Upside Gold Corp. has completed a comprehensive compilation of historic exploration data for its 10,115-hectare Kena Gold-Copper Property in southeastern British Columbia, revealing a mineralized system that extends significantly beyond previously defined boundaries. The work, which integrated geological, geophysical, and geochemical data from exploration conducted since 1974, has resulted in an updated digital 3D exploration model that identifies multiple expansion opportunities.
The compilation highlights a large gold-copper mineralized system that extends beyond the historic mineral resource estimate of 2.77 million inferred ounces at an average grade of 0.486 g/t Au and 0.561 million indicated ounces at an average grade of 0.544 g/t Au. The integrated data outlines a mineralized trend extending at least seven kilometres along strike, with the system remaining open in multiple directions and at depth. This expansion potential represents significant opportunity for resource growth at the property.
During the compilation of the property's drillhole database, which contains 24,200 core samples, the company discovered that while over 90% of historic drilling included multi-element analytical analyses, the database largely recorded only gold geochemical results. As part of the program, silver and copper results were systematically extracted from compiled digital and analog analytical certificates and added to the master database. This revealed copper values reaching up to 71,800 ppm, with more than 2,900 samples exceeding 500 ppm Cu, and silver values reaching up to 145 ppm, with over 2,650 samples exceeding 1 ppm Ag.
The integration of mapped geology and structural interpretation with geophysical survey results indicates that mineralization at Kena is predominantly structurally controlled by a major steeply dipping, southeast-trending hydrothermally altered fault zone known as the Kena Deformation Zone. This structure marks the contact between the Silver King Porphyry intrusive and Elsie Group intermediate volcanic rocks and is characterized by a dominant low magnetic signature that can be traced for at least 11 kilometres along strike, as illustrated in the company's February 3, 2026 news release available at https://www.newmediawire.com.
Induced polarization surveys covering much of the northern portion of the property identify zones of high chargeability and low resistivity that support the definition of disseminated pyrite-hosted mineralization. These surveys suggest a total strike length of at least seven kilometres, defining similar anomalies laterally along the northeastern margin of the deposit. Sporadic historic drilling of these anomalies outside the Kena historic Mineral Resource has returned wide intervals of both lode and porphyry-style gold and copper mineralization, including surface and near-surface results such as 117 metres of 0.22% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au, and 210 metres of 0.17% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au within the Kena Copper Zone.
The addition of extensive historic soil survey data to the exploration model, covering areas similar to the IP surveys, is consistent with the current geological model. Copper and gold geochemical anomalies are spatially associated with favorable IP and magnetic signatures. High soil gold anomalies also cover broad areal expanses southwest of the Kena lode gold body, consistent with geological interpretation that mineralization extends southwestward at depth beyond the boundaries of the Kena Historic Mineral Resource.
Multiple priority gold-copper drill targets have been identified for the 2026 program, with the majority focusing on testing along strike to the southeast within the Kena Copper Zone. The goal is to demonstrate sufficient continuity and grade to define a second major mineralized zone on the property. The work also supports the belief that the precious metal and copper mineralized system extends across much of the southern half of the property, which has never undergone diamond drilling or detailed exploration.
For more information about the company's exploration activities, visit their website at https://www.upsidegoldcorp.com. The Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia has been largely overlooked for gold and copper exploration in the past, offering opportunities for both new discoveries and the development of known historic prospects into viable mineralized bodies. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Trevor Boyd, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of the company and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 standards.
