Almadex Drills for Green Energy Metals in Arizona's Copper Belt

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – December 15, 2025 – In the arid landscape of southeastern Arizona, a region steeped in copper mining history, a new hunt is underway. Almadex Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: “DEX”), a Vancouver-based exploration company, has officially commenced a scout drilling program at its New Hope project, targeting a potentially massive copper-gold porphyry deposit. The move represents more than just another exploratory venture; it is a calculated bet on the future of green technology and the critical minerals required to power it.

The timing is crucial. As the world pivots towards electrification, from electric vehicles to sprawling solar and wind farms, the demand for copper—the circulatory system of this new energy economy—is projected to soar. Recognizing this, the United States recently added copper to its official list of critical minerals, underscoring the strategic imperative to secure domestic supply chains. Almadex’s drill bit, now turning deep beneath the Arizona soil, is probing for a discovery that could one day help meet that surging demand.

The Geological Promise at New Hope

The New Hope project is not a random pin on a map. It is the product of a meticulous, technology-driven generative program. Located just 40 kilometers from Freeport McMoran’s massive Safford porphyry copper camp, the project sits within a geological trend that has produced some of the nation's largest copper deposits. Almadex's geologists believe they have identified the signature of a large, concealed porphyry system—the geological model responsible for the majority of the world's copper supply.

Their confidence stems from a combination of advanced targeting techniques. The 958.7-hectare property exhibits a 3.5-kilometer-long zone of intense hydrothermal alteration, a chemical fingerprint left by the superheated, mineral-rich fluids that form these deposits. Surface mapping has identified minerals like pyrophyllite and dickite, indicative of an advanced argillic altered lithocap, which often acts as a sterile cap rock sitting directly above a productive porphyry core.

Furthermore, detailed fluid inclusion petrography—a microscopic analysis of tiny pockets of fluid trapped in quartz veins—suggests the presence of vapor-rich fluids typical of shallow-level porphyry systems. These geological clues were recently corroborated by a large Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical anomaly defined in April 2025. This survey, which measures the electrical properties of subsurface rock, highlighted a target zone that could represent sulfide mineralization, the host for copper and gold. As J Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almadex, commented, “We are excited to be drill testing the porphyry target we have defined at New Hope using combined target vectoring technics such as alteration and geological mapping, fluid inclusion petrography, geochemistry and geophysics.”

The Junior Explorer's Gambit

For a junior exploration company like Almadex, initiating a drill program is the culmination of years of work and significant capital investment. Unlike major mining corporations with producing assets, pre-revenue explorers operate in a high-risk, high-reward environment where a single successful drill hole can create immense shareholder value, while a series of misses can drain resources. Almadex’s strategy to mitigate this risk is multi-faceted.

The company owns its own portable diamond drill rigs, a key advantage that allows it to conduct first-pass exploration in-house. This reduces costs and provides greater operational flexibility compared to contracting third-party drillers, enabling the company to test more targets for its investment dollar. This financial prudence is reflected in its debt-free balance sheet, a notable achievement in the capital-intensive exploration sector. While its stock has seen a remarkable 188% year-to-date price increase, the company's future hinges on converting geological potential into a tangible discovery.

Almadex’s approach is characteristic of a savvy junior player in a competitive field. Arizona is currently a hotbed for copper exploration, with companies like Prismo Metals and Zacapa Resources also deploying advanced geological and AI-driven techniques to hunt for deep porphyry targets. Almadex’s strategy involves drilling 1-2 of its most promising projects, like New Hope, itself while seeking joint venture partners for other properties in its portfolio. This spreads risk and leverages partner capital to advance multiple projects simultaneously.

Navigating Arizona's Mining Renaissance

Embarking on a new mining project in the American Southwest comes with a complex set of modern challenges. While Arizona has a rich mining heritage and a skilled workforce, new projects face increasing scrutiny over environmental and community impacts, particularly concerning water usage in a region plagued by long-term drought. Mining is a water-intensive industry, and any potential future operation would need to present a robust and sustainable water management plan.

There is a powerful tailwind, however, from federal policy. Successive administrations have emphasized the need to bolster domestic production of critical minerals to reduce reliance on foreign nations and strengthen national security. This creates a more favorable regulatory environment for explorers like Almadex, though it does not eliminate the rigorous permitting processes at the state and federal levels.

Successfully navigating this landscape requires not only geological and technical expertise but also a commitment to responsible exploration and community engagement. The initial scout drilling at New Hope is just the first step. The geological data from this first hole, expected in the New Year, will be critical. It will determine whether the vectoring techniques have pointed to the right address and will guide all subsequent drilling plans. For Almadex and its investors, the holiday season will be one of anticipation, waiting to see if New Hope lives up to its name.