Discovery Alaska Strikes 767 g/t Silver at Boulder Creek, Idaho

Discovery Alaska Strikes High-Grade Silver at Boulder Creek — Drilling Imminent

Discovery Alaska Limited (ASX: DAF) has released assay results from rock sampling at its Boulder Creek Gold-Silver Project in Idaho, USA, delivering headline numbers that immediately elevate the project's status as a compelling exploration target. The standout result — 767 g/t silver (~24.6 oz/t Ag) — from a single rock sample is among the most eye-catching surface results a junior explorer can report, and it is now driving the company toward an initial drilling programme targeted for the northern summer period.

The Boulder Creek Project sits approximately 90 km southwest of Boise, Idaho, near the historic mining town of Silver City — a region with deep-rooted precious metals history. Discovery Alaska holds a 100% interest in 20 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims over the project, plus an option to acquire a 100% interest in Idaho State Lease E600117.

The Numbers That Matter: Rock Sample Assay Results

Five rock samples were collected from the target area where Nerco, Inc. — a predecessor company later acquired by Kennecott Corporation/Rio Tinto — conducted historical exploration drilling between 1985 and 1987, identifying anomalous zones. The samples were sent to two independent accredited laboratories: ALS Twin Falls (Idaho) and American Assay Laboratories (Sparks, Nevada), with assays conducted using industry-standard fire assay and four-acid ICP-AES techniques.

The results are summarised below:

All coordinates are in UTM Zone 11T.

Three of the five samples returned silver values exceeding 39 g/t, and one sample delivered gold of 11.67 g/t — a number that, on its own, would be considered highly significant in most exploration programmes. The spatial clustering of the four strongest results within a relatively tight corridor suggests that mineralisation may be structurally controlled and consistent along a trend — exactly what exploration geologists look for when prioritising drill targets.

"The Company is excited by the high-grade rock sample assay results and looks forward to continuing exploration works at the Boulder Creek Gold-Silver Project. With the fantastic 767 g/t silver result, we are excited to commence drilling works to test the historic Nerco, Inc. anomalous prospect area and follow up on the high-grade gold and silver rock sample results."

— Jerko Zuvela, Director, Discovery Alaska Limited

Understanding Epithermal Mineralisation: The Geological Framework

Boulder Creek is described as prospective for epithermal high-grade vein-hosted gold-silver and disseminated gold-silver mineralisation. This classification is important for investors to understand, as it directly shapes both the exploration approach and the potential value of any discovery.

What Is Epithermal Mineralisation?

Epithermal deposits form at relatively shallow depths — typically less than 1.5 km below the surface — from hot, hydrothermal fluids circulating through the Earth's crust, often in volcanic or geologically active terrains. As these fluids cool, they deposit precious metals, particularly gold and silver, in fractures and veins within the host rock.

Why Does This Matter for Investors?

Epithermal deposits are among the most economically significant gold-silver deposit types in the world, responsible for many of the world's high-grade precious metals mines. Furthermore, the vein-hosted, high-grade style means that mineralisation can be very concentrated — as the Discovery Alaska Boulder Creek high-grade silver drilling in Idaho samples clearly demonstrate — which can translate to exceptional economics at relatively small mining widths.

In addition, disseminated gold-silver within the same system offers the potential for broader, bulk-tonnage mineralisation sitting alongside the higher-grade veins, which could add significant scale to any future resource. The shallow formation depth of epithermal systems also generally makes them more accessible and lower-cost to explore and develop than deep, hard-rock deposits.

Technical Terms Explained

• g/t (grams per tonne): The standard unit for reporting precious metals grade. Higher g/t equals higher concentration of metal per tonne of rock.
• oz/t (ounces per tonne): An imperial equivalent. 767 g/t Ag converts to approximately 24.6 oz/t — a very high-grade surface expression.
• BLM Claims: Mining claims on land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management, a common tenure type for exploration in the western United States.
• Vein-hosted: Mineralisation concentrated within discrete fracture-fill veins, often producing very high localised grades.
• Disseminated: Mineralisation spread more broadly through the host rock rather than confined to veins.

The Nerco Connection: Historical Validation

The fact that Nerco, Inc. — a major US mining company subsequently acquired by Kennecott Corporation, itself a subsidiary of Rio Tinto — conducted systematic drilling at this site in the mid-1980s provides meaningful context. Companies of that calibre do not drill areas without geological merit. Their work identified anomalous zones that were apparently not followed up to modern standards before corporate consolidation absorbed and shelved the project.

This represents a recurring pattern in junior exploration: large companies acquire promising assets, priorities shift, and grassroots projects get set aside. However, when those projects re-emerge — particularly when modern surface sampling can quickly confirm the original anomalism — the historical work effectively reduces technical risk for the incoming explorer. Discovery Alaska Boulder Creek high-grade silver drilling in Idaho builds directly on that foundation of previous validation.

Path to Drilling: Project Advancement Strategy

The company's Idaho-based geological consultants have already conducted a field visit to the project area, inspecting the target for alteration and mineralisation indicators, and assessing the condition of access roads and historical drill pad sites. The outcome was positive: access infrastructure and historic drill pads are reported to be in reasonable condition and can be utilised for the proposed programme, reducing mobilisation costs and logistical complexity.

The planned near-term activities are outlined below:

Key Programme Elements

Regulatory Approvals: The company is progressing necessary permits for the drilling programme.

Technical Preparation: Idaho-based consultants are currently preparing the technical works required for drilling operations.

Target Definition: The programme will focus on the anomalous Nerco prospect area where historical drilling identified zones of interest.

Follow-up Strategy: The spatial clustering of high-grade surface results provides clear vectors for drill hole placement.

Investment Analysis: Why Boulder Creek Commands Attention

Exceptional Surface Grades

A 767 g/t silver rock sample represents an unusual surface result that suggests a highly mineralised system at outcrop or near-surface level. Surface rock samples of this grade indicate the type of anomaly that translates into drill targets with genuine discovery potential. Combined with 11.67 g/t gold from an adjacent sample, the system demonstrates both metals in meaningful concentrations.

Historical Validation from a Major Miner

Nerco/Kennecott/Rio Tinto's 1985–1987 drilling programme at this specific site provides independent geological validation that the target merits investigation. Discovery Alaska Boulder Creek high-grade silver drilling in Idaho is not speculating on untested ground — rather, the company is following up a confirmed anomaly with modern exploration methods.

Favourable Geological Setting and Infrastructure

Boulder Creek sits within a broader area described as containing several historical sites with precious metals potential. Moreover, the project's location near Silver City, Idaho means favourable jurisdiction, established mining culture, and accessible infrastructure. The confirmation that existing access roads and drill pads remain serviceable is a practical advantage that reduces costs for the upcoming programme.

100% Project Ownership

Discovery Alaska holds a 100% interest in the Boulder Creek project across 20 BLM claims, plus the option on Idaho State Lease E600117. Full ownership means no royalty dilution to a joint venture partner and complete control over exploration timing and strategy.

Risk Considerations

While surface rock samples provide encouraging geological indicators, they represent point-in-time expressions of mineralisation and do not confirm the presence of an economic mineral deposit. The transition from surface anomalism to subsurface resource confirmation requires systematic drilling to establish grade continuity, mineralisation geometry, and overall resource potential.

Historical exploration by major mining companies provides geological credibility but does not guarantee commercial outcomes. The mid-1980s work by Nerco predated modern exploration techniques and economic parameters that might influence current project economics.

Looking Ahead: Key Catalysts

Discovery Alaska Boulder Creek high-grade silver drilling in Idaho represents a focused precious metals exploration opportunity with clear near-term catalysts. The company has positioned itself with a compelling surface anomaly, historical geological validation, and access to drill-ready infrastructure — all within approximately six months of project acquisition in December 2025.

The critical test comes with the drill bit. Should the planned northern summer 2026 programme successfully intersect high-grade mineralisation consistent with surface sampling results, it would validate the geological model and potentially establish Boulder Creek as a significant exploration discovery.

For investors monitoring early-stage exploration opportunities, the combination of exceptional surface grades, historical major company validation, and imminent drilling presents a clear catalyst-driven investment thesis. The project sits at the intersection of proven geological prospectivity and modern exploration techniques, with the added advantage of established infrastructure and a favourable jurisdiction — making it one of the more compelling near-term exploration catalysts in the junior precious metals sector.

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