Finlay Minerals samples 15.3% Copper and 532 g/t Silver on its 100% owned SAY Project

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 26, 2026 /CNW/ - Finlay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: FYL) (OTCQB: FYMNF) ("Finlay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the 2025 SAY exploration program successfully identified new, large-scale targets with continued high-grade copper and silver signatures.

Highlights from the 2025 Exploration Program include:

• Identifying a 1,700 meter ("m") x 2,600 m multi-element soil geochemical anomaly at the IFT Target.
• Identifying a 1,700 m x 1,000 m high-grade Copper ("Cu") and Silver ("Ag") mineralized footprint at the IFT Target, including a rock sample with 15.3% Cu and 532 g/t Ag.
• Discovering the new Ozzy Zone with rock sampling of up to 2.04% Cu and 229 g/t Ag.
• Identifying 2 distinct multi-element anomalies at the new Ozzy Zone through biogeochemical sampling.

Ilona B. Lindsay, Finlay's President & CEO states:

"The 2025 exploration results on our SAY Property exceeded our expectations. Our 2025 work vectored to and identified new, large kilometer-sized anomalies with continued high-grade copper & silver values.  While the SAY is an early-stage property of Finlay's, it is exhibiting some of the characteristics that one finds with significant discoveries.  With $2.2 million of exploration funding in place for 2026, Finlay will advance the SAY with a considerably expanded exploration program."

The 2025 exploration program, focused on the IFT and Ozzy targets with the collection of 80 rock, 292 soil, and 273 tree bark samples, in conjunction with geological mapping, to follow up on the targets generated by the Airborne Magnetic survey conducted in June.⁽¹⁾ The Airborne Magnetic survey identified significant and multiple northeast-trending structures. These structures resemble those found in the Toodoggone District of British Columbia, which is recognized for its potential to host larger porphyry and epithermal deposits. Sampling was focused on a 2,500 m x 2,500 m circular magnetic anomaly at the IFT porphyry target and the intersection of kilometer-scale, northeast- and northwest- trending magnetic anomalies at the Ozzy target. The IFT is located 4.5 km west of the high-grade Cu + Ag AG and East Breccia Zones delineated in 2024. The AG Target was outlined as a 200 m x 200 m high-grade Cu + Ag mineralized zone; the East Breccia assayed 1.17% Cu and 103.5 g/t Ag across 21.7m length of continuous chip sampling. ⁽²⁾ 

Refer to Figure 1 – SAY Property Targets and 2025 Surface Sample Locations underlain by Airborne Magnetics.

Refer to Figure 2 – IFT Target 2025 Copper in Rock Samples. 

Refer to Figure 3 – IFT Target 2025 Silver in Rock Samples.

Situated in the underexplored Driftwood Corridor, the SAY Project is part of a 135-kilometer geological corridor of Stikine Terrane that includes American Eagle Gold's NAK project, as well as Boliden Mineral Canada and Amarc Resources' DUKE copper-molybdenum-silver-gold prospects.

IFT Target -

The assay results from soil sampling and mapping demonstrate IFT is a viable porphyry target. Soil sampling along the eastern portion of the IFT identified a 1,700 m x 2,600 m Cu + Ag + Arsenic ("As") + Bismuth ("Bi") + Molybdenum ("Mo") + Tellurium ("Te") geochemical anomaly synonymous with porphyry deposit environments. The soil geochemical anomaly occurs within the large circular magnetic anomaly encompassing the IFT showing in an area that is predominantly devoid of outcrop. Mapping and rock sampling outlined a Cu and Ag mineralized area of 1,700 m x 1,000 m. Mineralization occurs as massive sulphides and lenses disseminated in wall rock as well as fracture-fill and veins. Chalcopyrite and bornite are the dominant copper-bearing sulphides analogous to the SPUR target to the east. Mapping, geochemical studies and geophysical signatures display characteristics commonly associated with porphyry mineral systems. A total of 33 rock samples were assayed from the IFT target and highlights from the rock samples can be seen in Table 1 below:

Ozzy Target -

The Ozzy target was identified this year from an intersection of a northeast-trending and a northwest-trending magnetic anomaly. There are prominent magnetic highs on either side of the northeast trending structure. Biogeochemical sampling was completed over the Ozzy target, successfully identifying targets beneath the till cover. Results from widely spaced biogeochemical sampling lines outlined a multi-element Ag + As + Cobalt + Cu + Mercury + Mo + Selenium + Zinc anomaly over these magnetic highs with results supported by surface soil and rock sampling to confirm the effectiveness of the biogeochemical sampling. To the east of the biogeochemical anomaly, an andesite float sample with calcite-bornite-malachite veining assayed 2.04% Cu and 229 g/t Ag (J606727).

The southern Ozzy area contained strong visual manganese alteration of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Chlorite alteration is prevalent with patches of silica and sericite. Mineralization is dominated by pyrite with no magnetite present; veining is dominated by carbonate and quartz.

2026 Plans -

Planning for the 2026 exploration program is in progress. The Company plans to further refine the targets by completing a minimum of 25-line km of Induced Polarization geophysical surveys over the IFT and Ozzy targets with additional mapping, soil sampling, and biogeochemical programs over the IFT, Ozzy and Shel targets in preparation for drilling.  Regional work will also be completed over potential new targets.

Qualified Person:

Wade Barnes, P. Geo. and Vice President, Exploration for Finlay Minerals and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the technical content of this news release.

Quality Control/Quality Assurance Program:

Soil samples were sent to the ALS Canada Ltd. ("ALS"), North Vancouver, Canada facility for preparation and analysis. At ALS, soil samples were dried at 60°C and sieved to -180 μm (-80 mesh). The -80 mesh fraction for all samples were analyzed for Au at ALS by fire assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with an ICP-AES finish. Samples were further analyzed for 48 elements using four-acid super trace analysis (ME-MS61).

Rock samples were selective in nature and ranged from mostly grab samples from outcrop and minor float samples. The rock samples were crushed to 70% passing <2 mm size, mechanically split (riffle split) with a representative sample being pulverized to 85% passing <75 μm. Samples were then analyzed for Au at ALS by fire assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with an ICP-AES finish. Samples were further analyzed for 48 elements using four-acid super trace analysis (ME-MS61). ALS is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.

Biogeochemical samples were sent to ALS Canada's, North Vancouver facility for preparation and analysis. At ALS, the bark samples were dried at 60°C and 100 g of this dry plant material was milled using a Retsch Mill to 100% passing 1 mm and producing a homogeneous and representative pulp that could be sub-sampled for analysis. Samples were then analyzed using the ME-VEG41 protocol and aqua regia digestion to produce 53 elements

As part of a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") program, Finlay control samples were inserted in each soil sample analytical batch at the rate of one standard and/or blank in 25 regular samples. The control sample results were then checked to ensure proper QA/QC.

References:

1. Finlay Minerals Ltd. News Release dated September 25, 2025 entitled "Finlay Minerals completes Field Work on Newly Identified Geophysical Targets on the SAY and JJB Properties."
   
   
2. Finlay Minerals Ltd. News Release dated November 20, 2024 entitled: "Finlay Minerals samples 1.17% Cu and 103.5 g/t Ag across 21.7 meters of a Continuous Chip Sample on the SAY Property."

About Finlay Minerals Ltd.

Finlay is a TSXV company focused on exploration for base and precious metal deposits through the advancement of its ATTY, PIL, JJB, SAY and Silver Hope Properties; these properties host copper-gold porphyry and gold-silver epithermal targets within different porphyry districts of northern and central BC. Each property is located in areas of recent development and porphyry discoveries with the advantage of hosting the potential for new discoveries.

Finlay trades under the symbol "FYL" on the TSXV and under the symbol "FYMNF" on the OTCQB. For further information and details, please visit the Company's website at www.finlayminerals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Robert F. Brown,
Executive Chairman of the Board

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the exploration plans for the SAY Property. Although Finlay believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, the ability of Finlay and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Finlay's proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Finlay does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. 

SOURCE Finlay Minerals Ltd.

For further information, contact: Finlay Minerals Ltd., Ilona Lindsay, President, CEO & Director, Tel: 604-684-3099, iblindsay@finlayminerals.com