Morocco Strategic Minerals Announces Major Option Agreement in Western High Atlas
MONTRÉAL, April 20, 2026 — Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation (TSXV: MCC) has taken a significant step in expanding its mineral portfolio through a comprehensive option agreement with Moroccan mining company MNF Groupe Inc., a subsidiary of Broychim S.A. The agreement, dated April 15, 2026, grants MCC exclusive rights to acquire up to an 80% interest in a substantial collection of mineral assets located in Morocco's Western High Atlas region.
Comprehensive Asset Portfolio
The option agreement encompasses five exploitation licences, including the Tanfit Mine (373220), Ijoukak (373221), Amsghni (373422), Aït Zekri Mine (393506), and Ighrm (393505). Additionally, the package includes two research permits covering Tamadghoust (3941791) and Tizgui (3942613), along with environmental authorization for constructing a central flotation plant in the Ouneine Valley, specifically attached to licences 393506 and 393505.
In a parallel development, the company has secured a separate option to acquire 100% interest in the Ouneine Mine (licence 393512). If both options are exercised, MCC's regional portfolio would expand to include six exploitation licences, two research permits, and the environmental authorization for the flotation plant construction.
Historical Mining Camp with Modern Potential
This transaction provides MCC with access to a historical copper-gold-silver mining camp spanning more than 57 square kilometers in Morocco's Western High Atlas. The property package contains multiple past-producing mines, extensive underground workings, mineralized structures, legacy production centers, and existing stockpiles within a consolidated land position.
The most significant historical operations include the Tanfit (copper-silver), Ouneine (copper-silver), and Aït Zekri (gold-silver) mines. According to company analysis, the primary opportunity lies in the contrast between the well-documented historical mineral endowment and the limited extent of modern, systematic exploration conducted to date.
Mineralization Characteristics
Across the Ouneine–Ijoukak area, mineralization is associated with repeated faulting, quartz veining, sulphide development, hydrothermal brecciation, and strong alteration, with structures extending along kilometre-scale trends. At the Aït Zekri site, gold-bearing structures feature multiple parallel and converging zones mapped both at surface and underground levels.
Copper represents the most significant historical production driver, with the Tanfit and Ouneine mines serving as principal centers of past copper extraction. Historical production data from Tanfit between the 1960s and early 1970s reportedly yielded concentrate grades ranging from 25% to 29% copper, with later operations processing ore grading approximately 2.0% to 2.1% copper at metallurgical recoveries near 85%.
At Ouneine, historical reports describe multiple copper-bearing veins hosted within Cambrian rocks, with hand-sorted material reportedly yielding concentrates grading approximately 27% copper with silver values around 250 grams per tonne.
Recent Sampling Results
Recent surface and underground sampling conducted by MCC at Tanfit and Ouneine has confirmed the presence of high-grade copper mineralization. At Tanfit, results returned values of up to 23.76% copper and 137 grams per tonne silver, with an average of 10.4% copper across selected samples. At Ouneine, results returned up to 16.03% copper, with an average of 7.3% copper across selected samples.
It is important to note that historical production figures and referenced data are historical in nature and should not be relied upon as indicative of current mineral resources or mineral reserves. A Qualified Person has not verified these data and has not completed sufficient work to classify them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The company is not treating these historical data as such.
These sampling results highlight the strong potential of these vein-hosted systems, with additional upside potential from historical stockpiles that remain on the properties. The district-scale agreement positions Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation as a significant player in Morocco's mineral exploration sector, with substantial opportunities for resource development in the Western High Atlas region.
