VANCOUVER, BC, June 9, 2026 — Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSE American: TMQ) (TSX: TMQ) has announced the commencement of its 2026 summer field program at the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) located in northwestern Alaska's Ambler Mining District. With field crews successfully mobilized to the site, the company is set to advance its high-grade Arctic copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver project towards a construction decision.

1. Key Highlights of the Summer Field Program

Fully Funded Initiative: The program is entirely financed and aims to progress the Arctic Project towards construction, incorporating essential technical, environmental, and exploration milestones.

Target Assessments: The initiative will include drilling along a 100-kilometer volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) belt, laying the groundwork for district-wide exploration planning for 2027.

Bornite Camp Upgrades: Improvements to the Bornite camp are expected to facilitate accelerated exploration and development efforts in the coming year.

Leadership Changes: Ron Rimelman has been appointed as the President of Ambler Metals, tasked with leading the joint venture through permitting and development phases.

2. The Ambler Metals Joint Venture

Trilogy Metals' ambition is represented through its joint venture, Ambler Metals LLC, a 50/50 partnership with South32 Limited. The UKMP encompasses approximately 190,929 hectares and includes both the Arctic and Bornite deposits. The Arctic deposit stands out as one of the highest-grade, undeveloped open-pittable copper deposits globally, boasting an estimated average grade of around 5% copper equivalent.

Tony Giardini, President and CEO of Trilogy, expressed enthusiasm for the commencement of fieldwork, highlighting the significance of this fully funded program as a turning point for the joint venture. He emphasized the positive momentum generated from recent permit submissions and the Arctic project's inclusion on the FAST-41 permitting dashboard.

3. Field Operations and Exploration Goals

The 2026 field season marks a shift from planning to execution for Ambler Metals. The program will involve approximately 40 drill holes aimed at finalizing the engineering plans for the Arctic mine. A minimum of 5,400 meters of drilling is targeted, focusing on areas critical for mine design, infrastructure placement, and the permitting process.

Plans also include deepening select drill holes to explore additional targets along the Arctic mineral horizon, particularly those associated with airborne electromagnetic anomalies suggestive of VMS mineralization.

Bornite Camp Preparations

Efforts at the Bornite camp will concentrate on readying the site for increased exploration and development activity in 2027. The Bornite deposit, estimated to produce 1.9 billion pounds of copper over a projected 17-year mine life, has the potential to extend the mining operations in the district beyond 30 years.

4. Regional Exploration Efforts

Alongside core drilling and camp preparations, the field program will conduct regional exploration to advance known mineral occurrences across the UKMP. With approximately 30 historic VMS occurrences and electromagnetic anomalies in the area, the groundwork laid in 2026 aims to facilitate future drilling campaigns.

5. Leadership Appointment: Ron Rimelman

In a strategic move, Trilogy Metals has appointed Ron Rimelman as the President of Ambler Metals. With over 40 years of experience in environmental review and permitting, Rimelman is expected to play a crucial role in guiding the joint venture through the permitting process and eventual construction decisions. His extensive background includes senior roles in major resource projects and a strong advocacy for U.S. critical mineral mining.

6. Conclusion

As Trilogy Metals embarks on its 2026 summer field program at the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects, the company is poised to make significant strides in advancing its operations in Alaska’s Ambler Mining District. With the Arctic Project on the cusp of development and the strategic leadership of Ron Rimelman, Trilogy is set to enhance its position as a major player in North America's copper production landscape.

Original press release