Sama Resources Begins 2026 Exploration Program at Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project
Montreal, Québec — February 4, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Sama Resources Inc. (TSXV: SME | OTC: SAMMF), in partnership with Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (NYSE American: IE | TSX: IE), has announced the commencement of its 2026 regional exploration program at the Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
The exploration program aims to discover new high-grade polymetallic mineralization across the 879 km² land package, targeting over 20 high-priority, untested electromagnetic (EM) targets. These targets exhibit comparable features and scale to the Samapleu and Grata Deposits, which were the focus of the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
The Samapleu-Grata Project is a 60/40 joint venture between Ivanhoe Electric and Sama Resources, with Sama acting as the operator. In addition to a 60% interest at the Project level, Ivanhoe Electric also owns 22.7% of Sama’s common shares.
The 2026 program will leverage the success of the 2025 regional exploration program, which led to the discovery of the Mossikro Prospect, located 10 kilometers south-southwest of the 2024 PEA Area. Key components of the 2026 program include:
- Approximately 4,500 metres of regional exploration diamond drilling.
- EM plate modelling of high-priority anomalies from regional airborne surveys.
- Ground gravity surveys over high-priority EM plate models.
- Ongoing updated environmental and social baseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area.
Drilling is scheduled to begin in early February 2026, initially focusing on high-priority EM targets within the Glanlé (PR-839) and Zoupleu (PR-837) permits. The ground gravity survey, starting in February and scheduled for completion at the end of Q2 2026, will systematically cover all remaining untested EM anomalies across the Project. Follow-up drilling is planned for targets showing the strongest combined EM and gravity responses.
Recent discoveries, including new polymetallic mineralization at the Mossikro Prospect, demonstrate geophysical signatures, mineralization styles, and host lithologies comparable to the Samapleu and Grata Deposits. This further validates the regional exploration model and reinforces the district-scale potential of the Project.
Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO of Sama Resources, stated that the 2026 exploration program is a pivotal step in unlocking the full district-scale potential of the Project area and builds on the company’s successful 2025 exploration program. He added that this program also advances the environmental and social baseline work required to position the Project for long-term development and permitting.
In parallel with exploration, Sama continues to advance environmental and social baseline studies within the 2024 PEA Area. Field programs completed by SIMPAE, a Côte d’Ivoire-based environmental consulting firm, include wildlife and vegetation inventories, surface and groundwater sampling, and socio-environmental baseline data collection. These studies are designed to support future permitting and development milestones.
Core logging and sampling were performed at Sama’s field facilities. Sample preparations are conducted at the Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratory in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Sample pulps will be delivered to Activation Laboratories Ltd, Ancaster and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, for assaying. All samples will be assayed for Ni, Cu, Co, Fe, S, Pt, Pd and Au.
The Company also announced the grant of an aggregate total of 815,000 incentive stock options to certain officers, employees and consultants, subject to certain vesting provisions. These options will be exercisable at a price of $0.07 per common share and will expire on February 4, 2036.
Sama Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based, growth-oriented resource company focused on exploring the Samapleu nickel-copper project in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Ivanhoe Electric Inc. is a United States domiciled minerals exploration company with a focus on developing mines from mineral deposits principally located in the United States.
Source: Sama Resources Inc.
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