Makenita expands Sisson West Tungsten Project to 22,665 acres

Makenita Resources Scales Sisson West Tungsten Project, Eyes Strategic Exploration in New Brunswick

Vancouver-based Makenita Resources has significantly bolstered its presence in Canada's critical minerals landscape, announcing on July 27, 2026, a substantial expansion of its Sisson West Tungsten Project in New Brunswick. The strategic acquisition of additional mineral claims has more than doubled the project's land footprint, growing from an initial 9,845 acres to an expansive 22,665 contiguous acres. This move places Makenita's holdings directly adjacent to the Sisson Tungsten Mine, a project operated by Northcliff Resources and notably designated as a "nation-building project" by the Canadian federal government.

The expansion underscores Makenita's proactive approach to capitalizing on compelling geological data and the growing global demand for critical minerals. With initial exploration results indicating high potential, the company is now set to advance its understanding of the Sisson West property's subsurface, potentially bringing a new source of tungsten to the fore.

Strategic Land Acquisition Bolsters Tungsten Aspirations

The decision to acquire a further 12,820 acres of mineral claims, effectively more than doubling Makenita's previous land position, was a direct response to promising initial geophysical data. Companies in the early-stage exploration sector often manage significant land packages, but a targeted expansion like this in a known mineralized trend highlights a company's confidence in its technical assessment. The Sisson West project's new boundaries now form a direct contiguous border with the established Sisson Tungsten Mine, a critical asset managed by Northcliff Resources. This proximity is particularly significant as it suggests Makenita's claims may host extensions of the same geological structures and mineralization that define the Sisson deposit.

For exploration and mining companies, securing land positions adjacent to major, established deposits is a fundamental strategy. It allows them to leverage existing geological knowledge, proven mineralization models, and, crucially, access to potential infrastructure benefits in the future. In the context of the Sisson project, this strategic positioning offers Makenita a distinctive advantage, placing it within a highly prospective region recognized for its industrial and strategic mineral potential.

Geophysical Insights Drive Expansion Decisions

Makenita's calculated land expansion at Sisson West was not arbitrary; it was firmly rooted in robust technical analysis. The catalyst for this move was the initial results derived from a comprehensive airborne magnetic survey conducted earlier in 2026. Airborne geophysical surveys, such as magnetic surveys, are invaluable tools in early-stage mineral exploration. They allow geologists to remotely "see" through overburden and characterize subsurface rock formations based on their magnetic properties, identifying geological structures and potential alteration zones that may be associated with mineral deposits.

• An initial interpretation of the 2026 airborne magnetic survey data identified a clear magnetic high. Magnetic highs typically indicate the presence of rocks with higher magnetic susceptibility, which can include certain iron-rich rocks or altered zones associated with mineralization.
• Crucially, the survey also pinpointed a drill-ready target on the property. This signifies that the geophysical anomaly is sufficiently well-defined and compelling to warrant direct physical investigation through drilling, which is the ultimate test of a potential deposit.
• Further refinement of the geophysical data involved the interpretation of magnetic vector inversion (MVI) data. MVI is an advanced geophysical processing technique that generates a three-dimensional model of magnetic sources, providing a more accurate representation of the subsurface geology and geometry of anomalies. This interpretation highlighted a favourable south-west-north-east structural trend. Identifying such trends is vital as mineral deposits often occur along specific geological structures like faults, shear zones, or contacts between different rock types, which can have significant strike lengths.

The clear implication of these findings was that the prospective geological trend extended beyond Makenita's original property boundaries. By expanding its claims to encompass this identified south-west-north-east structural trend, Makenita aims to fully assess the strike extent of potential mineralization, thereby maximizing its exploration upside. The meticulous process of compiling the airborne survey data with existing regional historical information is currently underway, serving as the critical precursor to designing a targeted and efficient drilling programme for the Sisson West site.

The Significance of the Sisson Tungsten Deposit

The Sisson Tungsten Mine, operated by Northcliff Resources, is not just another mining project in Canada; it holds a special designation as a "nation-building project" by the federal government. This status is rarely granted and indicates that the project is considered to be of strategic national importance, often due to its potential economic impact, job creation, vast resource endowment, or role in supplying critical materials. For projects with this designation, there can be increased federal support, streamlined regulatory processes, and a general governmental commitment to seeing the project succeed. This context elevates the significance of Makenita's adjacent Sisson West project, placing it within an area of recognized national strategic interest.

Tungsten itself is a critical mineral with an array of indispensable applications across modern industries. Known for its exceptional hardness, high melting point, and excellent tensile strength, tungsten is vital in:

• Aerospace and Defense: Used in jet engines, missile components, and armour-piercing ammunition.
• Electronics: Essential for electrical contacts, heating elements, and X-ray targets.
• Manufacturing: Key component in cemented carbides (carbide cutting tools, drill bits), which are critical for machining, mining, and construction.
• Automotive: Used in spark plugs, engine parts, and specialized coatings.

The global supply chain for tungsten has historically been concentrated in a few nations, leading to concerns about supply security and price volatility. For Western economies, developing reliable domestic or allied sources of critical minerals like tungsten is a strategic imperative to enhance economic resilience and national security. Makenita's efforts at Sisson West, therefore, align with broader governmental and industrial objectives to diversify and strengthen critical mineral supply chains, making any exploration success highly relevant to the broader industry and national interests.

Makenita's Broader Canadian Portfolio and Corporate Strategy

Makenita Resources is not solely focused on tungsten; the company manages a diverse portfolio of exploration projects across various provinces in Canada, reflecting a strategy to mitigate risk and capitalize on multiple commodity opportunities. This diversification is a common and prudent approach for junior exploration companies, spreading the potential for discovery across different geological settings and market segments. Makenita's President, Jason Gigliotti, articulated this strategy, stating, "More than doubling our land position directly against the Sisson deposit, at a time when Sisson has been named a nation-building project by the federal government, speaks to the strategic value of this ground. With just over 35 million shares outstanding, management sees meaningful leverage to any exploration success, and we anticipate an active remainder of 2026 across multiple projects." Gigliotti's emphasis on the relatively low number of shares outstanding highlights the potential for substantial per-share leverage to any exploration success, a key attraction for investors in the junior mining sector.

Beyond Sisson West, Makenita’s assets include:

• Serpentinization Iron-Magnetite Project (Saskatchewan): Spanning 102,110 contiguous acres, this project is strategically located adjacent to Max Power Mining. Iron-magnetite projects are fundamental to the steel industry, and large-scale, high-grade deposits are always sought after.
• NTX Rare Earth Project (Quebec): Extending over approximately 9,000 acres, this project is considered prospective for rare earth elements (REEs). REEs are another category of critical minerals essential for advanced technologies, including electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense systems. Establishing a domestically sourced REE supply is a high priority for many Western nations.
• Hector Project (Ontario): Covering 5,542 acres in the historic mining region near Cobalt, this project is prospective for cobalt, silver, and diamonds. Cobalt is crucial for rechargeable batteries in EVs and electronics, while silver retains its traditional value as a precious metal and industrial commodity. Diamond exploration offers a distinct high-value potential, though it typically involves different geological models and exploration techniques.

This multi-faceted portfolio demonstrates Makenita's broad approach to addressing the demand for various critical minerals, positioning the company to benefit from diverse commodity market trends and potential discoveries across different geological environments.

Outlook: Active Exploration Ahead for 2026 and Beyond

The immediate focus for Makenita Resources following this significant land acquisition is to build upon the promising geophysical data. The company is currently engaged in the critical phase of evaluating the compiled airborne survey data in conjunction with existing regional historical information. This integrated analysis will be crucial for refining geological models and pinpointing the most prospective areas for follow-up work. The ultimate objective of this technical work is the design of a targeted and efficient drilling programme for the Sisson West site.

Drilling is the most direct and definitive method for testing subsurface mineralization, and the results from such a program would be pivotal. Success could significantly de-risk the Sisson West project, provide concrete data on resource potential, and potentially attract further investment or partnerships. With President Jason Gigliotti anticipating an "active remainder of 2026 across multiple projects," stakeholders can expect a flow of news and operational updates as Makenita progresses its exploration efforts across its entire Canadian portfolio. The Sisson West expansion is a clear signal of the company's commitment to aggressive exploration in a highly strategic critical mineral jurisdiction, potentially making a tangible contribution to North America's future mineral supply.