Sonoro Gold Expands Cerro Caliche with Strategic Diana Acquisition

VANCOUVER, BC – April 09, 2026 – Sonoro Gold Corp. has announced a significant expansion of its flagship Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora, Mexico, with the 100% acquisition of the adjacent Diana mineral concession. The US$600,000 cash deal consolidates a key piece of land believed to be a direct extension of the project's known gold mineralization, setting the stage for an ambitious drilling program aimed at substantially increasing the project's resource base as it moves toward production.

The acquisition, made through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary Minera Mar de Plata (“MMP”), adds 51 hectares to the project, bringing the total contiguous land package to 3,975.97 hectares across 26 concessions. This move is seen as a critical step in unlocking the full potential of the Cerro Caliche property, which is currently in the final stages of permitting for an open-pit, heap leach mining operation.

A Calculated Move to Unlock Value

The purchase of the Diana Concession is more than just a land expansion; it's a strategic acquisition based on a wealth of historical data. Sonoro Gold believes the concession represents a possible major extension of the northwest-trending mineralized corridors located just north of the Rincón–Bellotoso zone, an area with a rich history of mining activity near the historic El Batamote mine.

This belief is supported by exploration work conducted over a decade ago. In 2012, Paget Southern Resources, a subsidiary of Pembrook Mining Corp., completed six diamond drill holes and extensive rock sampling on the Diana property. The geological data from this program, including drill logs and assay certificates, was later acquired by Sonoro's subsidiary from Millrock Resources in 2018. This existing information provides a valuable head start, allowing the company to target its upcoming drilling with greater precision.

"We have long recognized the potential mineralized value of the Diana Concession as demonstrated by prior exploration programs, but we believe its real potential value was enhanced through the recent extension of the Cerro Caliche project to the north, which almost surrounds the Diana Concession," commented Kenneth MacLeod, President & CEO of Sonoro. "Combined with historic drilling data, the acquisition enhances the potential for the upcoming 50,000 meters drilling campaign to define a larger resource at Cerro Caliche.”

The Cerro Caliche project itself is already well-defined, hosting a broadly mineralized low-sulphidation epithermal vein structure. Since acquiring the property in 2018, Sonoro has drilled over 42,000 meters, confirming more than 25 near-surface gold mineralized zones. An updated Mineral Resource Estimate filed in March 2023 outlined 19.9 million tonnes of Indicated Mineral Resources, with notable upside potential for further exploration. The addition of Diana is expected to build directly on this foundation.

Fueling Growth with Drilling and Permitting Advances

The acquisition comes as Sonoro Gold prepares to launch a massive two-phase, 50,000-meter reverse circulation drilling program. This campaign is a cornerstone of the company's strategy to expand the known mineralized system and upgrade the resource estimate ahead of commencing mining operations. A portion of this extensive program will be dedicated to expansion drilling on the new Diana Concession to confirm its structural continuity with the rest of Cerro Caliche.

Funding for this ambitious undertaking was recently secured through a fully-committed CAD$11,000,000 private placement. The proceeds are not only earmarked for the drilling but will also strengthen the company's balance sheet as it navigates the final hurdles of mine development. While past financial statements have noted a working capital deficiency, these recent strategic and financial moves are designed to propel the project forward with renewed momentum.

On the development front, Sonoro reports that the project is in the "final permitting stage" for an initial 10-year mining operation projected to process up to 16,000 tonnes per day. The company has made significant progress, having filed its Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA) with Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and secured crucial surface rights in July 2025. This exclusive control over 3,908 hectares for up to 25 years was a key step in advancing the Change of Land Use (CUS) permit application, which the company anticipates filing later this year.

Navigating Sonora's Pro-Mining, Evolving Landscape

Sonoro Gold's advancement of Cerro Caliche is occurring within one of Mexico's most important mining jurisdictions. Sonora is the nation's top gold producer, accounting for over 30% of national output, and the mining industry represents nearly a quarter of the state's GDP. The region hosts major operations, including Fresnillo's La Herradura mine and Agnico Eagle's Santa Gertrudis project, underscoring its geological prospectivity and established infrastructure.

The state government is generally supportive of the industry, promoting initiatives like the "Sonora Plan" to attract investment in minerals crucial for the global energy transition. However, the national regulatory landscape is evolving. Recent amendments to Mexican mining laws in 2023 place a greater emphasis on environmental protection, social impact assessments, and water availability.

Regulatory bodies like SEMARNAT are in the process of updating environmental standards related to exploration and leaching systems. While these changes aim to strengthen environmental stewardship without "overregulation," they introduce new requirements for companies, such as submitting comprehensive Restoration, Closure, and Post-closure Programs. Sonoro's progress through this permitting environment will be a key indicator of its ability to transition from an explorer to a producer. The successful acquisition of the Diana concession, coupled with a fully funded major drill program, positions the company to significantly de-risk the Cerro Caliche project and advance its goal of becoming Mexico's next gold producer.