Orestone Mining Corp. (ORS:TSXV; ORESF; OTC; O2R2:FSE) announced initial assay results from the Phase 1 exploration program in the Francisca Gold project in Salta Province, Argentina, on May 7, 2026. The program has included resampling of existing areas to confirm historical data.

At the South Gold zone, mapping indicated a stockwork width from 40-70 meters, averaging 50 meters along a 400-500-meter strike length. Results indicated that the zone is comprised of highly sericite argillic altered porphyry and hornfels host rocks cut by a dense stockwork of thin light brown limonite veinlets with thin dark quartz vein centers and thicker dark limonite quartz veins that are both vertical and shallow dipping.

Notably:

• Trench T7 was sampled over a length of 72.31 meters with two well mineralized intervals encountered; 36.97 meters grading 0.78 g/t gold with 7.20 g/t silver and 11.72 meters grading 0.58 g/t gold with 4.80 g/t silver. These intervals are separated by a low-grade mineralized interval of 9.40 meters.
• Trench T8 was sampled over a length of 83.93 meters with two well mineralized intervals encountered; 23.47 meters grading 4.71 g/t gold with 28.54 g/t silver and 11.72 meters grading 1.95 g/t gold with 12.11 g/t silver. These intervals are separated by a low-grade mineralized interval of 13.18 meters.

The company said that assay results for the first two trenches at Francisca compare favorably to historically reported data and confirm that a robust gold-silver mineralized stockwork system is exposed on the surface.

David Hottman, Orestone’s CEO, stated in the release, “These initial gold and silver results from Francisca are very encouraging and demonstrate that a robust gold system is present and exposed on the surface. Results from the recent exploration program are being compiled in preparation for Phase I drilling program to test this large gold target. Our goal is to define a gold-silver deposit that can be mined by open pit.”

Orestone is a Canadian company, and its portfolio includes exposure to gold, silver, and copper on properties in Canada and Argentina. The company can earn up to 85% interest in the Francisca property, noting that exploration can be conducted all year and that the area has good infrastructure due to other mining projects.

Gold & Silver Still Rising

Investors have been steadily watching conflict in the Middle East, concerned that rising oil prices will give way to unchecked inflation. Those fears have been causing wavering investment sentiments about gold, a traditionally safe-haven metal. However, investors are starting to calm. In a May 7, 2026, article, Kitco wrote: “Spot gold prices are firmer, and spot silver prices are sharply higher in early U.S. trading Thursday, supported by lower crude oil prices, a softer U.S. dollar, and lower Treasury yields as traders price in progress toward a U.S.-Iran deal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. At the time of writing, spot gold was trading near US$4,744.80 an ounce, up 1.17%.” Silver prices are also trending up.

This news comes as gold is in the middle of an unprecedented metals market, with gold and silver rising. On May 5, Yahoo Finance wrote that, “. . . between March 2025 and March 2026, gold’s price rose from US$3,019 to US$4,447 per troy ounce, a 47% increase.” Contributing factors saw significant movement during the COVID pandemic, and with the weakening of the U.S. Dollar and geopolitical tensions, the metal saw a 65% increase in 2025 alone.

Investors are putting weight behind the tense ceasefire between the two nations despite reports over the weekend that hostilities from both countries had hit the Strait of Hormuz. Both the U.S. and Iran fired on each other’s ships, though the U.S. has dismissed Iran’s claim that missiles struck an American ship.

‘A Company Worth Watching’ Analyst Says

¹In a March 16, 2026, contributed technical analyst opinion for Streetwise Reports, John Newell of John Newell & Associates gave Orestone a ‘Speculative Buy’ rating, noting that the stock had achieved its previous price target of CA$0.15. Newell has set the second target at CA$0.23 and the third target at CA$0.40. Regarding the company’s projects, Newell discussed the Captain target in British Columbia and the Francisca target in Argentina, saying, “Because these projects are located in opposite hemispheres, exploration programs can often advance in one jurisdiction while seasonal conditions slow activity in the other. This creates the potential for more consistent exploration progress and year-round catalysts, something investors often look for in junior discovery stories.”

Newell concluded his opinion with this: “With gold and copper markets strengthening and exploration programs advancing, Orestone is a company worth watching in the junior exploration sector.”

Upcoming Plans

Further information regarding additional prospecting and mapping results to the north and south of the known gold-silver zones on the Francisca property will be released in the near future. 

Ownership & Share Information²

Orestone Mining Corp. has a market cap of CA$7,504,288 million, with 106,993,563 shares outstanding. The company’s 52-week range is CA$0.04-CA$0.175.

Institutions own 8.13% of shares, while Management & Insiders own 8.00%. The remaining 83.87% of shares are held by Retail.