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Total Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 6.5 million tonnes grading 2.9% Zn, 1.2% Pb, 0.6% Cu, and 35 g/t Ag, or CuEq of 2.2%, or ZnEq of 6.2%.
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Several areas identified for additional drilling, with a short-term goal to double the size of the initial Mineral Resource Estimate.
Vancouver, BC July 22, 2026 TheNewswire - Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: AVU,OTC:AVPMF) is pleased to announce that it has submitted to SEDAR+ the full NI 43-101 Technical Report covering the initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Sesmarias Copper-Zinc VMS project located in the northern portion of the Iberian Pyrite Belt ("IPB") in Portugal. The full report may be accessed on SEDAR+ with the following link: Sesmarias NI 43-101 Technical Report.
Avrupa Minerals announced the completion of an initial MRE for the Sesmarias VMS deposit on June 3, 2026. This news release may be accessed with the following link: Sesmarias VMS deposit -- initial MRE.
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, reiterated, "The Company is pleased to have achieved the milestone of completing the initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sesmarias deposit. We are now looking forward to engaging a suitable mining company partner in an earn-in joint venture to help advance the project through all the necessary steps."
AVU outlined the next steps for the project in the recent June 3rd news release. These include partnering, permitting, drilling to potentially expand the massive sulfide mineralization with the goal of doubling the deposit size, completing environmental studies and social licensing activities, followed by consideration of possible mining options.
The following table outlines the Sesmarias MRE statement:
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Table 1. Statement of the initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sesmarias Cu/Zn Project, Portugal.
SLR reported the Sesmarias MRE using a cut-off grade of 4.0% Zinc Equivalent ("ZnEq") in the preceding Mineral Resource Statement. Technical and economic parameters used in the MRE cut-off grade calculation are at a preliminary stage of evaluation, and include long-term zinc price, royalties to the Portuguese government, operating costs, selling costs, zinc recovery, and zinc payability. Changes in some of these factors, including long-term metal prices, operating and selling costs, and metal recoveries, may materially affect the MRE. While Avrupa has completed only basic metallurgical testing on the Sesmarias mineralization, the recovery characteristics are within the range of early-stage results typical for polymetallic massive sulfide ores from the IPB. Further testing is necessary to upgrade the understanding of the deposit metallurgical characteristics.
Importantly, SLR also produced the following table to demonstrate the sensitivity of grade and tonnage to lower reporting cutoff grades and is only intended to provide additional context and should not be considered Mineral Resources.
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Table 2. Sensitivity of grade and tonnage to lower reporting ZnEq cutoff grade.
Mr. Kuhn further commented that the Company is excited about the future potential of the project, particularly about the large number of quality drill targets that could lead to discovery of further massive sulfide mineralization at Sesmarias. The figure below summarizes the first priority target possibilities.
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Figure 1. SES plan view with simplified exploration ideas to potentially upgrade MRE.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of valuable mineral deposits, using a hybrid project generator business model. Avrupa is actively advancing seven copper-zinc VMS targets and one orogenic gold prospect in central Finland through its partnership with Akkerman Exploration B.V. in the Finnish exploration company, Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa holds one 100%-owned project in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, and has submitted an application for a mining license covering the Sesmarias Cu/Zn massive sulfide showing within the Project area. The Company holds one 49%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova Gold Project in Kosovo, optioned to Western Tethyan Resources. Avrupa continues to focus its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, and looks to develop new opportunities around the general Mediterranean Basin. The Company is actively seeking new JV partnerships for its projects in Finland and Portugal.
For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com.
On behalf of the Board,
Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director
This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release.
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.
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