Rio Grande Resources Ltd. (CSE: RGR, OTCQB: RGRLF) announced on October 1, 2026 that it has staked 26 additional lode mining claims covering approximately 537 acres at its 100%-owned Winston Gold-Silver Project in Sierra County, New Mexico. The expanded claim block incorporates the historic North Star and Little Wonder mine areas, with assay results returning up to 35.9 g/t gold and 248 g/t silver from samples collected during the company's exploration programs. The disclosure adds meaningful ground to a project where recent Poverty Creek sampling previously returned channel samples grading up to 46.3 g/t gold and 1,030 g/t silver.

Key Points

  • Rio Grande Resources Ltd. (CSE: RGR, OTCQB: RGRLF) is a mineral exploration company focused on its approximately 3,500-acre Winston Gold-Silver Project in the Black Range, Sierra County, New Mexico
  • The company staked 26 additional lode mining claims covering approximately 537 acres, incorporating the historic North Star and Little Wonder mine areas into the Winston claim block
  • Eleven samples from the North Star–Little Wonder area returned gold and silver mineralisation across both the 2026 and 2020 field programs, including 35.9 g/t gold and 248 g/t silver, and 3.21 g/t gold and 351 g/t silver
  • The company also granted 30,000 stock options exercisable at $0.33 and 30,000 restricted share units to a director, approved September 30, 2026

North Star and Little Wonder Sampling Results at the Winston Project

Seven samples collected during the May 2026 Phase Two Exploration Program from the North Star–Little Wonder area all returned gold and silver mineralisation. Results included 3.21 g/t gold and 351 g/t silver, 2.69 g/t gold and 70.6 g/t silver, and 1.38 g/t gold and 317 g/t silver. Additionally, previously unreleased samples from the company's October 2020 field program, also disclosed in this announcement, returned values including 35.9 g/t gold and 248 g/t silver and 1.9 g/t gold and 309 g/t silver. All samples were submitted to ALS Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited facility.

Geological Rationale for Expanding the Winston Claim Block

Geological and structural mapping was conducted by Dahrouge Geological Consulting USA Ltd., which identified vein trends and epithermal textures in the North Star–Little Wonder area. The company's current structural interpretation suggests that mineralised veins in this area may form part of a broader network extending from the Poverty Creek target to the south. Rio Grande notes, however, that the interpreted connection between the two areas has not yet been established and will require additional mapping, sampling, and drilling to test. Historical records indicate mining activity at the North Star area dates to at least 1883.

Next Steps: Mapping, Sampling, and Advancing Toward Drilling

The announcement states that Rio Grande's next phase of work in the newly acquired area will focus on additional geological and structural mapping and systematic sampling to refine understanding of vein orientations and the potential continuity toward the Poverty Creek area. In parallel, the release states that the company continues to advance toward its inaugural Phase 1 drill program at Winston, with the expanded claim block providing additional ground for systematic exploration. The technical content in this release was reviewed and approved by Qualified Person Gareth Flitton, who is independent of the company.