Founders Metals Expands High-Grade Gold Zone at Upper Antino with 46.0 m of 3.59 g/t Au & Deep Drilling Extends Mineralization to 500 m Vertical Depth

Rhea-AI Summary

Founders Metals (OTCQX: FDMIF) reported significant drilling results from its ongoing 60,000-metre drilling campaign at the Antino Gold Project in Suriname. The company achieved notable success in extending the Froyo Zone's vertical depth to over 500 metres, nearly doubling its previous depth.

Key highlights include an impressive intercept of 46.0 metres grading 3.59 g/t gold in hole FR120, and successful depth extensions with 8.0 metres of 2.25 g/t Au (FR115), 13.0 metres of 2.10 g/t Au (FR123), and 21.0 metres of 0.73 g/t Au (FR118). The company also reported promising results from parallel shears between Froyo and Donut zones.

Additionally, Founders Metals is advancing exploration at multiple targets including Maria Geralda, where phase two drilling of up to 2,000 metres is planned, following previous results of 22.5 metres at 11.88 g/t Au. Further exploration activities are ongoing at Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Lawa, and Parbo targets.

Positive

• High-grade gold intercept of 46.0 metres at 3.59 g/t Au demonstrates strong mineralization
• Successful extension of gold system to 500 metres vertical depth, nearly doubling previous depth
• Multiple parallel gold-bearing structures identified between Froyo and Donut zones
• Fully funded 60,000-metre drilling campaign indicates strong financial position

Negative

• Deep drilling shows lower grades at depth compared to shallow mineralization

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its ongoing, fully funded 60,000 metre drilling campaign at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname (Figure 1).

Colin Padget, President and CEO of Founders said, "We're seeing exciting results on multiple fronts at Upper Antino. Ongoing drilling testing continuity and growth of high-grade domains within Froyo, hit an impressive 46.0 metres of 3.59 grams per tonne gold in FR120, and we are continuing to see success in our eastward steps toward Donut. Early results from our deep drilling program nearly double the vertical depth of the Froyo Zone to over 500 metres from surface, substantially increasing the expansion potential at Upper Antino."

Upper Antino Drilling Highlights

• Depth Extension Success: First three deep holes extend gold system to 500 metres vertical depth including:
  • 8.0 metres (m) of 2.25 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from 597.0 m (FR115)
  • 13.0 m of 2.10 g/t Au from 468.0 m (FR123)
  • 21.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au from 458.0 m (FR118)
• Continuity of High-Grade Domains:
  • 46.0 m of 3.59 g/t Au from 174.0 m in Main Froyo Shear (FR120)
  • 24.0 m of 2.03 g/t Au from 26.1 m in Parallel Shear (FR122)
• Parallel shears between Froyo and Donut:
  • 28.0 m of 1.18 g/t Au from 332.0 m (FR126)
  • 11.0 m of 2.32 g/t Au from 397.0 m (FR123)

Results Discussion

Recent drilling at Upper Antino is delivering strong results both at depth and along strike (Figure 2). The standout FR120 intercept of 46.0 m of 3.59 g/t Au successfully targeted shallow plunging, northwest trending orientation of a high-grade shoot along the main shear at Froyo (Figure 3) in a 50 m along-strike step and serves to reinforce the continuity of these domains. Drill hole FR126 is the furthest east step to date toward Donut and intersected a 28.0 m zone of 1.18 g/t Au.

Deeper drilling extends Upper Antino's shear-hosted gold mineralization to approximately 500 m vertical depth, highlighted by 8.0 m of 2.25 g/t Au (FR115), 13.0 m of 2.10 g/t Au (FR123), and 21.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au (FR118). These are encouraging initial results that confirm the continuation of this robust gold system to depth. We note that gold-bearing intervals at depth are geologically similar in character to shallower Upper Antino mineralization and Founders sees substantial opportunity to intercept new high-grade domains in ongoing and future drilling along strike.

Emerging Targets Exploration Update

Maria Geralda has entered phase two drilling, with up to 2,000 metres of drilling planned to follow up on the previously reported impressive results of 22.5 m at 11.88 g/t Au from hole MG003 (Figure 1). The team has recently expanded the surface auger drilling program to cover 750 metres along strike of the initial drilling area, and new surface exploration results are expected to be released soon.

Meanwhile, exploration activities are actively underway at the Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Lawa, and Parbo targets (Figure 1), encompassing comprehensive surface exploration programs that include geological mapping, rock sampling, channel and trench sampling, and deep auger drilling programs. As conditions in the area begin to dry out, follow-up drilling at these targets is anticipated to commence in early Q4 2025.

Figure 1: Antino Property Map

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Figure 2: Upper Antino Plan Map

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Figure 3: Upper Antino Long Section

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Table 1: Drill Hole Assay Results

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval* (m)	Au (g/t)
FR126	44.1	60.6	16.5	0.33
and	332.0	360.0	28.00	1.18
FR123	271.0	308.0	37.00	0.67
and	295.0	305.0	10.00	1.06
and	368.0	370.0	2.00	6.08
and	397.0	408.0	11.00	2.32
and	468.0	481.0	13.00	2.10
and	659.0	663.0	4.00	1.40
FR122	26.1	50.1	24.00	2.03
FR121	36.6	42.6	6.00	2.37
and	267.0	278.0	11.00	0.88
FR120	174.0	220.0	46.00	3.59
and	355.0	371.0	16.00	0.39
FR118	250.0	253.0	3.00	5.83
and	347.0	351.0	4.00	0.91
and	458.0	479.0	21.00	0.73
FR115	398.0	404.0	6.00	1.20
and	597.0	605.0	8.00	2.25

 

*Intervals are down-hole depths. True widths of mineralization are estimated to be approximately 85% of the down-hole interval based on preliminary results and observations. All are diamond drill holes.

Table 2: Drill Hole Locations

Hole ID	Easting (m)	Northing (m)	Elevation (m)	Azimuth (°)	Dip (°)	Depth (m)
FR126	817458.4	401319.4	166.0	250.1	-50.1	539.2
FR123	817350.5	401145.5	158.0	265.5	-65.2	756.7
FR122	817003.7	401453.0	168.0	270.0	-54.9	496.9
FR121	817005.0	401452.5	168.0	250.0	-55.2	355.9
FR120	817021.0	401332.5	218.5	250.1	-55.1	383.0
FR118	817247.3	401580.0	161.0	249.8	-55.2	602.1
FR115	817264.5	401357.8	184.7	250.3	-60.1	617.0

 

*The coordinate reference system is WGS 84, UTM zone 21N (EPSG 32621)

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.

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.

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

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.

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FAQ

What were the key drilling results from Founders Metals (FDMIF) at Upper Antino in August 2025?

The key result was a 46.0-metre intercept grading 3.59 g/t gold in hole FR120, along with successful depth extensions including 8.0 metres of 2.25 g/t Au (FR115) and 13.0 metres of 2.10 g/t Au (FR123).

How deep is the gold mineralization at Founders Metals' Upper Antino project?

The recent drilling has extended the gold system to approximately 500 metres vertical depth, nearly doubling the previous known depth of the Froyo Zone.

What are Founders Metals' exploration plans for Maria Geralda in 2025?

Founders Metals has initiated phase two drilling at Maria Geralda, with plans for up to 2,000 metres of drilling to follow up on previous results of 22.5 metres at 11.88 g/t Au.

Which exploration targets is FDMIF currently developing at the Antino Project?

Besides Upper Antino and Maria Geralda, Founders is actively exploring the Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Lawa, and Parbo targets through geological mapping, rock sampling, and deep auger drilling programs.

What is the status of Founders Metals' current drilling campaign?

The company is conducting a fully funded 60,000-metre drilling campaign at the Antino Gold Project, with ongoing drilling testing continuity and growth of high-grade domains.