ARRAS MINERALS CONFIRMS THIRD PORPHYRY CENTER - DRILLS 115.7 METERS GRADING 1.44 G/T AU & 0.24% CU AT THE BEREZSKI EAST TARGET (ELEMES PROJECT) IN KAZAKHSTAN
VANCOUVER, BC, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ - Arras Minerals Corp. (TSXV: ARK) (OTCQB: ARRKF) ("Arras" or "Arras Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to report the first results from the 2026 drill program at the Elemes Project in northeastern Kazakhstan.
Drilling re-commenced in late February and the first two holes were collared at the Berezski East target (Elemes Project). Only five holes have been completed by Arras on this target which is evolving into the third porphyry centre discovered on the Berezski Trend over the past two years.
Figure 2. Berezski East Target with completed drill-holes and KGK holes, overlain on reduction to pole (“RTP”) ground magnetic survey data (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Figure 3. Berezski East Targets with completed drill-holes and interpreted mineralized zone based on diamond drilling and KGK (top of bedrock) drilling to-date. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Figure 4. Long Section showing intercepts in drill holes EL26030, EL26031 and previously drilled EL24004 and EL25019 at the Berezski East target (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Table 1: Summary results from Berezski East drill-holes (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Figure 5. Arras Minerals Elemes Project and project portfolio located in Pavlodar, Northeastern Kazakhstan. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Berezski East is a gold-rich porphyry system, emplaced along a NE-SW structural corridor. Mineralization consists of magnetite and quartz-sulphide veins and local bornite dissemination that appear to be outlined by a prominent magnetic high feature that can be traced along strike for at least 800 metres. Gold-copper mineralization has been encountered from surface down to more than 400m depth with higher grade intervals approaching and exceeding 1 g/t Au over core lengths greater than 100 metres. In drill-hole EL26031, a fault zone was intersected at 315m depth after which a significant increase in brecciation along with increased potassic alteration and a notable increase in veining and copper-sulphide mineralization was encountered. This new zone reported higher copper values than had previously been encountered at this target and is potentially a new vector towards the core of the system.
Highlights include:
EL25031: 115.7m grading 1.44 g/t Au and 0.24% Cu starting from 317.3m depth within a broader zone of 424.0m grading 0.50 g/t Au and 0.12% Cu starting from 9.0m depth.
Hole EL26031 intersected a broad zone of porphyry style alteration and mineralization across the entire hole starting from near surface and included a high-grade interval at depth after a fault zone intersected at 315m depth where alteration and mineralization increased significantly.
An extensive magnetic high, that can be traced for at least 800m strike length (see Figure 2), is associated with the Au-Cu mineralization at Berezski East and thought to be caused by the magnetite and quartz-sulphide veining hosting the gold-copper mineralization. To date, approximately 400m of magnetic high has been drill-tested.
Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals commented,"We are pleased to report the Berezski East target is firming up as a third porphyry centre on the Berezski Trend. Hole EL26031 has confirmed and extended gold mineralization intersected by earlier drilling but importantly also intersected a major fault zone that appears to act as a key structural control on mineralization. Below this structure, there was a significant increase in the intensity of alteration, veining and mineralization indicative of a robust mineralized system. The five holes that we have drilled to-date cover 400 metres of strike and the target, we believe, stretches at least a further 400 meters to the Northeast."He went on to add,"We are planning a top-of-bedrock (KGK) drill program over the Berezski East target to help define the footprint of the gold-copper mineralization under the cover at this target that we will then follow-up with diamond drilling on priority targets here."
Drilling Summary:
Drilling at Berezski East continues to return wide zones of high-grade gold mineralization demonstrating the growing scale of this system. The mineralized zones are running NE/SW and are coincident with a linear magnetic high. However, results from the KGK drilling announced in December 2025 has identified good gold values in the adjacent magnetic low to the east, suggesting several parallel gold systems in this area. Arras has completed five holes here which has confirmed strong Au-Cu mineralization over a 400m strike length and to a depth of at least 400m.
Hole EL26031 was particularly encouraging as it has extended mineralization to significant depths and confirms the presence of a large, vertically extensive porphyry-style hydrothermal system at Berezski East. It intersected wide zones of gold-copper mineralization, with alteration and vein density increasing significantly below a major fault zone intersected at 315m down-hole. This appears to demonstrate an important structural control on the mineralization which the company believes is the reason hole EL26030 only returned narrow zones of gold as it appears to have been drilled adjacent to this important structure.
Mineralization at surface consists of quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veinlets, with intervals of minor quartz B- and M-type veins. At 315m depth, after a significant fault, the intensity of quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veining increases markedly, these veins were typically surrounded by halos disseminated chalcopyrite and minor bornite, that continued to 435m depth, to a second fault zone, after which mineralization decreased.
The geology, alteration, and mineralization logged at the top of this hole are consistent with the outer portions of a porphyry system, and the deeper mineralization could represent the core of this system.
Hole EL26030 was designed to test the northern continuation of the Berezski East Au–Cu mineralization. The hole intersected a thick sequence of fine- to medium-grained diorites and andesites. Alteration is dominated by moderate propylitic assemblages, with localized zones of potassic alteration at depth, and mineralization consists of very fine disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite, along with intervals of D-type veining and localized bornite within M-type veins.
The geology, alteration, and mineralization observed in hole EL26030 are consistent with the margins of a porphyry system, and the hole appears to have been drilled in the footwall of the structures that control the high-grade Au-Cu mineralization intersected in holes EL25019 and EL26031.
Results from this news release include:
Table 1: Summary results from Berezski East drill-holes
Table 2. Drill-hole locations
Hole_ID
Coordinates (UTM)
Easting
Northing
RL
Azimuth
Dip
Hole Depth (m)
EL26030
507145
5713095
249
129
-65
500
EL26031
506259
5713597
243
298
-65
536.4
Exploration Update
Four diamond drill rigs are now operating at Elemes. Three rigs are located at the Berezski North target and one rig recently commenced at the Novii target. To date, 7 holes and nearly 5,000 meters have been completed at Elemes since drilling re-commenced in late February with 5 holes pending assays.
Core photos
Elemes Phase II Drill Program: Since June of last year, Arras Minerals has been advancing its 20,000m Phase II diamond drill program at the Elemes Project. Drilling was paused in late December for a scheduled winter break and recommenced in February. Nearly 10,000m were completed in 2025, and the strength of the results has prompted Arras to plan an expansion of the program to 30,000m, with completion targeted by the end of 2026.
Elemes Project Overview: The Elemes Project comprises two exploration licenses covering 531 square kilometres in northeast Kazakhstan, located approximately 13 km southwest of Ekibastuz and just 20 km from Arras's operational base. The project benefits from exceptional infrastructure, with a paved highway crossing the licence, and access to 1100 KVA power lines, heavy rail, and other utilities within a 15 km radius.
Situated within the prolific Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt, Elemes lies near significant regional deposits, including the Beskauga porphyry copper-gold-silver deposit (~80 km east) and KAZ Minerals' Bozshakol copper-gold mine (~60 km northwest), which reported mined grades in Q1 2025 of 0.37% Copper and 0.20 g/t gold. 1
Geologically, the property is underlain by interbedded intermediate volcanic and sedimentary rocks intruded by multiple phases of diorite and monzodiorite porphyry. Copper-gold mineralization occurs in sheeted and stockwork quartz-chalcopyrite veins associated with these intrusions. In addition, high-grade low-sulphidation epithermal veins have been mapped on the property, representing a secondary exploration target.
Property-wide soil sampling programs defined two extensive Cu-Mo-As geochemical anomalies: the Berezski and Aimandai Trends, both considered priority targets for follow-up exploration drilling. A Phase 1 drill program on the Berezski Trend in late 2024 returned high-grade porphyry/epithermal copper and gold mineralization in results announced in Q1 2025. A 20,000m Phase 2 drill program commenced in May 2025 which was expanded to 30,000 metres in January 2026 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The Company adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration related activities conducted on its property. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by the Qualified Person.
Arras Minerals QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material (standards), blanks and field duplicates within the sample stream. Drill core is cut at Arras Minerals operations base in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan by Company personnel. Diamond drill core was sawed in-half with a diamond saw, and then sampled in maximum 2-meter intervals, stopping at geological boundaries, with one-half placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other half retained on site.
Each bagged core sample was shipped to ALS Laboratory in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Samples were dried, crushed and pulverized to >80% passing -200 mesh. The prepared sample splits were sent to the ALS Chemex's geochemical analysis laboratories laboratory in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland and Lima, Peru for multi-element analysis. Multielement analyses were analyzed with ICP-MS following a four-acid digestion (method ME-MS61) and samples containing >1.0% copper are analyzed via method Cu-OG62.
Gold analysis was conducted by ALS Chemex at the analytical laboratory in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Gold was analyzed by fire assay (30 g) with an AA (atomic absorption) finish (method Au-AA23) with detection limits of 0.005 g/t gold. Samples containing greater than 10.0 g/t gold are analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish (method Au-GRA21).
ALS is an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has reviewed and approved this release. Mr. Booth has over 20 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044).
Gold, copper and other mineral equivalents are calculated on the basis specifically set forth in respect thereto in this presentation and are based upon the reasonable assumptions as to the prices of various metals and their recoveries thereof made by management of the Company on a project-by-project basis as converted metal. All drill-hole intervals are reported as drill widths, as true thicknesses are unknown. Assumed metal prices are: US$3.75/lb. Copper, US$3,000/oz Gold, US$35/oz Silver, & US$30/lb Molybdenum.
The Company has updated metal recoveries: 90% for copper, 85% for gold, 75% for silver, and 80% for molybdenum. These figures are based on a review of published data from advanced-stage porphyry projects (including Vizcachitas, Los Andes Copper; Copper Creek, Faraday Coper; Valeriano, ATEX Copper; Los Helados, NGEx Resources Inc.; Opemiska, XXIX Metal Corp; Costa Fuego, Hot Chili Limited; Moonlight-Superior, US Copper Corp; Warintza, Solaris Resources, Inc.; Chita Valley, Minsud Resources Corp.; Hat, Doubleview Gold Corp.)
Copper Equivalent ("CuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = ((Copper (%)) x 0.9) + ((Gold (g/t) x 0.8571) x 0.85) + ((Silver (g/t) x 0.0117) x 0.75) + ((Molybdenum (ppm) x 6.8568) x 0.80).
Gold Equivalent ("AuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = ((Gold (g/t) x 0.85) + ((Copper (%) x 1.1667) x 0.9) + ((Silver (g/t) x 0.0136) x 0.75) + ((Molybdenum (ppm) x 8.0) x 0.80).
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director
About Arras Minerals Corp: Arras is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Elemes copper-gold porphyry project where initial drill results in 2025 identified porphyry style mineralization across a 10 km line of strike. The Company has established one of the largest land packages in the country prospective for copper and gold. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK" and on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "ARRKF".
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras is in the process of undertaking, the timing, scope, nature, breadth and other information related to Arras' exploration program, any results that may be derived from the Arras' exploration program, the prospects of Arras' business plans, and any expectations with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that the anticipated benefits of Arras' proposed exploration program will be realized, that no additional permit or licenses will be required in connection with Arras' exploration programs, the ability of Arras' to complete its exploration activities as currently expected and on the current anticipated timelines, that Arras' will be able to execute on its current plans, that Arras' proposed explorations will yield results as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although Arras has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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. Such statements represent the current view of Arras with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Arras, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: inability of Arras to realize the benefits anticipated from the exploration and drilling targets described herein or elsewhere; inability of Arras to complete current exploration plans as presently anticipated or at all; inability for Arras to economically realize on the benefits, if any, derived from the exploration program; failure to complete business plans as it currently anticipated; overdiversification of Arras' portfolio; failure to realize on benefits, if any, of a diversified portfolio; unanticipated changes in market price for Arras shares; changes to Arras' current and future business and exploration plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of the business of Arras; and the ability to advance Arras' projects and its proposed exploration program; risks inherent in mineral exploration including risks related worker safety, weather and other natural occurrences, accidents, availability of personnel and equipment, and other factors; aboriginal title; failure to obtain regulatory and permitting approvals; no known mineral resources/reserves; reliance on key management and other personnel; competition; changes in laws and regulations; uninsurable risks; delays in governmental and other approvals, community relations; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, Kazakhstan and other jurisdictions where Arras conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the filings of Arras with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on Arras' profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by Arras in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Arras undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
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