VIRIDIAN METALS SELECTED FOR BHP XPLOR'S PRESTIGIOUS 2025 ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

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VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 7, 2025 /CNW/ - Viridian Metals Inc. (TSXV: VRDN) is excited to announce its selection as one of only eight companies chosen to participate in BHP's prestigious 2025 Xplor program. The rigorous selection from hundreds of applicants is a strong affirmation of the hard work and dedication of Viridian's team.   

Selection for BHP Xplor provides Viridian with

• A one-time, non-dilutive grant of approximately US$500,000 to accelerate Viridian's exploration plans over the first six months of the program.
• Access to BHP's extensive global networks, technical expertise, and strategic partnerships, all essential for accelerating exploration.

Viridian's participation in BHP Xplor will accelerate geological concept build-out and exploration timeframe for Viridian's copper targets. Viridian will use the grant to integrate large data sets to define the first data driven widespread geological models for copper targets in our areas of interest. There are no obligations or commitments on Viridian beyond the conclusion of the BHP Xplor program, other than certain pre-emption rights that may apply in certain circumstances.

The BHP Xplor program was established in 2023 to support promising minerals explorers to accelerate the exploration needed to support the energy transition. Over a six-month program period, BHP Xplor targets development of technical, business and operational excellence within participating companies. 

Tyrell Sutherland, President and CEO of Viridian comments: "This opportunity is a strong endorsement of Viridian's generative exploration strategy, which brings modern exploration methods to underexplored regions. BHP's recognition highlights the importance of opening new jurisdictions to discover the deposits that will drive the green transition. We are eager to collaborate with such an innovative industry leader whose forward-thinking approach aligns with our mission to push the boundaries of modern exploration."

BHP's Head of Xplor, Marley Palin, congratulated Viridian saying: "The field of applicants for BHP Xplor was extremely strong this year. Successful applicants had to demonstrate not only that their critical-mineral projects were highly prospective but also that they were committed to pushing industry boundaries in their geological concepts and data-gathering, testing and processing to realise the project. Viridian more than met these criteria and we look forward to working closely with Viridian to advance their innovative exploration efforts."

About Viridian Metals

Viridian Metals is a leader in generative metal exploration with a focus on environmental responsibility and ethical practices. Founded to discover new critical metals deposits capable of transforming supply chains, we leverage innovative technologies and methods to enhance efficiency and sustainability in jurisdictions leading the energy transition. Viridian maintains expertise in a range of critical metals with a primary focus on copper, nickel and cobalt in the near term. Viridian's commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical practices ensures that its projects contribute meaningfully to the green transition, creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Tyrell Sutherland M.Sc., P.Geo., a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance.

Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information regarding: (i) the potential for mineralization at the Company's mining properties including the Kraken Project (ii) the plans and expectations of the Company; and (iii) expectations in respect of other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that 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. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to the factors set forth in the Company's Filing Statement dated October 28, 2024 under the caption "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. 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. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

SOURCE Viridian Metals

For further information, please contact: Viridian Metals, Tyrell Sutherland, President & CEO, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]