Hole APC143-D2, the deepest and northeasternmost hole drilled to date in the Ramp Zone, increases the mineralized envelope to 315 metres along strike by 300 metres vertically -[...]

Hole APC143-D2, the deepest and northeasternmost hole drilled to date in the Ramp Zone, increases the mineralized envelope to 315 metres along strike by 300 metres vertically - and remains open in all directions.

TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for two orthogonally directed diamond drill holes designed to continue expanding the high-grade Ramp Zone ("Ramp") along strike northwards and at depth. The Ramp Zone is located at the bottom of the Apollo system ("Apollo") beginning at approximately 1,000 metres above sea level. Apollo is a large, partially Reduced Intrusion Related System enriched in gold, silver, copper and tungsten. Drilling to date at Apollo has outlined continuous mineralization from surface to, as of today, more than 1,400 vertical metres. The high-grade Ramp Zone remains open in all directions. Apollo anchors the Company's flagship Guayabales Project - a district-scale, multi-target and infrastructure-rich project in Caldas, Colombia.

Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: "Today's step-out hole from the Ramp Zone is a classic example of how exceptional geological discoveries deliver consistent positive surprises. This intercept not only marks the highest-grade gold interval ever drilled at Ramp but also demonstrates remarkable continuity of mineralization across the interval. With the Ramp Zone now measuring 315 metres along strike by 300 metres vertically - and remaining open in all directions - we are increasingly confident that Ramp will be a major value driver as we ramp up expansion drilling aggressively into 2026."

To watch a video of David Reading, Special Advisor, explain today's results please click on the link here.

Key Highlights (see Table 1-2 and Figures 1-7)

To date, Collective has completed 154,500 metres of diamond drilling across the Guayabales and San Antonio projects, including 107,500 metres at the flagship Apollo system. Ten rigs are currently turning, with multiple high-priority holes at both projects pending assays.

With US$135 million in cash (as of December 1, 2025), the Company is fully funded for its planned, 2026 program, which targets up to 100,000 metres of additional drilling.

Details (see Table 1-2 and Figures 1-7)

APC143-D2 was drilled as a wedge hole from mother hole APC-143D from Pad 19 in a southerly direction and successfully extended the Ramp Zone by 30 metres vertically and by 15 metres in strike with assays results as follows:

APC140-D3 was drilled as a wedge hole from mother hole APC-140D from Pad 29 to the southwest and is interpreted to been vertically offset by faulting as it intersected the Ramp Zone 100 metres vertically below previous drill hole APC140-D2 (see in press release dated December 3, 2025) with assays results as follows:

The Ramp Zone, which commences at approximately 1,000 metres above sea level, is classified as a reduced intrusion-related gold system with similarities, in terms of mineralogy, to the nearby Marmato Deeps deposit, owned by Aris Mining. Located just 1.75 kilometres apart, both systems begin at the same elevation and the gold-and-silver-bearing sulphide assemblages in the Ramp Zone closely resemble those at Marmato Deeps. Mineralization occurs with pyrite and pyrrhotite, accompanied by minor bismuth, tellurium, and locally arsenopyrite bearing sulphides, hosted in veinlet stockworks, cracks and miarolitic cavities. Alteration is dominated by muscovite, albite and sericite.

A key distinguishing feature at Ramp is the significantly higher gold grades encountered to date compared to Marmato Deeps. The Company attributes this superior grade profile primarily to the host rock: mineralization at the Ramp Zone is emplaced within a porous breccia matrix, which provides substantially greater permeability for metal-bearing fluids than the precursor porphyry host rock at Marmato Deeps.