Yukon Territory, Canada – Yukon Metals Corp. [CSE: YMC, FSE: E770, OTCQB: YMMCF] has announced an ambitious 2025 exploration program for its AZ Project, a vast 11,755-hectare property located 36 kilometers south of Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory. This year, the company is setting its sights on high-grade copper targets, including a 2,000-meter diamond drilling campaign at Chair Mountain and airborne geophysical surveys along a promising 5-kilometer-long mineralized corridor.
Following a successful 2024 exploration season that revealed strong copper anomalies and geological indicators of a porphyry-style mineral system, Yukon Metals aims to build on these findings to advance the AZ Project toward a major copper discovery.
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Key Exploration Initiatives for the AZ Project in 2025
At the core of this year’s program is a targeted diamond drilling campaign at Chair Mountain, where the company will test a 1.2-kilometer-long gossan zone—an oxidized area known to contain copper mineralization. This zone has already returned high-grade copper samples, reinforcing the potential for a significant deposit.
In addition to drilling, Yukon Metals will conduct detailed exploration at the Nutzotin Skarn Target, where past results have confirmed grades of up to 10.3% copper and 16.4 g/t silver. Follow-up sampling and trenching will provide critical data to assess the extent of this high-grade mineralization.
Another high-priority area is an intrusive-hosted vein system near Marylin Creek Stock, located just 200 meters east of the skarn occurrence. This zone contains chalcopyrite-bearing veins that may represent an additional copper-rich system within the AZ Project.
To refine geological models and identify further drill targets, the company will deploy airborne geophysics, including magnetic and VTEM (Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic) surveys. These advanced exploration tools will provide deeper insights into subsurface structures, enhancing Yukon Metals’ ability to pinpoint mineralized zones.
Unlocking the Potential of the Chair-to-Nutzotin Corridor
“The Chair to Nutzotin trend represents one of the most compelling copper exploration targets in the region, with strong surface anomalies, widespread alteration, and proximity to major geological structures,” said Rory Quinn, President & CEO of Yukon Metals. “By combining historical data with modern geophysics and targeted drilling, we are systematically refining our exploration model to unlock the full potential of the AZ Project.”
Recent rock-chip sampling at Chair Mountain returned copper grades of up to 3.49%, further highlighting the prospectivity of the area. Additionally, the presence of hematite alteration, a key characteristic of porphyry copper systems, supports the hypothesis that a large-scale mineralizing system exists along the mineralized corridor.
In 2025, Yukon Metals plans to expand its exploration footprint by an additional 2.5 kilometers toward the Nutzotin skarn occurrence. Historic trench samples from this zone have yielded impressive copper and silver grades, making it a high-priority area for further investigation.
Overcoming Exploration Challenges with Advanced Techniques
Exploring the AZ Project presents unique challenges due to the region’s rugged terrain, limited rock outcrop exposure, and permafrost. Additionally, a thick layer of volcanic ash covers much of the surface, making traditional prospecting methods less effective.
To address these challenges, Yukon Metals will employ deep permafrost soil drilling, a technique successfully tested in 2024 at its Birch property. This method allows geologists to analyze soil geochemistry beneath the surface cover, providing valuable insights into hidden mineralization.
The company will also conduct an airborne magnetic and VTEM survey, which will help delineate key subsurface structures and identify conductive mineralization along the Chair-to-Nutzotin corridor. These efforts will be instrumental in refining drill targets and advancing the project toward resource definition.
AZ Project: A Legacy of High-Grade Copper and Silver Discoveries
Exploration at the AZ Project dates back to the 1960s when early trenching at Nutzotin revealed copper grades of up to 10.3% Cu and 16.4 g/t Ag. Over the decades, various exploration programs have continued to confirm the property’s mineral potential.
In 2006, a granite stock northeast of Nutzotin yielded 1,485 ppm copper in a composite grab sample, while a 2012 soil sampling program near the northern contact of the stock returned values ranging from 134 to 1,105 ppm Cu. More recently, in 2024, helicopter-supported sampling at Chair Mountain identified a 1.2-kilometer gossan zone with multiple high-grade copper showings.
Geological studies suggest that the AZ Project hosts a significant hydrothermal mineralizing system, with mineral-rich fluids circulating through fault structures, altered diorite dykes, and quartz veins within volcanic rock formations. These findings align with the potential for a large-scale porphyry or skarn-type copper deposit.
Positioning Yukon Metals for a Major Copper Discovery
With a comprehensive exploration program set to begin, Yukon Metals is well-positioned to advance the AZ Project toward a potential copper discovery. The combination of diamond drilling, airborne geophysics, and deep-soil sampling is expected to identify new mineralized zones and provide a clearer understanding of the project’s geological framework.
As global demand for copper continues to rise—driven by its critical role in electrification, renewable energy, and green infrastructure—projects like AZ are becoming increasingly valuable. A major discovery at this property could position Yukon Metals as a key player in North America’s copper supply chain, attracting investment and potential partnerships.
With exploration ramping up in 2025, all eyes are on Yukon Metals as it works to unlock the copper potential of the AZ Project in the Yukon Territory. Stay tuned for upcoming drilling results and exploration updates as the company moves closer to defining a world-class copper deposit.
