Smooth Rock Bets on Historic Nevada Mine in Surging Metals Market

VANCOUVER, BC – April 16, 2026 – Smooth Rock Ventures Corp. has officially launched its 2026 exploration program at the Giroux Project, a historically significant site poised within Nevada's famously mineral-rich Walker Lane shear zone. The move signals a strategic re-engagement with a promising asset, aiming to capitalize on both resurgent commodity markets and a wealth of historical data pointing to high-grade mineralization.

The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the junior exploration company, which is restarting work on a project that previously yielded impressive surface results before being paused due to the global pandemic and subsequent market headwinds. The new program is designed to systematically advance the project from promising surface samples to defined drill targets, bringing the past-producing mine a step closer to modern evaluation.

A Legacy Reawakened in Nevada's Mining Heartland

The Giroux Project is not a new discovery but a site steeped in mining history. At its heart lies the Giroux Mine, one of only two documented high-grade nickel-producing mines in Nevada's history, with production records dating back to the late 1800s, as noted in the historical text "Mining Districts and Mineral Resources of Nevada" (Lincoln, 1923). This legacy of nickel production is exceptionally rare for the state and is complemented by historical output of copper, silver, gold, zinc, and barite.

The 965-acre property, a mix of patented and unpatented claims, is riddled with evidence of this past activity, including multi-level vertical shafts, adits, and open pits. This existing infrastructure, combined with easy, year-round road access just off a main state highway, provides a significant logistical advantage for renewed exploration efforts.

Geologically, the project's setting is a major part of its appeal. It lies within the Walker Lane trend, a massive structural corridor renowned for hosting some of North America's most significant gold and silver deposits. The project's geological trend and host rock are similar to those of the nearby Candelaria Mine, located just seven miles east. Candelaria was historically one of the largest open-pit silver mines in Nevada, underscoring the regional potential for large-scale mineral systems. The Giroux Project is surrounded by a neighborhood of past producers, including the Marietta, Moho, and Camp Douglas mines, further cementing its location in a proven mining district.

Strategic Timing in a Resurgent Market

The decision to re-ignite exploration at Giroux is a calculated one, directly tied to favorable shifts in the global economy. After a period of dormancy, the company sees a clear window of opportunity.

"In today's resurgent natural resource markets, the timing couldn't be better to re-ignite exploration at Giroux," said Michael Ruggles, President & CEO of Smooth Rock, in a public statement. "This property delivered past significant results, only to be hampered by COVID-19 and prolonged market headwinds forcing us to pause. Now, with the multiple high-value minerals at surface, a rich history of past workings, and a premier location within Nevada's Walker Lane trend, we are moving decisively to accelerate our exploration programs and unlock what we believe is a truly exceptional asset."

The market dynamics for the specific metals found at Giroux support this optimistic outlook. Nickel prices, while volatile, are forecast to remain firm through 2026, with some analysts projecting a move toward $20,000 per tonne, bolstered by sustained demand from the electric vehicle battery sector. Copper is facing a significant supply deficit, with projections from major financial institutions suggesting prices could average over $12,000 per metric ton in 2026, driven by demand for grid infrastructure and data centers. Meanwhile, precious metals are also on a bullish run. Gold prices are expected to remain elevated due to strong central bank purchasing and geopolitical uncertainty, while silver is benefiting from both its safe-haven status and its critical role in industrial applications, particularly solar panel manufacturing.

This confluence of strong market fundamentals for nickel, copper, gold, and silver provides a powerful economic incentive for exploring a multi-commodity project like Giroux.

From Surface Finds to Drill-Ready Targets

The 2026 program is not a blind search but a methodical process building on concrete evidence. A 2020 exploration campaign by Smooth Rock returned remarkable high-grade results from grab samples taken from surface outcrops and an old mine dump. These included values up to 1% Nickel (Ni), 23.5 g/t Gold (Au), 7.67% Copper (Cu), and 9.87 g/t Silver (Ag). While surface grab samples are selective by nature and not representative of overall deposit grade, they are a powerful indicator of the type of mineralization present and are crucial for guiding further work.

The new program is designed to translate these high-grade surface indications into a comprehensive geological model. The work will involve several key steps:

• Reconnaissance Prospecting and Geological Mapping: Geologists will systematically cover the property to identify and map rock types, structures, and alteration zones associated with mineralization.
• Relocation of Historical Workings: The team will locate and document the numerous old mines and shafts to understand the focus of past mining efforts and collect structural data.
• Surface Trenching and Systematic Sampling: By digging shallow trenches across areas of interest, the company can expose fresh bedrock and collect continuous channel samples. This provides a more representative look at mineralization than isolated grab samples and helps define the width and orientation of mineralized zones.

The ultimate goal of this comprehensive surface program is to generate accurate, modern data that will allow the technical team to define and prioritize targets for a future initial drilling campaign. This disciplined, science-driven approach is essential for de-risking a project and efficiently testing its subsurface potential.

Navigating Nevada's Path to Production

Operating in Nevada, widely considered a Tier-One mining jurisdiction, means adhering to a rigorous but well-defined regulatory framework. Any significant exploration, including a future drill program, will require permits from state and federal agencies like the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These agencies mandate comprehensive environmental reviews and require operators to post financial bonds to guarantee the full reclamation of any land disturbed by exploration or mining activities.

Company filings indicate that while the Giroux property was impaired on the books in late 2024 during the market downturn, the current strategic pivot is backed by recent financing activities. A planned initial drill program remains subject to securing sufficient capital, a standard reality for exploration-stage companies. The launch of the 2026 surface program represents the first crucial step in demonstrating the project's value to pave the way for that next phase of investment and discovery.