ATEX's B2B Zone Drilling: A Game-Changer for Copper-Gold Potential

The junior base metals sector has languished in 2025 despite surging commodity prices, with operational cost inflation, regulatory burdens, and reserve depletion eroding profitability and shareholder returns according to the latest report. Against this backdrop, ATEX Resources Inc. (TSXV: ATX) has emerged as a rare bright spot, with its Valeriano Copper-Gold Project in Chile's Atacama Region delivering drilling results that could redefine the company's trajectory-and the sector's narrative.

A Sector in Structural Decline

Junior base metals explorers have struggled to capitalize on rising copper and gold prices, as structural challenges-including energy costs, capital intensity, and operational inefficiencies-have stifled growth according to industry analysis. This underperformance has created a valuation gap: many juniors trade at discounts to their intrinsic resource value, even as global demand for critical minerals accelerates. Yet, within this morass, ATEX's recent drilling at the B2B Zone offers a compelling counterpoint.

ATEX's B2B Zone: A High-Grade Catalyst

ATEX's Phase VI drilling campaign at Valeriano has yielded one of the most significant intercepts in the sector this year. Drill hole ATXD26B intersected 146 meters of 2.00% CuEq (1.30% Cu, 0.67 g/t Au), including a 54-meter core of 2.50% CuEq (1.58% Cu, 0.88 g/t Au) according to the company's press release. This result not only reinforces the high-grade nature of the B2B Zone but also suggests the potential for further expansion. The zone remains open down-dip by an estimated 100 meters, with historical intercepts like ATXD25C (164 meters at 2.77% CuEq) demonstrating consistent mineralization according to the same report.

The significance of these results lies in their scalability. The B2B Zone is part of a broader porphyry system that has expanded to over 500 meters of strike length, with mineralization persisting across multiple directions according to technical analysis. ATEX's updated mineral resource estimate-475 million tonnes of 0.88% CuEq indicated and 1.5 billion tonnes of 0.75% CuEq inferred according to the company's announcement-provides a robust foundation for future development, particularly as metallurgical recoveries remain strong.

Geological Promise in a Strategic District

Valeriano's position within Chile's copper-gold porphyry belt-a region historically responsible for a quarter of global copper production-adds to its allure. The project's intrusive system, characterized by continuous high-grade mineralization, suggests a large, economically viable deposit according to geological analysis. Recent drilling has extended the known footprint of the B2B Zone, with breccia zones and porphyry cores indicating a system that could rival regional benchmarks according to technical reports.

Pending Results: A Near-Term Catalyst

With over 600 meters of Phase VI results still pending according to the company's latest update, ATEX is poised to deliver further high-impact data in the coming months. These results could not only validate the continuity of the B2B Zone but also unlock new targets within the district. For investors, this represents a rare, near-term catalyst in a sector starved of actionable news.

Conclusion: Undervalued Potential in a Challenged Sector

ATEX's Valeriano Project exemplifies the power of geological clarity and strategic execution. While the junior base metals sector grapples with systemic headwinds, ATEX's drilling results and pending data position it as a standout exploration play. The B2B Zone's high-grade intercepts, combined with the district's expansion potential, offer a compelling case for re-rating-a rare opportunity in an otherwise undervalued space.