Vancouver, British Columbia – (February 17, 2026) – TheNewswire - Sendero Resources Corp. (TSXV: SEND) (the “Company” or “Sendero”) is pleased to outline key geological characteristics at its Peñas Negras Project in La Rioja Province, Argentina, that are consistent with the large-scale magmatic-hydrothermal systems recognized elsewhere in the prolific Vicuña Copper-Gold Belt.

The technical integration of geological, geophysics, alteration, geochemical, and structural datasets continues to support the interpretation that Peñas Negras represents part of a district-scale mineral system comparable in setting and architecture to other major deposits within the belt. The Company has adopted a district-thinking approach to improve target definition, reduce geological risk and enable more rapid and effective drilling to test whether the system is typical of Vicuña giants.

Fig. 1.  Sendero land position and Vicuña Belt Deposits.                

Peñas Negras is situated within the Miocene Andean magmatic arc, the same metallogenic event responsible for the formation of multiple large copper-gold systems along the Vicuña belt. This arc is characterized by long-lived, metal-fertile intrusive activity and large hydrothermal footprints typical of world-class geological environments.

Key observations include :

• Historic drill results demonstrate significant copper and gold mineralization extending to depth which mineralization begins near to surface and with wide sections of high grade mineralization at depth 

• Widespread hydrothermal alteration across a broad area 

• Multiple intrusive phases interpreted to be part of a fertile magmatic suite 

• Structural corridors and intersections that likely acted as fluid pathways 

• Telescoped alteration assemblages consistent with high-level to deeper porphyry environments 

These features collectively point toward a large-scale mineralizing system rather than an isolated prospect.

System Comparison- Geological DNA

	Filo del Sol	Josemaría	Peñas Negras
Magmatic Pulse	Miocene	Miocene	Miocene
Arc Setting	Andean magmatic arc	Andean magmatic arc	Andean magmatic arc
Metal Fertility	Cu-Au-Ag fertile suite	Cu-Au fertile suite	Cu-Au ± Ag emerging
Deposit Style	HS epithermal over porphyry	Classic porphyry Cu-Au	Porphyry-style alteration + intrusions
System Architecture	Telescoped (cap + root)	Large porphyry core	Early-stage porphyry architecture indicators
Scale Indicator	District hydrothermal system	Large, vertically extensive system	Broad alteration footprint

Peñas Negras shares core geological characteristics with major Vicuña systems including Miocene age magmatism, Andean arc setting, copper-gold fertility, porphyry-style alteration, telescoped system architecture, and broad hydrothermal footprints.

Fig. 2. Distance to neighbouring deposits

The alteration footprint at Peñas Negras extends well beyond discrete showings and displays zonation patterns consistent with vertical and lateral system development. Surface expressions include high-level alteration typical of upper portions of porphyry-related systems, suggesting potential for deeper intrusive centers. The large zones of mineralization and alteration are exposed at surface at Filo del Sol and surface alteration footprint led to discovery of deeper porphyry at Josemaría, all have the similarities of Peñas Negras being mineralized close to surface. The indicator that the hydrothermal system was large enough to reach surface.

Mineralization and alteration at Peñas Negras are spatially associated with regional structural trends that form part of a broader Andean corridor. Structural intersections and corridor-scale controls are considered key features in the localization of large Vicuña-style systems and support the Company’s interpretation of district-scale potential.

 

Leveraging the historical exploration with approximately 15,875m across 80 holes, clearly indicating a well-endowed region. Some of the best drilling results of Phase 1 are outlined below:

 

Hole PNDH-001 at La Pena intersected 226 metres grading 0.22 g/t AuEq from surface*;

Hole PNDH-002 at Tamberias intersected 168 metres grading 0.22 g/t AuEq from surface*;

Hole PNDH-003 at La Ollita intersected 256 metres grading 0.53 g/t AuEq from 84 m*;

Hole PNDH-004 at La Ollita intersected 266 metres grading 0.52 g/t AuEq from 96 m**;

Hole PNDH-05 at La Ollita intersected 300 m grading 0.36 g/t AuEq from 122 m**;

Hole PNDH-06 at La Ollita intersected 364.2 m grading 0.51 g/t AuEq from 33.8m**;

* Sendero press release of April 03, 2024. ** Sendero press release of May 01, 2024.

 Highlighted intervals from the historical drilling Eldorado (1995-1997 & 2011-2012) & Anglo American 2012:

Table derived from NI43-101 NI 43-101 Technical Report  Peñas Negras 18th July 2023

Drill results demonstrate significant copper and gold mineralization extending to depth which mineralization begins near to surface and with wide sections of high grade mineralization at depth

Geochemical trends observed to date indicate metal zonation patterns that may vector toward a stronger copper-dominant source at depth, an exploration model that aligns with the evolutionary pathway observed in several large Andean systems.

The Company believes Peñas Negras exhibits the fundamental geological components associated with large Andean copper-gold systems, including

• Fertile intrusive association 

• Large hydrothermal footprint 

• Evidence of telescoped alteration 

• Corridor-scale structural control 

 

Fig. 3 District Structural Framework                                                                                                            

 

The Company’s exploration strategy is focused on testing the ENE-trending Mogotes fault. With a standout new target and area of interest between Cerro Verde South and Tamberias south of La Ollita , a fully funded drill program designed to significantly advance our area of interest to define the structural traps and extended mineralisation on par with the neighbours. The program consists of approximately 3,000 to 3,500 metres across 8 diamond drill holes to a depth of 500-600 metres and  designed to delineate Cu–Au and associated pathfinder element anomalies and alteration patterns seen across the property. The Company anticipates these holes to define a high-sulfidation/porphyry mineralized system associated with the deep-seated Mogotes fault and its splays and identify its key elements: structural traps, alteration patterns, dioritic plugs, and phreatomagmatic breccia bodies, with the structures and alteration patterns confirming our model.

Fig. 4 Area Of Interest

 

“Peñas Negras shows the same fundamental geological ingredients that characterize major systems of the Vicuña belt — fertile intrusions, large hydrothermal footprints, telescoped alteration, and corridor-scale structures. These features are hallmarks of successful Andean copper-gold systems. Sendero controls a strategic structural corridor within a belt that continues to demonstrate a pathway from discovery to development. With multiple targets identified and indications of satellite system potential, Peñas Negras provides discovery leverage at an early stage where value creation can be transformational.” said Alex Gostevskikh, Chief Executive Officer of Sendero Resources “The Vicuña Belt is increasingly recognized as one of the most significant emerging copper-gold districts globally. Sendero’s land position provides exposure to this proven mineral system at an early exploration stage, where discovery leverage is greatest”.

 

About Sendero Resources Corp.

The Company is focused on copper-gold exploration at its 100% owned Peñas Negras Project in the Vicuña Belt in Argentina. The Peñas Negras Project has similar geological characteristics to other deposits in the Vicuña Belt and multiple porphyry and high-sulfidation epithermal targets have been identified on the project. The centre of the Peñas Negras concession area is situated approximately 18 km southeast of Caserones mine operated by Lundin Mining, approximately 24 km northeast of NGEx Minerals’ Lunahuasi project, and about 32 km north-northeast of BHP-Lundin Mining’s Filo del Sol advanced exploration and development stage project. The Company also has an option to earn an 100% interest on eight additional granted mining concessions covering 91.7 km2. The total project area comprises 211.77 km2

Qualified Person

Steven McMullan, P. Geo. supervised the preparation of and reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information pertaining to Peñas Negras Project contained in this news release. Mr McMullan is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

Sendero Resources Corp,
Alex Gostevskikh, Chief Executive Officer
Email: info@senderoresources.com

+1 888 455 7620 

Follow Sendero Resources (@SenderoRes) on X, (Sendero Resources) on LinkedIn, and (@sendero_resources) on Instagram.

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