VANCOUVER, BC, March 5, 2026 /CNW/ - Luca Mining Corp. ("Luca" or the "Company") (TSXV: LUCA) (OTCQX: LUCMF) (Frankfurt: Z68) reports new assay results from its ongoing 2026 drilling program at the Tahuehueto gold-silver mine in Durango, Mexico.
Initial drilling has intersected high-grade gold mineralization in breccia zones, immediately below current mine workings, confirming continuity of breccia-hosted mineralization within the Creston vein system and highlighting potential for near-mine resource expansion.
Highlights
- High-grade intercepts from surface drill holes, including 7.6 metres ("m") of 16.08 g/t AuEq** (14.27 g/t Au, 46.64 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu, 2.57% Pb, 1.19% Zn) in hole DDH26-SU-01 and 5.4 m of 16.00 g/t AuEq (15.49 g/t Au, 30.86 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.19% Pb, 0.34% Zn) in hole DDH26-SU-03
- Strong continuity of mineralization confirmed in unmined areas approximately 30 m below Level 23, extending known high-grade breccia zones
- These intercepts exceed current mined grades and occur within development distance of existing underground infrastructure
- Results validate the geologic model and are expected to inform near-term mine plans, adding potential near-mine resources
- To date: 28 underground holes completed for 6,750 m and 19 surface holes for 3,650 m (Creston Vein and Santiago targets)
- Based on continued strong drilling results, Luca's board of directors has approved a 40% increase ($1 million) to the Tahuehueto 2026 drill budget, now totaling $3.5 million
"These initial surface holes confirm that high-grade breccia zones within the Creston Vein system remain unmined below current workings," said Paul D. Gray, VP Exploration. "The results validate our Tahuehueto geological model and highlight the opportunity to expand high-grade mineral resources within development distance of existing infrastructure. With both underground and surface rigs active, and an expanded drill budget, we are well positioned to continue defining high-grade mineralization and demonstrating the broader scale of the Tahuehueto system."
Drill Results Summary
Drillholes DDH26-SU-01 through DDH26-SU-03 targeted a previously untested zone approximately 30 metres below active mine workings on Level 23 and along strike from Luca's successful Phase 1 2024-2025 underground drill program (See Company News Release Dated February 20, 2025).
All three holes intersected the Creston mineralized structure in well developed brecciated veins and confirm strike continuity of the high-grade breccia zone identified in prior drilling, on strike and down plunge.
Key Intercepts
DDH26-SU-01
- 7.6 m @ 16.08 g/t AuEq (14.27 g/t Au, 46.64 g/t Ag, 0.33% Cu, 2.57% Pb and 1.19% Zn) from 80.9 m
- including 2.6 m @ 25.52 g/t AuEq (25.13 g/t Au, 25.00 g/t Ag, 0.00% Cu, 0.14% Pb and 0.23% Pb) from 82.4 m
DDH26-SU-02
- Multiple mineralized veins, including:
- 1.0 m @ 5.00 g/t AuEq (4.05 g/t Au, 25.20 g/t Ag, 0.18% Cu, 0.35% Pb and 1.73% Zn) from 91.9 m
- 1.9 m @ 6.77 g/t AuEq (1.38 g/t Au, 178.00 g/t Ag, 2.38% Cu, 0.76% Pb, 0.69% Zn) from 104.1m
DDH26-SU-03
- 13.2 m @ 7.11 g/t AuEq (6.66 g/t Au, 17.18 g/t Ag, 0.04% Cu, 0.25% Pb and 0.65% Zn) from 42.7 m:
- including 5.4 m @ 16.00 g/t AuEq (15.49 g/t Au, 30.86 g/t Ag, 0.01% Cu, 0.19% Pb and 0.34% Zn) from 42.7 m
- including 3.2 m @ 20.24 g/t AuEq (19.54 g/t Au, 46.38 g/t Ag, 0.00% Cu, 0.22% Pb and 0.36% Zn) from 42.7m
True widths are estimated to be approximately 85% of drilled intervals.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 present the location of the drillholes with assay results and Tables 1 and 2 provide summary analytical results and drill collar details, respectively.
About 2026 Tahuehueto Exploration Program
The Tahuehueto property comprises a large epithermal gold-silver vein system with approximately 11 kilometres of known vein strike length and numerous mineralized structures. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth across most modeled Mineral Resource areas. The current campaigns represent the first substantive exploration drilling conducted on the property in more than 12 years, and the first since the addition of key concessions to the land package (See Company News Release dated August 28, 2025).
Luca's 2026 exploration program builds on the success of the 2025 campaign. The program is designed to expand known mineral resources, adding near-term mineable material and defining the vertical and lateral extent of mineralization, as well as to identify additional thick, high-grade breccia zones known to occur within the epithermal vein system, and test multiple underexplored vein systems.
In addition to the four veins that currently support the mineral resource, at least 14 additional prospective veins have been documented within the concession area with potential to host epithermal Au-Ag (±Cu-Zn-Pb) mineralization. In several cases, these targets may represent extensions of the existing mineralized structures.
Overall, the Company has identified more than 11 km of prospective vein structures along strike, compared to approximately 4.5 km of mineralized veins incorporated into the current mineral resource model, highlighting significant exploration upside across the property.
Assay Tables and Collar Locations
Table 1: Highlighted Diamond Drill Assay Results from DDH26-SU-01 through DDH26-SU-03
Hole |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval* (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cu (%) |
Pb (%) |
Zn (%) |
AuEq** (g/t) |
DDH26-SU-01 |
75.0 |
76.7 |
1.7 |
3.06 |
58.25 |
1.08 |
2.45 |
9.94 |
7.56 |
80.9 |
88.5 |
7.6 |
14.27 |
46.64 |
0.33 |
2.57 |
1.19 |
16.08 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
81.9 |
86.8 |
4.9 |
19.86 |
21.22 |
0.00 |
0.11 |
0.20 |
20.19 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
82.4 |
84.9 |
2.6 |
25.13 |
25.00 |
0.00 |
0.14 |
0.23 |
25.52 |
|
DDH26-SU-02 |
19.4 |
20.6 |
1.2 |
0.04 |
21.90 |
0.01 |
3.38 |
2.36 |
1.57 |
50.1 |
50.5 |
0.4 |
0.11 |
40.30 |
0.00 |
12.44 |
4.47 |
4.38 |
|
67.6 |
68.6 |
1.0 |
0.16 |
4.90 |
0.04 |
0.12 |
1.20 |
0.53 |
|
72.9 |
73.7 |
0.9 |
0.25 |
8.60 |
0.12 |
0.09 |
1.10 |
0.73 |
|
77.2 |
77.8 |
0.7 |
1.24 |
4.00 |
0.06 |
0.19 |
0.37 |
1.48 |
|
78.7 |
79.1 |
0.4 |
2.32 |
39.90 |
0.39 |
2.02 |
3.82 |
4.49 |
|
80.7 |
81.2 |
0.6 |
1.41 |
8.60 |
0.11 |
0.16 |
0.83 |
1.85 |
|
87.0 |
89.0 |
2.0 |
1.23 |
11.10 |
0.15 |
0.36 |
0.90 |
1.81 |
|
91.9 |
107.7 |
15.9 |
0.83 |
62.71 |
0.68 |
0.81 |
1.31 |
2.87 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
91.9 |
92.9 |
1.0 |
4.05 |
25.20 |
0.18 |
0.35 |
1.73 |
5.00 |
|
And |
|||||||||
97.3 |
102.6 |
5.3 |
0.83 |
61.41 |
0.60 |
0.54 |
2.57 |
2.94 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
100.9 |
102.6 |
1.7 |
1.66 |
52.93 |
0.50 |
0.35 |
1.22 |
3.24 |
|
And |
|||||||||
104.1 |
106.0 |
1.9 |
1.38 |
178.00 |
2.38 |
0.76 |
0.69 |
6.77 |
|
And |
|||||||||
106.7 |
107.7 |
1.0 |
0.75 |
88.82 |
1.53 |
0.92 |
0.20 |
3.95 |
|
DDH26-SU-03 |
7.5 |
10.0 |
2.5 |
0.02 |
5.46 |
0.01 |
0.41 |
0.86 |
0.36 |
10.0 |
11.6 |
1.6 |
0.09 |
20.32 |
0.01 |
1.74 |
1.36 |
1.02 |
|
42.7 |
55.9 |
13.2 |
6.66 |
17.18 |
0.04 |
0.25 |
0.65 |
7.11 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
42.7 |
48.1 |
5.4 |
15.49 |
30.86 |
0.01 |
0.19 |
0.34 |
16.00 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
42.7 |
45.9 |
3.2 |
19.54 |
46.38 |
0.00 |
0.22 |
0.36 |
20.24 |
|
And |
|||||||||
48.8 |
50.8 |
1.9 |
1.16 |
19.31 |
0.18 |
0.86 |
2.48 |
2.29 |
|
And |
|||||||||
53.1 |
53.6 |
0.5 |
1.91 |
6.40 |
0.03 |
0.19 |
0.42 |
2.15 |
|
And |
|||||||||
55.1 |
55.9 |
0.8 |
0.74 |
7.30 |
0.04 |
0.25 |
1.06 |
1.14 |
|
60.0 |
61.5 |
1.5 |
1.72 |
5.10 |
0.00 |
0.05 |
0.16 |
1.83 |
|
63.4 |
65.0 |
1.6 |
0.67 |
20.26 |
0.25 |
0.39 |
0.62 |
1.43 |
|
65.0 |
72.4 |
7.4 |
0.39 |
26.53 |
0.33 |
0.82 |
1.36 |
1.57 |
|
Including |
|||||||||
70.3 |
72.4 |
2.1 |
0.43 |
52.69 |
0.49 |
1.85 |
2.87 |
2.66 |
|
78.0 |
80.7 |
2.7 |
0.05 |
7.81 |
0.10 |
0.08 |
1.83 |
0.64 |
*True widths are estimated to be approximately 85% of drilled intervals. |
** AuEq equation is: AuEq = Au + (Ag*0.0126) + (Cu%*1.1931) + (Pb%*0.2333) + (Zn%*0.1919), considering actual reported metallurgical recoveries of Au 84%, Ag 85%, Cu 78.3%, Pb 71.6% and Zn 48% for the Tahuehueto, at $2,250 US$/oz Au, 28 US$/oz Ag, 9,260 US$/Tonne Cu, 1,980 US$/Tonne Pb and 2,430 US$/Tonne Zn. |
Table 2: Drill Collar Locations and Details for Released Results
Hole ID |
UTM WGS84 Z13N |
Elevation (m) |
Dip |
Azimuth |
Total Depth |
|
Easting |
Northing |
(m) |
(m) |
|||
DDH26-SU-01 |
337385 |
2812533 |
1,259 |
-40 |
270 |
98 |
DDH26-SU-02 |
337385 |
2812533 |
1,260 |
-69 |
288 |
131 |
DDH26-SU-03 |
337385 |
2812533 |
1,259 |
-52 |
295 |
90 |
About Luca Mining Corp.
Luca Mining (TSX-V: LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a diversified Canadian mining company with two 100%-owned producing mines within the prolific Sierra Madre mineralized belt in Mexico which hosts numerous producing and historical mines along its trend. The Company produces gold, copper, zinc, silver and lead from these mines that each have considerable development and resource upside.
The Campo Morado polymetallic VMS mine is an underground operation located in Guerrero State within a 121 square kilometer land package. It produces copper-zinc-lead concentrates with precious metals credits. It is currently undergoing an optimization program which is already generating significant improvements in recoveries, grades, efficiencies, and cashflows.
The Tahuehueto Mine is a large property of over 100 square kilometres in Durango State. The project hosts epithermal gold and silver vein-style mineralization. Tahuehueto is a newly constructed underground mining operation producing primarily gold and silver. The Company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in commercial production.
Analytical Method and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Measures
All drill core splits reported in this news release were analyzed by Bureau Veritas of Durango, Mexico, utilizing the Multi-Acid digestion ICP-ES 35-element MA300 analytical package with FA-430 30-gram Fire Assay with AAS finish for gold on all samples. Au over-limits from FA-430 are re-analyzed by FA530 30-gram Fire Assay with Gravimetric finish. Ag over-limits from ICP MA300 analytical package are re-analyzed by FA530 30-gram Fire Assay with Gravimetric finish. Similarly, Cu, Pb and Zn over-limits from ICP MA300 analytical package are re-analyzed by ICP Multi-Acid digestion MA370 package. All core samples were split by core saw on-site at Luca's core processing facilities at the Tahuehueto Mine. Once split, half samples were placed back in the core boxes with the other half of split samples sealed in poly bags with one part of a three-part sample tag inserted within. Samples were collected by Bureau Veritas at the Tahuehueto Mine site and transported to Bureau Veritas' Durango Laboratory, where samples are prepared to a 250 gram pulp and analyzed for Gold by Fire assay with pulps shipped to Bureau Veritas's Analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., for final ICP chemical analysis. A robust system of standards, 1/4 core duplicates and blanks was implemented in the 2024-2025 exploration drilling program and is monitored as chemical assay data become available.
Qualified Person
The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration at Luca Mining. Mr. Gray is a Qualified Person for the Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
(signed) "Dan Barnholden"
Dan Barnholden, Chief Executive Officer
For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, conditions or performance that are based on assumptions about the proposed exploration programs and its anticipated results; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties; success of exploration and development; anticipated time and results of forthcoming reports on the Campo Morado mine; capital requirements of the CME; the CME and targets, expectations and results thereof; inclusion of the Reforma and El Rey deposits in the updated mine plan as Mineral Reserves; and benefits from Campo Morado expansion and structure thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans", expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the Company will be able to raise additional capital as necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Campo Morado mine can be achieved; that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Campo Morado mine will be achieved; the CME will yield anticipated results; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals and economic and political conditions. Forward-Looking Information involves 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 Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Luca Mining Corp.
Contact Information: Sophia Shane, Director of Investor Relations, sshane@lucamining.com, +1 604 306 6867; Maximillian Myers, Manager Investor Relations, mmyers@lucamining.com, +1 416 220 0430
