Morocco Strategic Minerals Corp. Announces District-Scale Option Agreement In Morocco's Western High Atlas

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) MONTRÉAL, April 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation (TSXV: MCC) ("Morocco Strategic Minerals" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement dated April 15, 2026 (the "Option Agreement") with MNF Groupe Inc. ("MNF"), a Moroccan mining company and subsidiary of Broychim S.A., pursuant to which MCC has been granted an exclusive option to acquire up to an 80% interest in a portfolio of mineral assets located in the Western High Atlas region of Morocco. The option covers five exploitation licences, being 373220 (Tanfit Mine), 373221 (Ijoukak), 373422 (Amsghni), 393506 (Aït Zekri Mine) and 393505 (Ighrm), two research permits, being 3941791 (Tamadghoust) and 3942613 (Tizgui), and the environmental authorization relating to the construction of a central flotation plant attached to licences 393506 and 393505 in the Ouneine Valley.

In parallel, the Company has also secured a separate option to acquire a 100% interest in licence 393512 (Ouneine Mine), which, if exercised, would bring MCC's regional portfolio in the Ouneine Valley to six exploitation licences, two research permits and the environmental authorization for the construction of a central flotation plant.

A Historical Mining Camp with District-Scale Exploration Potential

The transaction provides MCC with exposure to a historical copper-gold-silver mining camp located in Morocco's Western High Atlas. The property package covers more than 57 km2 and comprises multiple past-producing mines, underground workings, mineralized structures, legacy production centres, and stockpiles within a consolidated land position. The most notable include the Tanfit (Cu-Ag), Ouneine (Cu-Ag), and Aït Zekri (Au-Ag) mines.

In the Company's view, the primary opportunity lies in the contrast between a well-established historical mineral endowment and the limited extent of modern, systematic exploration completed to date. Across the Ouneine–Ijoukak area, mineralization is associated with repeated faulting, quartz veining, sulphide development, hydrothermal brecciation, and strong alteration, with structures extending along kilometre-scale trends. At Aït Zekri, gold-bearing structures are reported with multiple parallel and converging zones mapped both at surface and underground.

Copper represents the most significant historical production driver. The Tanfit and Ouneine mines were the principal centres of past copper extraction. At Tanfit, historical production* between the 1960s and early 1970s reportedly yielded concentrate grades ranging from 25% to 29% Cu, with later operations processing ore grading approximately 2.0% to 2.1% Cu at metallurgical recoveries near 85%. At Ouneine, historical reports describe multiple copper-bearing veins hosted within Cambrian rocks. Hand-sorted material reportedly yielded concentrates* grading approximately 27% Cu with silver values of around 250 g/t Ag.

*Historical production figures and other referenced data are historical in nature and should not be relied upon as indicative of current mineral resources or mineral reserves. A Qualified Person has not verified these data and has not completed sufficient work to classify them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Company is not treating these historical data as such.

Recent surface and underground sampling** (total of 12 selected rock samples, Table 1) conducted by MCC at Tanfit and Ouneine, including both in situ mineralization and historical stockpiles confirmed the presence of high-grade copper mineralization. At Tanfit, results returned values of up to 23.76% Cu and 137 g/t Ag, with an average of 10.4% Cu across the selected samples. At Ouneine, results returned up to 16.03% Cu, with an average of 7.3% Cu across the selected samples. These results highlight the strong potential of these vein hosted systems, with additional upside from historical stockpiles.

Table 1: The location of the selected rock samples conducted by MCC.

Location	Samples	X	Y	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Cu (%)
Tanfit	Tf1	241997	442720	0.14	50	8.91
Tanfit	Tf2	241997	442720	<0.05	32	13.25
Tanfit	Tf3	241997	442720	<0.05	137	13.09
Tanfit	Tf4	242152	442669	<0.05	4	1.04
Tanfit	Tf5	242152	442669	<0.05	36	11.40
Tanfit	Tf6	242305	443114	<0.05	29	1.09
Tanfit	Tf7	242305	443114	<0.05	43	23.76
Ouneine	E1/TAS	236563	430669	<0.05	16	2.90
Ouneine	E2/TAS/G70	236624	430635	0.05	31	6.73
Ouneine	E3/TAS	236498	430735	<0.05	54	16.03
Ouneine	E4/Shaft	237439	430401	<0.05	23	4.78
Ouneine	E5/FTEst	237505	430419	0.05	62	6.27

**The recent MCC sample results referenced above include grab samples, which are selective by nature and may not be representative of the underlying mineralization. The reported results represent point samples only and should not be interpreted as indicative of the extent, continuity, or grade of mineralization.

The Aït Zekri mine further demonstrates the precious metals potential of the district, with approximately 300 metres of underground development and 18 drill holes (SAZ 1 to SAZ 18) totalling 2,018.6 metres. Gold intercepts from recent drilling include:

• SAZ-1 returned 1.15 g/t Au over 3.4 m (from 24.25 m to 27.65 m)
• SAZ-4 returned 0.66 g/t Au over 3.85 m (from 39.80 m to 43.65 m)
• SAZ-6 returned 1.07 g/t Au over 3.1 m (from 54.20 m to 57.30 m)
  

Higher-grade intervals were intersected in:

• SAZ-12, which returned 6.70 g/t Au over 1.0 m (from 45.70 m to 46.70 m), and 1.40 g/t Au over 1.0 m (from 60.70 m to 61.70 m)
• SAZ-13, which returned 1.55 g/t Au over 1.0 m (from 57.30 m to 58.30 m).
  

Underground sampling (25 samples from adit G1) returned significant gold and silver values, highlighting the strong precious metals potential of the system. Gold values reached up to 3.31 g/t Au (E24), with several samples exceeding 2.0 g/t Au, including 3.14 g/t Au (E20) and 2.76 g/t Au (E25). Silver assays were also notable, with values up to 240 g/t Ag (E12), as well as 139 g/t Ag and 115 g/t Ag, and multiple samples exceeding 100 g/t Ag.

^***These results are derived from historical sampling and have not been independently verified by the Qualified Person. While considered indicative, they should not be relied upon as definitive. A systematic exploration program, including confirmatory sampling, QA/QC protocols, and drilling, is planned to validate these results and further assess the continuity, grade, and extent of mineralization.

About Morocco Strategic Minerals

MCC is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and, if warranted, development of natural resource properties of merit in Canada and Morocco.

Contact Information

Téléphone: 579-476-7000
Courriel: ...

Pierre-Olivier Goulet
Vice-President Corporate Development

Guy Goulet
President and CEO

Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimer

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the exercise of the option agreements, the acquisition of interests in the referenced mineral assets, the exploration and development potential of the Ouneine Valley district, the availability of infrastructure and access, and the Corporation's plans, objectives and expectations with respect to the project. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "believes", "intends", "may", "will" or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information is based on the Corporation's estimates and assumptions as of the date of this release and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise such information except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:

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