Avrupa Minerals Announces Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sesmarias Copper/Zinc Project, Portugal

Avrupa Minerals Ltd. has announced the completion of its inaugural NI 43-101-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sesmarias Copper/Zinc Project, located in Portugal's Iberian Pyrite Belt. The initial estimate totals 6.5 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources grading 2.9% zinc, 1.2% lead, 0.6% copper, and 35 g/t silver, equating to 2.2% copper equivalent or 6.2% zinc equivalent. The resource was calculated using a 4.0% zinc equivalent cutoff grade and compiled by SLR Consulting Ltd.

The resource estimate represents a significant milestone for Avrupa, providing the first quantified assessment of the deposit's mineral inventory and establishing a foundation for future expansion efforts. SLR Consulting has identified multiple high-priority drill targets with the potential to substantially increase the resource base, including extensional targets that could directly expand the current mineral resource and conceptual targets based on geological analogs within the synformal structure hosting the mineralization.

The deposit's geology is characterized by massive sulfide mineralization hosted within a black shale unit in a U-shaped synformal structure extending over at least 1,700 meters of strike length. Current drilling has only partially tested the full extent of this structural control, leaving significant exploration upside in both the hinge zones and limbs of the fold structure. Priority drilling areas have been identified in the Central and Northern Zones, with particular focus on infill drilling to upgrade resources and extensional drilling to expand the deposit footprint.

Avrupa has initiated the mining license application process and is actively seeking a suitable mining company partner for an earn-in joint venture arrangement to advance the project through subsequent development phases. The company's strategic approach of partnering with established mining operators reflects industry best practices for advancing early-stage projects while managing capital requirements and technical risks. The polymetallic nature of the deposit, containing zinc, lead, copper, and silver, positions it well within current commodity market dynamics where base metals remain in strong demand for industrial and energy transition applications.