• Cease and Desist Order at Mankayan Project lifted, allowing exploration activities to resume
• Pre-Feasibility Study drilling to commence in the near future
• Mankayan Project hosts a substantial JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 793Mt @ 0.65% CuEq

Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) has announced that the Cease and Desist Order issued by the Municipal Mayor of Mankayan has been lifted, allowing exploration activities to resume at the Mankayan Copper-Gold Project in the Philippines. The Order had previously prevented exploration activities by Blackstone's affiliate, Crescent Mining & Development Corporation (CMDC). Since November, CMDC has worked collaboratively with local community groups, including indigenous peoples, as well as Regional and National Government bodies to achieve this positive outcome. Drilling activities in support of a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) are expected to commence in the near future. The Mankayan Project hosts a substantial JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 793Mt @ 0.65% CuEq, containing 2.8Mt Cu, 9.7Moz Au and 20.4Moz Ag. The Project is the fourth largest undeveloped copper project in the Philippines and is of international scale and relevance. With an Indicated JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 638Mt @ 0.68% CuEq containing 2.3Mt Cu, 8.2Moz Au & 18Moz Ag providing a strong foundation for development studies, efforts have now turned to initiating a PFS. The upcoming PFS drilling program will focus on testing potential extensions to the Project's high-grade zones, improving the understanding of the steeply-dipping mineralised veins, obtaining additional geotechnical data, and providing additional samples for the ongoing metallurgical test work.

Blackstone Minerals is focused on advancing the Mankayan Copper-Gold Project through a Pre-Feasibility Study, with drilling activities expected to commence in the near future. The company will continue to work collaboratively with local community groups, including indigenous peoples, as well as Regional and National Government bodies to support the responsible and efficient advancement of the project for the benefit of all stakeholders.