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Stuhini Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: STU) (OTCQB: STXPF) (WKN: A2PLBV) ("Stuhini" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech") to complete a conceptual-level economic viability assessment of the molybdenum deposit at the Company's 100%-owned Ruby Creek Project, located near Atlin, British Columbia. The engagement marks the first step to advance the economic assessment of Ruby Creek and, contingent on market conditions, to prepare a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA").
"With molybdenum increasingly recognized as a critical metal in both industrial and green-energy applications, we believe Ruby Creek stands out as one of the more compelling undeveloped molybdenum assets in North America," said Meredith Eades, President and CEO of Stuhini. "Engaging Tetra Tech is an important milestone in understanding the deposit's viability and advancing this part of our portfolio. It also reflects our broader strategy to unlock value on both the development and discovery fronts at Ruby Creek."
A PEA is a scoping-level technical study that provides an early-stage evaluation of a mineral project's potential economic viability. It often incorporates inferred mineral resources to estimate capital and operating costs, revenue forecasts, and development scenarios, helping companies assess whether to advance the project to more detailed studies.
Tetra Tech's assessment will draw on a robust historical archive, including a 2006 feasibility study1, approximately 74,000 metres of drilling, extensive metallurgical and environmental work, and an existing BC Mines Act permit (currently in care and maintenance). Combined with updated market pricing and cost inputs, the study will provide a refreshed look at the development potential of what the Company believes is one of Canada's most compelling undeveloped molybdenum assets.
Ruby Creek Molybdenum Deposit Highlights:
The Ruby Creek molybdenum deposit is a porphyry-style system with a 2022 NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate2 of:
- 433 million pounds of molybdenum in the measured and indicated category (369.4 million tonnes at 0.053% Mo), and
- 43.7 million pounds in the inferred category (41.9 million tonnes at 0.047% Mo).
(See press release dated March 15, 2022.)
Located in the prolific Atlin Mining District of northwestern British Columbia, the Ruby Creek deposit sits within a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction, is fully road-accessible, and benefits from proximity to a growing hydro-electric infrastructure initiative led by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. The project has seen more than 30 years of exploration and development, including:
- ~74,000 metres of drilling.
- A historic 2008 feasibility study.
- A 2022 updated mineral resource estimate (see the Ruby Creek Technical Report filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR+).
- Mineralization remains open in three directions and at depth including 45 metres grading 0.23% Mo at the bottom of hole AD-417.
The deposit is part of the larger 29,734-hectare Ruby Creek Project, which is 100%-owned by Stuhini and hosts 48 documented mineral occurrences, including other zones prospective for gold, silver, and tungsten.
About Tetra Tech:
Tetra Tech is a leading global consulting and engineering firm with extensive experience in resource development, permitting, and economic assessment. Their team has deep expertise in porphyry-style molybdenum systems, having completed the 2022 feasibility study for the Malmbjerg Molybdenum Project in Greenland, a large-scale deposit comparable in mineralogy and scale to Ruby Creek. Tetra Tech previously advanced Ruby Creek to the feasibility study stage in 2008, providing them with a unique familiarity with the project's data and development history.
About Molybdenum:
Molybdenum is a high-strength, high-melting-point metal with critical applications across industrial, energy, and defense sectors. Its primary use is as an alloying element in steel—enhancing strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness. These properties make it essential for demanding environments such as oil and gas pipelines, high-speed rail systems, and structural steel. By improving strength-to-weight ratios, molybdenum enables lighter, more durable steel, reducing material requirements without compromising performance.
Beyond steel, molybdenum is used in catalysts, lubricants, and advanced materials for hydrogen production, water purification, and other emerging clean technologies. Its thermal and structural properties also make it valuable in defense and aerospace alloys.
Molybdenum is recognized as a critical mineral in Canada and increasingly monitored in global supply chain risk assessments due to its strategic importance in industrial resilience and the energy transition.
Qualified Person
Mr. Nicholas Clive Aspinall, M.Sc., P.Eng., is a consulting geologist to Stuhini Exploration and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Aspinall has verified the data disclosed in this press release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information, and has approved the technical information contained herein.
About Stuhini Exploration Ltd.
Stuhini is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration and development of precious and base metals properties in western Canada. The Company's portfolio of exploration properties includes the flagship Ruby Creek Property, 16 km east of Atlin, BC; and the Big Ledge Property, 57 km south of Revelstoke, BC.
For further information on Stuhini, visit our website at www.stuhini.com or contact:
Meredith Eades
President & CEO
meades@stuhini.com
604.360.4668
Twitter: @STUexploration
LinkedIn: Stuhini Exploration
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: statements regarding the engagement of Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech"); the objectives, scope, and anticipated outcomes of Tetra Tech's conceptual-level economic assessment; advancing the economic assessment of Ruby Creek and potential preparation of a PEA; the development potential of the Ruby Creek molybdenum deposit; the interpretation of historical data, including drilling, metallurgical, and environmental work; and the Company's broader strategy to unlock value through both development-stage advancement and discovery.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable at the time of preparation, including, without limitation: that Tetra Tech's assessment will be completed as planned and provide useful conclusions regarding the Ruby Creek deposit; that historical data and geological interpretations are accurate and reliable; that current and forecasted molybdenum prices and cost assumptions will remain within reasonable ranges; that sufficient funding and technical resources will remain available to advance the project; and that no unforeseen regulatory, environmental, or logistical challenges will arise.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risk that Tetra Tech's work may not be completed as planned or may not provide positive conclusions; the preliminary and uncertain nature of economic assessments; the possibility that exploration and development results may not support future studies; changes in commodity prices and capital markets; regulatory and permitting delays; technical or operational challenges; and broader market, geopolitical, or environmental conditions.
Although Stuhini believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
1 Tetra Tech (formerly Wardrop Engineering Inc.), "Ruby Creek Feasibility Study" Document No. 0851760100-REP-R0002-01, prepared for Adanac Molybdenum Corp., 2006.
2 "Technical Report, Ruby Creek Project, Northern British Columbia, Canada" effective March 10, 2022 and dated April 22, 2022 (the "Ruby Creek Technical Report").
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/271256
