Founders Metals Advances Exploration at Antino Gold Project with Promising Surface Results

Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR, OTCQX: FDMIF), a Canadian exploration company focused on gold projects, has reported substantial progress in its surface exploration at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. The Company has completed extensive sampling work at two of its high-priority targets, Maria Geralda and Parbo, and is gearing up for diamond drilling during the dry season, aiming to capitalize on the opportunities these findings present.

The Antino project covers over 20,000 hectares in the Guiana Shield and holds a rich history of gold production, with more than 500,000 ounces extracted from surface and alluvial mining. Founders Metals has been steadily advancing exploration on this district-scale asset, unveiling new high-grade zones and expanding known mineralization zones.

At Maria Geralda, the recent sampling program revealed a 1.3-kilometer strike length of anomalous gold grades, with samples reaching as high as 7.47 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. The Company collected a total of 516 auger samples there, 61% of which showed anomalous gold values (≥0.02 g/t Au) and notably, 25% exceeded 0.1 g/t Au. This robust sampling validates Maria Geralda as a key target, with ongoing sampling designed to test extensions of this anomaly toward the Van Gogh target area. Last month, the company reported a significant drill intercept at Maria Geralda, where a 22.5-meter core length returned 11.88 g/t gold, highlighting its high-grade potential. 

Parbo, another emerging highlight, hosts an extensive 1,200 by 600-meter historical auger anomaly with samples peaking at an extraordinary 51.42 g/t gold. Recent work by Founders uncovered a 15-meter-wide oxidized shear zone enriched with quartz veining and grab samples grading up to 26.85 g/t gold. Historical trenching results had already shown a 49-meter interval averaging 1.02 g/t gold, supported by past limited drilling intersecting 12 meters at 3.36 g/t gold. The ongoing auger and trenching work at Parbo aims to refine targets for a Phase 1 diamond drilling program slated for the fourth quarter. 

Geologically, these targets are part of the Central Guiana Shear Zone, a major structural trend known for controlling significant gold mineralization in the region. At Maria Geralda, gold occurs both as high-grade shear-hosted veins along rock contacts and as lower-grade bulk tonnage mineralization within intrusive complexes. Parbo’s mineralization is characterized by silicified shear zones with abundant quartz and pyrite, often associated with high-grade gold.

Colin Padget, President and CEO of Founders Metals, emphasized the strength of the ongoing exploration campaign, noting that surface work continues to build a rich pipeline of drill-ready targets. He highlighted that Phase 2 drilling is already underway at Maria Geralda and that with the rainy season ending, the Company is eager to return to other priority targets such as Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and Lawa for follow-up drilling based on earlier successes.

Founders’ exploration approach seeks to systematically advance these multiple high-grade prospects while also expanding known zones like Upper Antino, Buese, and Lower Antino. The Company has already reported encouraging drill results elsewhere on the property, including deep drilling at Upper Antino extending mineralization to over 500 meters vertical depth and consistent gold intercepts at Da Vinci, which underline the district-scale potential of Antino. 

Plans for the remainder of 2025 include continuing systematic drilling at Maria Geralda with pending assay results, completing the auger program at Parbo to support Q4 drilling, and carrying out surface programs to enhance structural understanding at Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and Lawa. These efforts are part of a fully financed 60,000-meter drilling campaign aiming to unlock the Antino project’s full gold potential.

Situated approximately 275 kilometers from Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo, Antino benefits from existing logistical support including an onsite airstrip and river transport options, which aids efficient exploration and development activities in the often challenging terrain of the Guiana Shield.

Founders Metals is committed to responsible exploration and community engagement alongside its technical efforts to deliver long-term value. The recent surface results at Maria Geralda and Parbo add significant momentum to the Company’s exploration story, as it methodically builds on discoveries across one of Suriname’s most promising gold projects.