07:53 AM EST, 01/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Solaris Resources ( SLSR ) said Wednesday that it secured an option from Empresa Nacional Minera to acquire up to a 100% interest in highly prospective exploration areas located adjacent to the Warintza project in Ecuador.

The award expands Solaris' footprint around Warintza by about 40,000 hectares, the company said, adding that the newly optioned areas cover extensions of key geological trends continuous with Warintza.

Under the terms, Solaris will make a US$250,000 upfront payment, spend at least $25 million on exploration over four years, and invest up to US$1.75 million to achieve certain milestones.

Meanwhile, the company said prospecting activities within the Solaris 1 optioned areas identified compelling copper anomalies, with rock samples returning up to 8.38% copper.

Solaris said the environmental impact assessment is currently in the final stages of review, and it expects the project to be fully permitted in the second half.