the recent drilling results from Founders Metals' Antino Gold Project?

At the Maria Geralda target, drilling revealed significant mineralization of 22.5 meters at 11.88 grams per tonne gold in hole MG003.

How many drills are currently operating at Founders Metals' Antino Project?

Four drills are currently operating: two at Upper Antino, one at Parbo, and one at Maria Geralda.

When will Founders Metals receive preliminary data from the geophysical surveys?

The company expects to receive preliminary data from the geophysical surveys by mid Q4 2025.

Who is the new auditor for Founders Metals?

Davidson & Company LLP was appointed as the company's new auditor effective September 15, 2025, replacing MS Partners LLP.