Mr. John Fraser reports

MERCADO MINERALS INTERPRETS MULTIPLE NEW TARGETS FROM LIDAR & GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS AT COPALITO

Mercado Minerals Ltd. has released detailed interpretation and analysis of the recently completed lidar (light detection and ranging) and airborne magnetics geophysical surveys has revealed multiple new targets and areas of investigation for detailed follow-up and further exploration at the Copalito project. The analysis has revealed a number of potential pits, shafts, adits, outcrops and veins associated with magnetic features throughout the property.

Highlights

• Lidar analysis has identified a number of potential features that warrant follow-up exploration, including:
  • 21 adits identified, including 19 previously known and two newly recognized;
  • 56 pits mapped, comprising 12 known and 44 newly interpreted features;
  • One shaft previously documented;
  • 57 vein segments outlined, including 12 known and 45 newly interpreted structures;
  • 64 outcrops detected across the project area.
• High-resolution airborne magnetic survey reveals broad correlations between features in the reduced to pole first vertical derivative data and known structures and veins at Copalito, and indicates some of these magnetic linear features continue beyond the limits of drilling. Similar features outside of the main exploration area have also been identified, some of which overlap with newly identified potential adits, pits, shafts and veins from lidar analysis.
• Planning is under way to sample and map and evaluate newly generated targets for potential drill testing.

CEO comment

Daniel Rodriguez, chief executive officer and director, commented:

"The lidar survey is a great tool to help guide our team to new areas of interest. Lidar analysis, in conjunction with the airborne magnetics, successfully identified many of the known veins and structures without having access to that existing information. This gives us more confidence in the new potential veins and structures identified by the interpretation method. The goal is to generate new targets for future drilling and to start to show the full potential of the Copalito project."

GeoCloud Analytics

The lidar analysis was completed by GeoCloud Analytics based in Melbourne, Australia. Geocloud leverages extensive global expertise in lidar reprocessing and interpretation to transform raw topographic data sets into high-resolution actionable intelligence. By reprocessing existing data to increase ground density, they reveal dormant details essential for geological mapping, minerals exploration and the pinpoint location of historical mining evidence. Their advanced capabilities include finding archaeological features and quantifying anthropological changes, supported by sophisticated data analytics. Through the use of semi-automated structural extraction and machine learning, GeoCloud identifies critical geological data like bedding strike and dip, ultimately generating mineralization strike vectors to guide exploration efforts.

Qualified person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and was reviewed and approved by Kelson Willms, PGeo, of Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Ltd. Mr. Willms is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Mercado Minerals Ltd.

Mercado Minerals is a silver-focused exploration company targeting the next world-class discovery in Mexico's emerging Western silver belt, part of the prolific Sierra Madre occidental mining district. With a proven team boasting extensive experience in Mexican exploration, Mercado is actively advancing multiple projects across more than 3,000 hectares. The company is committed to creating shareholder value through disciplined exploration, strategic growth and discovery-driven results.

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