Zacatecas project

The company has recently completed trench sampling campaign at its San Acacio property. See press release: https://defiancesilver.com/news/defiance-silver-re…

The main mineralized structure on the Zacatecas Project is the Veta Grande vein system. The Veta Grande vein system has a dominant northwest strike and dips towards the southwest, on average at 65 degrees. The mapped strike extent of the Veta Grande vein system within the Property is approximately five kilometers and extends to depths of at least 400 m below surface as evidenced from underground development and drilling on the Property. The Veta Grande vein system is characterized by three main mineralization morphologies: fault-fill veins with polyphase breccias, vein splays with predominantly fault-fill vein textures, and veinlet array zones that frequently display banded textures.

No significant recent surface sampling has been completed on the Veta Grande surface exposure, and as a result of years of surface mining activities at the San Acacio mine on the Veta Grande vein, very little information is available on the grade and thickness of the vein system at surface, or what the lateral strike extent is, particularly between the significant historical surface mining operations.

Many of the trenches from pre-2008, were slumped or damaged by subsequent exploration programs that included numerous drill roads over the old trenches. Also, during period of low exploration, small scale illegal miners would often dig in the exposed trenches and remove mineralization from the Veta Grande which had been previously exposed in the old trenches. Defiance therefore determined that new trenching needed to be completed as the old trenches could not be resampled nor could the old samples be located to be re-analyzed. The purpose of the trenching was both confirming the historical samples but also linking the pits with current geochemistry as well as geology. The work also potentially gives confidence to the near surface tonnage potential also while demonstrating continuity between the large historical open pits (Almaden, San Jose, Esperanza, Guadalupe).

Trenching Procedures

The trenches were selected based on the presence of visible mineralized veins and breccias, alteration and geology. Different methods of excavation were used, depending on accessibility, topography and geology. Where it was possible, a backhoe was use for excavation, and in inaccessible areas, the trenches were dug by hand using pick and shovel. Samples were either cut by diamond saw or using a rock hammer and a chisel. along the width of the exposed vein or host rocks. The Nov 14th 2025 News Release reports exclusively intact veins, breccias and rock material although waste debris was also sampled in some of the trenches. The waste debris was analyzed however, those results were not utilized in any of the vein widths discussed in the Nov 14th 2025 News Release.

The QA/QC protocol used for core sampling was adapted for channel sampling. Each trench is referenced to a high-precision GPS control point. The length, azimuth and dip of each of the samples were surveyed for display purposes. Plastic pick and shovels were used to collect and place the sample material into plastic bags. Features such as mineralogy, alteration and geology among others were captured for each of the samples. The last step was the shipment of samples to the laboratory for geochemical analysis.

Discussion of Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC) and Analytical Procedures

QAQC for Defiance trench sampling (2024-2025): Samples were selected based on the lithology, alteration, and mineralization characteristics; sample size averaged 3.7 kg. At least one blank, one standard, and one duplicate were included within every 20 samples. Standard materials are certified reference materials (CRMs) from OREAS and CDN; the suite of standards contains a range of Ag, Au, Cu, Pb, and Zn values. Blanks and standards have been used to confirm the validity of the analytical results.

Samples were analyzed by ALS Limited. Sample preparation was performed at their Zacatecas, Mexico, prep facility, and analyses were performed at the Vancouver, Canada, analytical facility. All elements except Au and Hg were analyzed by a multi-element geochemistry method utilizing a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS detection [ME-MS61m]; mercury was analyzed after a separate aqua regia digest by ICP-MS. Overlimit assays for Ag, Pb, and Zn were conducted using the OG62 method (multi-acid digest with ICP-AES/AAS finish). Gold was measured by fire-assay with an ICP-AES finish [50g sample, Au-ICP22].

Trenching Results

A summary of the sampling from the recently completed trenching program is as follows:

Item

Details

Average grade

Ag ppm

Minimum grade Ag ppm

Maximum grade

Ag ppm

Number of trenches sampled

152

-

-

-

Trenched meters

1098

-

-

-

Number of channel samples collected

1016

-

-

-

Total length of Veta Grande sampled

2.1 km

-

-

-

Veta Grande vein samples

142

147.5

0.11

1480

Samples of unconsolidated trench debris

60

205.36

7.95

1375


Figure 1. San Acacio property, showing the locations of the recently completed trenchesFigure 1. San Acacio property, showing the locations of the recently completed trenches


Individual channel sampling highlights from the trenching program include:

On November 14th, 2025, the Company released the highlights from the 2024-2025 trench sampling program. The following Table shows those highlights. Additional details from the trenching and sampling program are located in that news release. Full results from that sampling program are located at the bottom of this summary.

Trench

From (m)

To (m)

Length (m)

Ag ppm

Au ppm

Pb%

Zn%

Cu%

CHSA-24-001

0.00

1.40

1.40

130.0

0.39

0.70

2.10

0.03

CHSA-24-005

0.00

4.53

4.53

495.1

0.12

0.65

0.22

0.04

including

0.00

2.60

2.60

709.6

0.18

0.58

0.22

0.05

CHSA-24-006

0.87

2.29

1.42

499.0

0.44

1.08

1.11

0.04

CHSA-24-027

0.00

7.58

7.58

517.5

0.37

0.19

0.33

0.03

including

0.00

3.68

3.68

736.23

0.56

0.25

0.36

0.02

CHSA-24-028

0.00

0.50

0.50

682.0

0.26

4.09

0.19

0.06

CHSA-24-029

0.00

0.30

0.30

1480.0

0.32

3.13

0.20

0.06

CHSA-24-030

0.00

1.45

1.45

1050.0

0.23

1.52

0.16

0.07

CHSA-24-031

0.00

1.70

1.70

507.4

3.27

3.35

1.07

0.18

CHSA-24-032

0.00

3.25

3.25

354.6

4.16

4.16

0.52

0.10

CHSA-24-033

0.00

2.20

2.20

243.5

0.14

1.25

0.21

0.05

CHSA-24-037

0.00

2.35

2.35

295.9

0.46

1.16

2.37

0.10

CHSA-24-040

0.00

5.35

5.35

113.8

0.07

1.30

0.30

0.05

CHSA-24-041

0.00

2.65

2.65

322.2

0.06

0.14

0.34

0.01

and

3.65

6.55

2.90

256.1

0.04

0.07

0.14

0.00

CHSA-24-047

5.30

7.40

2.10

197.7

0.12

0.05

0.08

0.01

CHSA-24-048

0.00

4.75

4.75

181.5

0.33

0.30

0.25

0.02

CHSA-24-053

0.00

5.70

5.70

125.2

0.19

0.14

0.25

0.01

CHSA-24-056

0.00

5.67

5.67

240.1

0.19

0.17

0.44

0.01

CHSA-24-078

7.61

11.21

3.60

334.5

0.05

0.03

0.12

0.01

CHSA-24-083

0.00

4.70

4.70

143.9

0.02

0.05

0.12

0.00

CHSA-24-090

0.00

8.64

8.64

251.1

0.09

0.05

0.16

0.01

including

4.77

6.27

1.50

954.2

0.45

0.20

0.36

0.01

CHSA-25-101

0.00

1.55

1.55

289.5

0.78

0.04

0.14

0.01

CHSA-25-103

0.00

2.30

2.30

169.1

0.05

0.11

0.32

0.01

CHSA-25-106

11.20

20.50

9.30

101.6

0.10

0.17

0.39

0.01

CHSA-25-107

14.15

18.40

4.25

407.8

0.21

0.15

0.18

0.02

including

16.25

17.65

1.40

1045.0

0.47

0.35

0.27

0.03

CHSA-25-110

0.00

10.40

10.40

110.1

0.35

0.20

0.08

0.01

including

6.00

6.85

0.85

1155.0

4.12

2.31

0.24

0.02

CHSA-25-116

4.85

5.45

0.60

5180.0

4.85

0.74

0.08

0.01

CHSA-25-117

7.65

8.90

1.25

579.0

0.65

0.66

0.63

0.03

CHSA-25-119

0.00

2.70

2.70

257.8

0.18

0.19

0.20

0.02

including

0.00

0.90

0.90

693.0

0.50

0.48

0.33

0.03

CHSA-25-122

4.80

7.20

2.40

259.0

0.09

0.07

0.15

0.01

CHSA-25-123

0.00

3.90

3.90

111.5

0.06

0.03

0.12

0.01

CHSA-25-130

3.10

8.95

5.85

103.9

0.94

2.66

0.01

0.04


Figure 2. Almaden and Carolina area trench locations


A total of 76 trenches (from CHSA-24-01 to CHSA-24-76) were dug and sampled in the area known as the Almaden-Carolina pits. Most of the samples returned values over 60 g/t and up to 1480 Ag (Figure 2).

Figure 3. Esperanza and Guadalupe area trench locations


A total of 49 trenches (from CHSA-24-77 to CHSA-24-125) were dug and sampled in the area known as the Esperanza-Guadalupe pits. Most of the samples returned values over 60 g/t and up to 5180 g/t Ag (Figure 3).

Figure 4. San Acacio SE area trench locations

A total of 28 trenches (from CHSA-25-126 to CHSA-24-153) were dug and sampled in the area known as San Acacio Southeast. Most of the samples returned concentration of less than 60 g/t Ag (Figure 4).


Full results from that sampling program


Trench ID

From

(m)

To (m)

Length (m)

Ag ppm

Au ppm

Pb %

Zn %

Cu %

Material Type*

CHSA-24-001

0

1.4

1.4

130.0

0.39

0.70

2.10

0.03

a

CHSA-24-002

0

3.52

3.52

107.4

0.31

0.08

0.37

0.01

a

Including

5.77

7.44

1.67

111.8

0.08

0.07

0.32

0.01

a

CHSA-24-003

15.3

16.74

1.44

162.5

0.02

0.04

0.14

0.01

b

CHSA-24-004

0

5.39

5.39

213.7

0.07

0.10

0.26

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-005

0

4.53

4.53

495.1

0.12

0.65

0.22

0.04

a

Including

0

2.6

2.6

709.6

0.18

0.58

0.22

0.05

a

CHSA-24-006

0

5.49

5.49

213.0

0.22

0.53

0.81

0.03

a,b

Including

0.87

2.29

1.42

499.0

0.44

1.08

1.11

0.04

a

CHSA-24-007

0

12.82

12.82

131.6

0.08

0.54

0.30

0.03

a,b

Including

0

3.38

3.38

210.9

0.12

1.24

0.26

0.06

a

CHSA-24-008

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-009

0

1.38

1.38

208.2

0.03

1.44

0.40

0.05

a

CHSA-24-010

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-011

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-012

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-013

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-014

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-014

17.78

20.3

2.52

101.0

0.08

0.01

0.07

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-015

8.5

9.8

1.3

122.0

0.04

0.01

0.16

0.01

a

CHSA-24-016

0

1.7

1.7

122.5

0.03

0.03

0.28

0.01

a

CHSA-24-017

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-018

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-019

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-020

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-020

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-021

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-022

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-023

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-024

0

1.4

1.4

676.0

0.18

0.07

0.21

0.01

b

CHSA-24-025

0

1.5

1.5

107.0

0.08

0.06

0.23

0.01

b

CHSA-24-026

CHSA-24-027

0

7.58

7.58

517.5

0.37

0.19

0.33

0.03

a

Including

CHSA-24-027

0

3.68

3.68

736.2

0.56

0.25

0.36

0.02

a

CHSA-24-028

0

0.5

0.5

682.0

0.26

4.09

0.19

0.06

a

CHSA-24-029

0

0.3

0.3

1480.0

0.32

3.13

0.20

0.06

a

CHSA-24-030

0

1.45

1.45

1050.0

0.23

1.52

0.16

0.07

a

CHSA-24-031

0

1.7

1.7

507.4

3.27

3.35

1.07

0.18

a

CHSA-24-031

CHSA-24-032

0

3.25

3.25

354.6

4.16

4.16

0.52

0.10

a

CHSA-24-033

0

2.2

2.2

243.5

0.14

1.25

0.21

0.05

a

CHSA-24-033

CHSA-24-034

0

0.6

0.6

690.0

0.68

0.66

0.21

0.03

a

CHSA-24-035

0

0.8

0.8

325.0

0.19

0.49

0.08

0.02

a

CHSA-24-036

0

0.7

0.7

200.0

0.09

0.43

0.11

0.03

a

CHSA-24-037

0

6.85

6.85

136.1

0.19

0.48

3.20

0.07

a,b

Including

0

2.35

2.35

295.9

0.46

1.16

2.37

0.10

a

CHSA-24-038

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-039

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-040

0

5.35

5.35

113.8

0.07

1.30

0.30

0.05

a

CHSA-24-041

0

6.55

6.55

270.2

0.05

0.10

0.26

0.01

a,b

Including

1.25

4.35

3.1

366.7

0.06

0.14

0.37

0.01

a,b

Including

1.25

2.65

1.4

451.0

0.07

0.20

0.35

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-042

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-043

0

3

3

120.3

0.02

0.02

0.11

0.01

a

CHSA-24-044

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-045

0

3

3

106.6

0.06

0.05

0.40

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-045

13.3

15.75

2.45

115.3

0.03

0.02

0.24

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-046

1.7

4.5

2.8

105.1

0.07

0.02

0.06

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-047

0

7.4

7.4

122.2

0.09

0.05

0.19

0.02

a,b

Including

5.3

7.4

2.1

197.7

0.12

0.05

0.08

0.01

a

CHSA-24-048

0

4.75

4.75

181.5

0.33

0.30

0.25

0.02

a

CHSA-24-049

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-050

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-051

0

3.15

3.15

141.6

0.07

0.08

0.17

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-052

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-053

0

5.7

5.7

125.2

0.19

0.14

0.25

0.01

a

CHSA-24-054

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-055

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-056

0

7.03

7.03

233.3

0.23

0.17

0.55

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-056

0

1.9

1.9

454.7

0.07

0.10

0.48

0.01

a

CHSA-24-057

0

11.2

11.2

152.6

0.06

0.06

0.67

0.01

a,b

Including

2.75

3.6

0.85

475.7

0.11

0.04

2.17

0.01

a

CHSA-24-058

1.2

9.98

8.78

134.1

0.14

0.18

0.28

0.02

b

CHSA-24-059

0

1.7

1.7

125.1

0.12

0.08

0.28

0.02

b

CHSA-24-060

0

1.1

1.1

163.0

0.13

0.32

0.34

0.05

b

CHSA-24-061

0

1.37

1.37

673.0

1.35

1.47

0.71

0.04

b

CHSA-24-062

0

1.25

1.25

392.2

0.57

0.52

0.79

0.04

b

CHSA-24-063

Values < 100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-064

0

1.04

1.04

208.0

0.44

0.59

0.64

0.03

b

CHSA-24-065

0

1.15

1.15

203.0

1.02

4.06

2.31

0.17

b

CHSA-24-066

0

1.68

1.68

1145.0

0.87

1.57

3.13

0.13

b

CHSA-24-067

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-068

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-069

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-070

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-071

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-072

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-073

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-074

0

2.3

2.3

108.1

0.07

0.04

0.15

0.01

b

CHSA-24-075

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-076

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-077

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-078

0

14.36

14.36

146.0

0.02

0.01

0.09

0.01

a,b

Including

7.61

11.21

3.6

334.5

0.05

0.03

0.12

0.01

a

CHSA-24-079

0

0.75

0.75

225.0

0.01

0.04

0.06

0.00

a

CHSA-24-080

0

1.05

1.05

163.0

0.01

0.04

0.08

0.00

a

CHSA-24-081

0

1

1

216.0

0.05

0.04

0.22

0.01

a

CHSA-24-082

0

5.08

5.08

110.5

0.02

0.02

0.07

0.00

a,b

CHSA-24-083

0

4.7

4.7

143.9

0.02

0.05

0.12

0.00

a

CHSA-24-084

0

0.5

0.5

147.0

0.01

0.02

0.08

0.00

a

CHSA-24-085

0

2.98

2.98

124.8

0.01

0.02

0.08

0.01

a,b

CHSA-24-086

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-087

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-088

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-089

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-090

0

8.64

8.64

251.1

0.09

0.05

0.16

0.01

a,b

Including

4.77

6.27

1.5

954.2

0.45

0.20

0.36

0.01

a

CHSA-24-091

0

6.3

6.3

124.4

0.02

0.02

0.06

0.01

b

Including

Including

0

3.15

3.15

178.8

0.03

0.03

0.08

0.01

b

CHSA-24-092

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-24-093

1.15

6.07

4.92

108.8

0.01

0.01

0.04

0.00

a,b

CHSA-24-094

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-095

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-096

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-097

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-098

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-099

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-100

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-101

0

1.55

1.55

289.5

0.78

0.04

0.14

0.01

a

CHSA-25-102

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-103

0

2.3

2.3

169.1

0.05

0.11

0.32

0.01

a

CHSA-25-104

2.65

7.75

5.1

103.4

0.12

0.24

0.24

0.01

a,b

CHSA-25-105

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-106

11.2

20.5

9.3

101.6

0.10

0.17

0.39

0.01

a,b

Including

16.9

18.5

1.6

185.8

0.32

0.74

0.34

0.03

a,b

CHSA-25-107

0

19.6

19.6

129.9

0.08

0.05

0.11

0.01

a,b

Including

14.15

18.4

4.25

407.8

0.21

0.15

0.18

0.02

a

Including

16.25

17.65

1.4

1045.0

0.47

0.35

0.27

0.03

a

CHSA-25-108

12.55

12.95

0.4

122.0

0.07

0.05

0.11

0.01

a,b

CHSA-25-109

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-110

0

10.4

10.4

110.1

0.35

0.20

0.08

0.01

a

Including

6

6.85

0.85

1155.0

4.12

2.31

0.24

0.02

a

CHSA-25-111

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-112

0

4.5

4.5

102.5

0.05

0.09

0.15

0.01

a,b

Including

0.65

1.8

1.15

163.8

0.04

0.08

0.09

0.01

a

CHSA-25-114

3.95

6.35

2.4

191.0

0.04

0.02

0.09

0.01

a,b

CHSA-25-115

0

5.5

5.5

272.3

0.03

0.07

0.21

0.02

a,b

Including

2

5.5

3.5

426.3

0.04

0.12

0.30

0.01

a

CHSA-25-116

0

8.9

8.9

548.7

0.50

0.13

0.24

0.01

a,b

Including

2.5

5.45

2.95

1439.9

1.33

0.28

0.27

0.01

a,b

Including

4.85

5.45

0.6

5180.0

4.85

0.74

0.08

0.01

a

CHSA-25-117

0

8.9

8.9

253.5

0.13

0.18

0.30

0.01

a,b

Including

7.65

8.9

1.25

579.0

0.65

0.66

0.63

0.03

a

CHSA-25-118

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-119

0

2.7

2.7

257.8

0.18

0.19

0.20

0.02

a

Including

0

0.9

0.9

693.0

0.50

0.48

0.33

0.03

a

CHSA-25-120

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-121

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-122

0

7.2

7.2

123.2

0.04

0.01

0.10

0.01

a,b

Including

4.8

7.2

2.4

259.0

0.09

0.07

0.15

0.01

a

CHSA-25-123

0

3.9

3.9

111.5

0.06

0.03

0.12

0.01

a,b

CHSA-25-124

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-125

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-126

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-127

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-128

0

3.45

3.45

102.7

0.00

0.01

0.05

0.01

a,b

Including

2.15

3.05

0.9

411.7

0.01

0.02

0.15

0.03

a,b

CHSA-25-129

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-130

3.1

8.95

5.85

103.9

0.94

2.66

0.01

0.04

a

CHSA-25-131

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-132

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-133

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-134

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-135

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-136

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-137

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-138

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-139

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-140

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-141

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-142

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-143

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-144

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-145

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-146

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-147

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-148

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-149

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-150

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-151

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-152

Values <100ppm Ag

CHSA-25-153

Values <100ppm Ag

* Material Type:

a- exposed vein

b- unconsolidated trench debris