Montana Copper Explorer Starts 9,000-Meter Drill Program at Smart Creek

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1. Disclosure for the quote from the Stewart Thomson article published on April 21, 2026:

1. For the quoted article (published on April 21, 2026), Domestic Metals has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$3,000.
2. Author Certification and Compensation: Stewart Thomson was retained and compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart for writing this article. Mr. Thomson is a retired Canadian financial advisor who has passed the Canadian Securities Course as well as additional technical analysis courses that were mandated by his former employer and approved by Ontario regulatory bodies. For the past 15 years, he has been editing and writing numerous financial newsletters that have a strong focus on charts.  The recommendations and opinions expressed in this content reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the companies discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly tied to the specific recommendations or views expressed.

2. Ownership and Share Structure Information

The information listed above was updated on the date this article was published and was compiled from information from the company and various other data providers.

Domestic Metals Corp. (DMCU:TSXV; DMCUF:OTCQB; 03E0:FSE) has begun a fully financed diamond drilling program of up to 9,000 meters at the Smart Creek Copper Porphyry Project in Montana.

The start of this campaign marks the first major drill test of targets refined over two years of modern exploration at the 8,000-hectare property.

Key Investor Takeaways

• Drilling of up to 9,000 meters is now underway at Smart Creek, targeting porphyry copper and carbonate replacement style mineralization.
• The project is held through a joint venture with Rio Tinto, which retains a 40 percent interest after Domestic Metals acquired the asset in August 2024.
• Previous drilling by Rio Tinto returned 109.73 meters grading 0.75 percent copper, including 89 meters at 0.97 percent copper.
• Initial assay results are expected six to eight weeks after drilling began, with news flow anticipated from visual core observations onward.
• Copper prices recently reached record levels on the London Metal Exchange, driven by AI data-center demand and potential U.S. tariffs.
• HoldCo Markets maintains a CA$0.75 per-share price target while technical analyst Stewart Thomson reiterated a Speculative Buy rating.¹

Copper prices have reached new record highs on the London Metal Exchange, with three-month futures exceeding US$14,500. This strength stems from supply constraints combined with surging demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure, power grids, and electric vehicles, according to a September 8 report from Callum Keown for Barron's.

Front-month copper futures in New York rose 2.8 percent to US$6.7800 per pound, surpassing the prior record, reported Greg Michalowski for Investing Live on September 7. The metal's elevated price environment creates a favorable backdrop for exploration companies advancing copper assets in stable jurisdictions.

Domestic Metals operates the Smart Creek project through a joint venture with Rio Tinto Plc (RIO:NYSE; RIO:ASX; RIO:LSE; RTNTF:OTCMKTS), which holds a 40 percent interest. The company acquired the asset in August 2024. The property lies roughly 50 kilometers northwest of the Butte Mine Complex; the Butte District is credited with producing 24.8 billion pounds of copper historically.

Modern exploration since the acquisition has integrated induced polarization geophysics, surface sampling, historical drilling data, and 3D modeling. This work defined two priority drill targets at the Smart Creek and Sunrise Mine areas. Surface samples collected during the 2025 field program returned values up to 102 grams per tonne gold, 23.1 percent copper, and 3,810 grams per tonne silver. Earlier Rio Tinto drilling at 26 of 40 permitted sites included a standout intercept of 109.73 meters grading 0.75 percent copper, including 89 meters at 0.97 percent copper in hole SMCR0022. 

The current program will test up to nine thousand meters in an estimated six to eight holes. KP Drilling of Arizona is conducting the work with a Longyear LF-90 D diamond rig. Four holes of approximately 600 to 800 meters each are planned at the Sunrise Mine target, with additional holes allocated to the Smart Creek target. The campaign is fully funded from existing treasury resources.

Chief Executive Officer Gordon Neal noted that rig availability delayed the start by several weeks, a common industry occurrence. Drilling is now active, and the program is expected to generate ongoing news flow beginning with visual observations from the core, followed by assay results.

Smart Creek benefits from a substantial historical database compiled by prior operators. Domestic Metals is the sixth company to drill the project and has combined older results with new Z-TEM, magnetic, and induced polarization data to refine targets. Rio Tinto remains a joint venture partner and continues to hold its 40 percent interest through the earn-in arrangement, providing the project with access to additional technical expertise when needed.

Broader copper market dynamics support the timing of the drill program. Developing a new copper supply takes many years due to the time required for discovery, permitting, financing, and construction. Existing mines face declining ore grades that increase costs and limit output growth. These supply-side constraints coincide with expanding demand from data centers, electrification, renewables, and defense spending.

Analyst coverage provides additional context for investors.

HoldCo Markets maintained its CA$0.75 per-share price target in a September 8 research note and highlighted the expectation of initial assay results within six to eight weeks.

¹Technical analyst Stewart Thomson reiterated a Speculative Buy rating on April 21, citing expanded geophysical targets and constructive chart patterns, including a bull triangle on the weekly chart and an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily chart.

As of September 8, Domestic Metals Corp. has a market capitalization of approximately CA$15.51 million with 71.92 million shares outstanding.

²Insiders and management hold about 13.57 percent of the company, with the balance held by retail investors. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of CA$0.16 to CA$0.41.

Common Questions from Investors

When will assay results be available? Initial assay results are expected approximately six to eight weeks after drilling commenced, with ongoing visual observations from core providing earlier updates.

How many holes are planned and at which targets? The program comprises an estimated six to eight holes totaling up to 9,000 meters, focused on the Smart Creek and Sunrise Mine targets.

What is the ownership structure of the project? Domestic Metals acquired Smart Creek in August 2024 and holds it through a joint venture in which Rio Tinto retains a 40 percent interest.

Is the drill program fully funded? Yes, the campaign is fully financed from the company's existing treasury without the need for additional capital raises at this stage.

What is the next scheduled investor event? Management will host a webinar on September 16 at 1:15 p.m. PDT to provide an update on the Smart Creek drill program. Registration is available through the company's webinar link.

Domestic Metals has positioned itself to test high-priority targets at Smart Creek at a time when copper market fundamentals remain constructive. The combination of prior high-grade intercepts, new geophysical data, and a fully funded drill program provides retail investors with a clear near-term catalyst path while the broader sector benefits from sustained demand growth and limited new supply.