Aurion and KoBold Metals Sign Critical Minerals Exploration Agreement

ST. JOHN'S, NL, March 19, 2025 /CNW/ - Aurion Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AU) (OTCQX: AIRRF) ("Aurion" or the "Company") announces that it has signed a definitive agreement with KoBold Exploration Finland Oy ("KoBold"), a wholly owned subsidiary of KoBold Metals Company, granting KoBold the right to earn an undivided 75% interest in an area covering approximately 35 km² in the eastern portion of Aurion's 100% owned 160 km² Risti Property ("the Project Area"). Aurion retains the rights to explore for and develop any portions of the Project Area where the predominant mineral in a discovery is gold or silver.

Key Terms:

• Earn-in: KoBold can earn an undivided 75% interest in commodities discovered in the Project Area (other than any discoveries that are predominantly gold or silver) by incurring USD$12,000,000 in exploration expenditures on or before the fifth anniversary of the date of signing the agreement, and KoBold commits to a USD$1,000,000 minimum exploration expenditure within 18 months.
• Joint venture: Following satisfaction by KoBold of the earn-in requirements, a joint venture will be established with KoBold owning 75% and Aurion 25%.
• Net smelter returns royalty: In case an ownership interest in the joint venture is diluted to below 10%, the ownership interest will be converted to a 2% Net Smelter Returns Royalty.
• Aurion retains full ownership rights over areas within the Project Area where the predominant mineral in a discovery is gold or silver and has the right to continue exploration activities in the Project Area during the earn-in phase and the joint venture phase as long as it holds an ownership interest.

Figures associated with this release can be found on the Company's website through the following link: https://aurionresources.com/site/assets/files/1568/nr25-03figures.pdf.

"Aurion is pleased to welcome KoBold Metals as a partner with an aim to unlock value from the base metal and critical mineral potential of the eastern part of the Risti property," commented Matti Talikka, Aurion's CEO. "The agreement with a split commodity structure enables Aurion to retain full exploration and ownership rights over significant gold and silver discoveries while leveraging KoBold's expertise in exploration for metals and minerals important for the green energy transition. The base metal prospectivity of the region is well evidenced by the Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE Mine (Boliden) and the Sakatti Ni-Cu-PGE discovery (Anglo American) located 12 km from the Risti property."

"We welcome the opportunity to work with Aurion to explore for critical metals on part of their Risti property. Aurion is a reputable, experienced company with strong operating capabilities. We look forward to combining these experiences and operating capabilities with KoBold's team and technologies to search for a new discovery on this property.  We are looking forward to getting the exploration teams on the ground in the coming months." said Daniel Enderton, KoBold Metals Chief Strategy Officer.

About Kobold Metals

KoBold Metals Company is a US-based exploration and mining company that combines expertise in geosciences with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science to improve and accelerate the exploration process in search for the critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition.

About Aurion Resources Ltd.

Aurion is a well-funded, Canadian exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: AU) and the OTCQX Best Market (OTCQX: AIRRF). Aurion's strategy is to generate or acquire early-stage precious metals exploration opportunities and advance them through direct exploration by our experienced team or by business partnerships and joint venture arrangements. Aurion's current focus is exploring on its Flagship Risti and Launi projects, as well as advancing its joint venture properties with B2Gold and Kinross in Finland.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Matti Talikka, CEO

Neither the 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 Aurion Resources Ltd.

For further information, please contact: Mark Santarossa, Vice President, Corporate Development, Cell: [phone], Email: [email protected]