Second Government Critical Mineral Study Begins at Bell Copper’s Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project in Arizona, USA

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 17, 2025) – Bell Copper Corporation (TSXV: BCU) (OTCQB: BCUFF) (“Bell Copper” or the “Company“) reports that the Arizona Geological Survey at the University of Arizona, with funding from the United States Geological Survey and the State of Arizona, has initiated a new study at the Company’s Big Sandy porphyry copper discovery to assess potential new resources of critical minerals in Arizona. The Company is contributing core samples from its 100% owned Big Sandy porphyry copper project, a large, concealed porphyry copper-molybdenum project located in northwestern Arizona, approximately 30 kilometers from the Company’s Perseverance Project.

• Several critical minerals are commonly enriched in deposits like Big Sandy
• Big Sandy core records the continuous transition from leached capping to supergene blanket
• Initial Samples have been contributed from the Company’s drill core

The Arizona Geological Survey (“AZGS“) research initiative, led by Dr. Carson Richardson, Senior Research Scientist, and Ms. Zoey Plonka, AZGS Research Scientist, is a two-pronged project with one component focused on constraining both the timing of exhumation (via thermochronology) and supergene processes (via Ar-Ar geochronology of alunite and jarosite). The other component would include a detailed study of the Big Sandy supergene profile using systematic sampling to quantify elemental/critical mineral presence and variability. This sampling work has now been completed.

A previous study of Big Sandy core samples culminated in the publication of a University of Arizona Master’s Thesis entitled “Integrating Geochronology and Ore Mineralogy Constraints to Correlate the Formation of the Diamond Joe Pluton and Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Prospect, NW Arizona, USA” by Jonothan Chappell, generally supporting the Company’s concept of a genetic link between the Big Sandy porphyry and the root zone at Diamond Joe Peak, 13 kilometers to the west.

The Big Sandy core has been demonstrated to contain significant amounts of copper, rhenium, and silver, elements which, notably, the U.S.G.S. included on its 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals.

Dr. Timothy Marsh, Bell’s President and CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, said,

“Bell is pleased to contribute further samples of the Big Sandy core to aid this assessment of the nation’s critical mineral resources. Big Sandy’s status as one of the few complete profiles from leached capping through supergene enrichment in an unmined porphyry copper deposit gives the AZGS a great example to study.”

Bell Copper continues the work of securing funding to complete the drilling of BS-4 at Big Sandy, which was suspended in August 2024. The BS-4 drill hole is located 900 meters from the previous drill hole, BS-3, which had an intersection of 200 meters of chalcocite-bearing porphyry (see June 7, 2022 news). The Company plans to drill BS-4 into bedrock using an angle capable mud rotary drill, to be followed by coring into bedrock.

About Bell Copper

Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of large copper deposits located in Arizona. Bell Copper is exploring its 100% owned Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project and the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project which is under a Joint Venture – Earn In.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, the ability of Bell to identify a mineral resource at the Perseverance or Big Sandy Projects. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “potential”, “target”, “budget” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may”, “will”, “should”, “could” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/270829