Luca Intersects 9.9 Metres of 5.39 g/t Gold Equivalent from the Catorce Zone at Tahuehueto Mine

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ -- Luca Mining Corp. ("Luca" or the "Company") (TSXV: LUCA) (OTCQX: LUCMF) (Frankfurt: Z68) reports new assay results from its ongoing 2026 exploration drill program at the Tahuehueto gold-silver mine in Durango, Mexico.

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The latest results continue to demonstrate the potential for significant near-mine resource expansion at Tahuehueto, with high-grade mineralization intersected across the Creston, Perdido veins and specifically at the Catorce Zone, an under-drilled area interpreted to represent a southern extension of the Creston Vein system. At Catorce, drilling has resumed for the first time since 2008, with the first surface hole returning 9.9 metres of 5.39 g/t AuEq, including 1.0 metre of 27.56 g/t AuEq, highlighting the potential of this underexplored vein system.

Highlights

• High-grade results from the first surface drillhole at the Catorce Zone since 2008:
  • 9.9 metres ("m") of 5.39 g/t AuEq** (3.63 g/t Au, 70.14 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 1.69% Pb, 5.63% Zn) in hole DDH26-RCE-01 including 1.0 m of 27.56 g/t AuEq (21.10 g/t Au, 58.50 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 3.93% Pb, 38.25% Zn)
    • The Catorce Zone is located approximately 250 m from existing underground development and is interpreted to be a southern extension of the Creston Vein within an area of structural complexity (Figure 1). This area was targeted by Luca with 7 holes totalling ~1,500 m of diamond drilling in this new exploration campaign.
• Continued high-grade intercepts from the Creston Vein, including:
  • 6.2 m of 6.37 g/t AuEq (3.68 g/t Au, 153.91 g/t Ag, 0.91% Cu, 1.17% Pb and 1.15% Zn) in hole DDH26-248 including 1.1 m of 20.60 g/t AuEq (12.00 g/t Au, 563.00 g/t Ag, 2.51% Cu, 3.51% Pb, 0.86% Zn) within a broader interval of 2.9 m of 11.83 g/t AuEq (7.29 g/t Au, 281.12 g/t Ag, 1.46% Cu, 1.70% Pb, 1.06% Zn)
  • 3.4 m of 4.77 g/t AuEq (2.00 g/t Au, 190.24 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 1.76% Pb and 2.77% Zn) in hole DDH26-249 including 0.8 m of 11.67 g/t AuEq (4.65 g/t Au, 608.00 g/t Ag, 0.30% Cu, 1.78% Pb and 0.51% Zn)
  • 1.3 m of 13.53 g/t AuEq (2.80 g/t Au, 538.23 g/t Ag, 6.17% Cu, 0.13% Pb and 0.04% Zn) and a secondary intersection of 1.3 m of 4.50 g/t AuEq (0.76 g/t Au, 247.86 g/t Ag, 1.32% Cu, 0.18% Pb and 0.06% Zn) in hole DDH26-250

• Drilling has confirmed the continuity of high-grade mineralization in previously untested areas located 20 to 35 m below Level 20, with all 14 drillholes completed in this newly identified area intersecting the Creston Vein, further validating Luca's geological model and demonstrating the potential to expand mineralization at depth
• The new intercepts exceed current mined grades and widths and occur within development distance of existing underground infrastructure, supporting potential integration into the near-term mine plan
• Confirmed mineralization at the Perdido Vein in close proximity to current mining faces through the ongoing Termite drill program:
  • 0.9 m of 7.60 g/t AuEq (7.03 g/t Au, 32.70 g/t Ag, 0.08% Cu, 0.48% Pb and 0.64% Zn) in hole TRT26-07

• Two contracted diamond drill rigs are currently on site and a third surface rig is currently en route to site. A Luca owned and operated underground rig continues to define mineralization identified in the near-term mine plan.

"The latest results continue to reinforce our view that Tahuehueto has significant expansion potential beyond the current resource areas," stated Paul D. Gray, VP Exploration. "At Creston, all 14 drillholes targeting the breccia zone below Level 20 have intersected the vein, demonstrating excellent continuity and providing further confidence in the potential to expand the structure at depth.

"Equally exciting is the first surface drilling from the Catorce Zone since 2008, where the first hole returned 9.9 metres of 5.39 g/t AuEq, including 1.0 metre of 27.56 g/t AuEq. This strong result from a previously underexplored area supports our view of the unrealized exploration potential across the property, which we continue to uncover with additional Catorce assays pending and ongoing drilling across multiple target areas."

Drill Results Summary
Drillholes DDH26-SU-17 through DDH26-SU-20 targeted a previously untested zone approximately 30-40 metres below active mine workings on Level 23 and along strike from Luca's successful Phase 1 2024-2025 underground drill program and more recent drilling efforts (See Company News Releases Dated February 20, 2025, March 5, May 5, and July 7, 2026) and expanded upon these previously identified high-grade breccia zones.

Drillhole DDH26-247 through DDH26-255 were collared underground on Level 20 of the Tahuehueto gold-silver mine and targeted the Creston Vein in previously undrilled areas approximately 30 m below current workings. These holes were designed to expand upon and infill to a minimum 25 m spacing this newly defined mineralized breccia shoot first identified by Luca in 2026 (See Company News Release dated July 7, 2026). All these drillholes intersected the Creston Vein.

Drillhole DDH26-RCE-01 targeted mineralization previously identified within the Catorce Zone, a known, but under-drilled Tahuehueto mineralized zone that is interpreted to be a southern extension of the Creston Vein System and has not seen any exploration efforts since 2008.

To date, Luca has completed 62 underground holes for 11,182 m and 33 surface holes for 6,224 m using "HQ", "NQ" and/or "BQ" sized diamond drill core (Creston, Perdido, El Rey, Catorce and Santiago targets).

Key Intercepts
Catorce:

DDH26-RCE-01

• 9.9 metres ("m") of 5.39 g/t AuEq** (3.63 g/t Au, 70.14 g/t Ag, 0.02% Cu, 1.69% Pb, 5.63% Zn) from 199.5 m including 1.0 m of 27.56 g/t AuEq (21.10 g/t Au, 58.50 g/t Ag, 0.09% Cu, 3.93% Pb, 38.25% Zn) from 205.4 m

Creston:

DDH26-248

• 6.2 m of 6.37 g/t AuEq (3.68 g/t Au, 153.91 g/t Ag, 0.91% Cu, 1.17% Pb and 1.15% Zn) from 145.1 including 1.1 m of 20.60 g/t AuEq (12.00 g/t Au, 563.00 g/t Ag, 2.51% Cu, 3.51% Pb, 0.86% Zn) within a broader interval of 2.9 m of 11.83 g/t AuEq (7.29 g/t Au, 281.12 g/t Ag, 1.46% Cu, 1.70% Pb, 1.06% Zn)

DDH26-249

• 3.4 m of 4.77 g/t AuEq (2.00 g/t Au, 190.24 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 1.76% Pb and 2.77% Zn) from 134.2 m including 0.8 m of 11.67 g/t AuEq (4.65 g/t Au, 608.00 g/t Ag, 0.30% Cu, 1.78% Pb and 0.51% Zn) from 135.9 m

DDH26-250

• 1.3 m of 13.53 g/t AuEq (2.80 g/t Au, 583.23 g/t Ag, 6.17% Cu, 0.13% Pb and 0.04% Zn) from 147.6 m and a secondary intersection of 1.3 m of 4.50 g/t AuEq (0.76 g/t Au, 247.86 g/t Ag, 1.32% Cu, 0.18% Pb and 0.06% Zn) from 134.4 m

DDH26-SU-17

• 0.8 m of 13.85 g/t AuEq (12.30 g/t Au, 42.20 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu, 0.37% Pb and 6.77% Zn) from 122.0 m and a secondary intersection of 0.8 m of 2.05 g/t AuEq (0.53 g/t Au, 47.30 g/t Ag, 0.28% Cu, 2.36% Pb and 3.57% Zn) from 132.8 m

Production Verification Drillholes
As part of the Tahuehueto exploration program a Luca owned and operated Termite drill rig capable of drilling "BQ" sized drill core up to 100 m in length has been added to bolster near underground workings verification and mineral definition. Drill core from this drill rig is handled by the Tahuehueto exploration department and treated the same as exploration drill core (processing, logging and sampling) and is now being utilized to more accurately define the mineralized zones anticipated to be part of the near-term mine plan objectives. Drillholes TRT26-07 and TRT26-08  were drilled from Level 12 of the Tahuehueto mine and targeted the Perdido vein in areas that are scheduled to be mined during H2 2026 – H1 2027.

TRT26-07

• 0.9 m of 7.60 g/t AuEq (7.03 g/t Au, 32.70 g/t Ag, 0.08% Cu, 0.48% Pb and 0.64% Zn) in hole TRT26-07 from 42.2 m

True widths are estimated to be approximately 85-90% of drilled intervals.

Figures 1-11 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 DDH26-247 through DDH26-255, DDH26-SU-17 through DDH26-SU-20, TRT26-07 through TRT26-08 and DDH26-RCE-01

Hole	From (m)	To (m)	Interval* (m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Cu (%)	Pb (%)	Zn (%)	AuEq**
DDH26-247	No Significant Mineralization
DDH26-248	145.1	151.3	6.2	3.68	153.91	0.91	1.17	1.15	6.37
	Including
	145.1	148.1	2.9	7.29	281.12	1.46	1.70	1.06	11.83
		Including
	147.0	148.1	1.1	12.00	563.00	2.51	3.51	0.86	20.60
DDH26-249	134.2	137.6	3.4	2.00	190.24	0.16	1.76	2.77	4.77
	Including
	135.9	136.7	0.8	4.65	608.00	0.30	1.78	0.51	11.67
	And
	139.3	142.4	3.1	0.82	59.99	0.43	0.28	0.13	1.86
	152.9	153.7	0.8	0.96	172.30	1.25	0.19	0.04	3.84
DDH26-250	134.4	135.6	1.3	0.76	247.86	1.32	0.18	0.06	4.50
	147.6	148.9	1.3	2.80	538.23	6.17	0.13	0.04	13.53
DDH26-251	120.1	123.5	3.4	0.41	23.33	0.05	3.11	2.61	1.47
	Including
	120.1	122.2	2.1	0.52	22.82	0.04	4.30	3.67	1.86
DDH26-252	116.8	118.1	1.3	1.59	53.86	0.20	3.73	7.99	3.91
	130.5	132.9	2.4	0.46	45.96	0.44	0.13	0.59	1.40
	136.3	139.1	2.7	0.18	85.56	0.39	0.15	0.08	1.43
	175.9	176.2	0.4	1.22	231.00	2.17	0.08	0.04	5.45
DDH26-253	No Significant Mineralization
DDH26-254	173.6	174.6	1.0	1.23	0.80	0.00	0.00	0.02	1.24
	211.3	212.8	1.5	1.02	33.70	0.28	0.04	0.05	1.62
DDH26-255	198.1	201.2	3.1	0.20	71.01	0.78	0.19	0.15	1.63
	229.4	231.9	2.5	0.20	104.45	1.45	0.05	0.13	2.51
DDH26-SU-17	77.0	77.9	0.8	0.24	13.20	0.03	0.38	6.37	1.33
	122.0	122.8	0.8	12.30	42.20	0.16	0.37	6.77	13.85
	132.8	133.5	0.8	0.53	47.30	0.28	2.36	3.57	2.05
DDH26-SU-18	40.2	42.2	2.0	1.03	25.12	0.27	0.16	15.11	3.61
	113.5	114.9	1.4	0.22	61.83	0.55	1.97	6.12	2.43
DDH26-SU-19	35.0	37.0	2.0	0.32	48.83	0.10	0.74	4.33	1.62
DDH26-SU-20	44.2	45.1	0.9	3.89	70.30	0.32	2.10	17.82	7.62
TRT26-07	42.2	43.2	0.9	7.03	32.70	0.08	0.48	0.64	7.60
TRT26-08	39.6	40.3	0.8	0.51	34.10	0.35	0.41	0.62	1.30
DDH26-RCE-01	199.5	209.4	9.9	3.63	70.14	0.02	1.69	5.63	5.39
	Including
	199.5	200.6	1.1	3.02	321.00	0.01	0.07	0.13	6.47
	205.4	206.4	1.0	21.10	58.50	0.09	3.93	38.25	27.56
	And
	268.6	269.5	0.9	0.49	81.00	0.00	0.04	0.13	1.38

*True widths are estimated to be approximately 85-90% of drilled intervals.

**AuEq equation is: AuEq = Au + (Ag*0.0107) + (Cu%*0.8073) + (Pb%*0.1323) + (Zn%*0.1370), considering actual reported metallurgical recoveries of Au 84%, Ag 85%, Cu 78.3%, Pb 71.6% and Zn 48%, at $3,800 US$/oz Au, 40 US$/oz Ag, 10,582 US$/Tonne Cu, 1,896 US$/Tonne Pb and 2,930 US$/Tonne Zn.

Table 2: Drill Collar Locations and Details for Released Results

Hole ID	UTM WGS84 Z14		Elevation (m)	Azimuth	Dip	Final Depth (m)
	Easting	Northing
DDH26-247	337747	2812908	1,333	277	-31	159.0
DDH26-248	337747	2812908	1,333	268	-17	178.5
DDH26-249	337747	2812908	1,333	277	-20	160.6
DDH26-250	337747	2812908	1,333	285	-38	174.0
DDH26-251	337747	2812908	1,333	290	-28	160.2
DDH26-252	337747	2812908	1,333	305	-40	186.0
DDH26-253	337747	2812908	1,333	243	-43	275.0
DDH26-254	337747	2812908	1,333	250	-52	279.0
DDH26-255	337747	2812908	1,333	255	-41	246.3
TRT26-07	337777	2813025	1,509	150	-7	55.5
TRT26-08	337778	2813025	1,510	164	-13	55.5
DDH26-SU-17	337803	2813098	1,513	255	-9	142.6
DDH26-SU-18	337803	2813098	1,513	272	-15	129.0
DDH26-SU-19	337803	2813098	1,513	294	-10	141.0
DDH26-SU-20	337803	2813098	1,513	273	-4	141.0
DDH26-RCE-01	337099	2812432	1,318	263	-50	282.0

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 were implemented in the 2024-2026 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 Tahuehueto mine; capital requirements; future production expectations and results 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 Tahuehueto mine can be achieved; that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Tahuehueto mine will be achieved; 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 Corporate Development, [email protected], [phone]; Maximilian Myers, Manager Corporate Development & Investor Relations, [email protected]