Mercado Minerals Signs LOI to Acquire La Franca within the Zamora Project and Samples 1.00 Metre of 1.53 kg/t Silver and 1.39 g/t Gold

Mercado Minerals Ltd. (CSE: MERC) (OTCQB: MRMNF) (" Mercado " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent ( " LOI " ) to purchase the La Franca concession ( " La Franca " ) surrounded by Mercado's Campanillas concession on the Zamora project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Once a Definitive Agreement is signed, it is structured as a three year option agreement to acquire 100% subject to a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty ( " NSR " or " Royalty " ).

Consolidation of the Campanillas area unlocks 750 metres of mineralized veining that has never been drill tested.

High grade silver and gold surface chip sampling results from La Franca returned multiple high-grade intervals, including 1.00 metre of 1.53 kg/t silver and 1.39 g/t gold (1501 g/t AgEq 1 ) and 0.80 metre of 534 g/t silver and 3.58 g/t gold (757 g/t AgEq) .

Consolidation of the La Franca and Campanillas concessions unlocks 750 metres of combined vein strike extent of high-grade silver and gold mineralization that has never been drill tested

2026 chip Sampling from the La Franca segment of the vein returned: 1.00 metre of 1530 g/t silver and 1.39 g/t gold (1501 g/t AgEq) 0.80 metre of 534 g/t silver and 3.58 g/t gold (757 g/t AgEq) 3.00 metres (true width) of 229 g/t silver, and 1.12 g/t gold (295 g/t AgEq)

Historic Samples from the La Franca segment of the vein returned: 1,720 g/t silver and 12.96 g/t gold (2,530 AgEq) in a stope wallrock grab sample 460 g/t silver and 2.90 g/t gold (634 AgEq) in a 42 kg blended underground grab sample

The Company intends to initiate the process to apply for permits to drill test Campanillas - La Franca immediately

Daniel Rodriguez CEO & Director commented: "The 2026 results at La Franca, together with the historical data, confirm why we want to acquire the concession. Consolidating La Franca with the Campanillas segment of the vein gives us 750 metres of combined vein strike extent of high-grade silver and gold mineralization at Zamora that has never been drill tested, including multiple results exceeding one kilogram per tonne in silver. Our team's field mapping and sampling have built the confidence to move forward with permitting and advancing Mercado's inaugural diamond drill program to test this vein system and unlock its full potential."

Table 1. La Franca Vein Surface Chip Sampling Results 1 Sample ID Sample Type Sample Length (m) Lithology Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb % Zn % AgEq    (g/t) G874272 chip 0.80 Quartz Vein 534 3.58 1.39 0.74 757 G874273 chip 0.60 Quartz Vein 189 0.12 0.85 0.70 184 G874274 chip 0.60 Quartz Vein 45 0.09 0.30 0.34 49 G874275 chip 0.80 Quartz Vein 216 0.70 0.72 0.21 251 G874276 chip 1.10 Quartz Vein 126 1.54 0.60 0.35 231 G874277 chip 0.70 Silicified Andesite 38 0.23 0.38 0.58 53 G874278 chip 1.00 Quartz Vein 14 0.12 0.12 0.55 23 G874279 chip 0.90 Quartz Vein 19 0.09 0.14 0.46 25 G874280 chip 0.60 Quartz Vein 21 0.11 0.51 0.15 28 G874296 chip 1.00 Silicified Andesite 119 0.36 0.82 1.40 139 G874297 chip 0.60 Quartz Stockworked Andesite 32 0.04 0.12 0.43 34 G874298 chip 0.90 Quartz Vein 99 0.12 0.32 0.35 100 G874299 chip 0.90 Silicified Andesite 65 0.14 0.69 1.14 73 G874300 chip 0.80 Quartz Vein 1530 1.39 2.11 0.84 1501   1 Silver-equivalent values are calculated assuming typical recoveries based on metallurgical studies conducted on analogous epithermal vein deposits and are not necessarily reflective of metallurgy on the property. No metallurgical work has been reported on the property. The recoveries used are 91% silver, 94% gold, 70% lead, and 75% zinc. The silver - equivalent formula is: ((24 * silver (g/t)*0.91 / 31.1035) + (1900 * gold (g/t)*0.94 / 31.1035) + (0.90 * 2204 * lead %*0.7/100) + (1.10 * 2204 * zinc %0.75/100))(31.1035 / 24). Metal price assumptions are US$24/oz silver, US$1900/oz gold, US$0.90/lb lead and US$1.10/lb ...