Three QIMC field crews are now working on the ground conducting soil gas sampling for hydrogen intensification anomalies and geomagnetic surveys along the Kobekoid-Chidabukto fault zone.
QIMC’s DDH-26-04 benchmark results – including a peak reading of 24.3% H₂ – provide additional support for the interpreted relationship between surface soil gas anomalies and hydrogen-bearing structures at depth, and highlight the importance of the newly recognized IOCG-style modulation system along the corridor
Atlas First Resources Company (Private search engine: His Highness(OTC Pink: With honor) (FSE: 0NB0) (“First Atlas”, “HHE” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has extended its cooperation and technical advisory agreement (the “Agreement”) with Quebec Innovative Materials Company (Private search engine: QIMC) (Otkbk: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) (“QIMC”).
Under the expanded agreement, QIMC’s exploration teams have begun the 2026 field exploration program on HHE’s natural hydrogen licenses in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. QIMC currently has three active field teams in the Advocate-Cumberland Basin region, conducting systematic soil gas geochemical sampling – including fill (“condensation”) sampling on previously identified high hydrogen anomalies – in conjunction with geomagnetic surveying. This existing operational footprint allows QIMC to expand its crews, equipment and targeting methodology R2G2™ (Reactivated Rift and Graben Geostructure) directly onto HHE land without any mobilization delays.
An emerging exploration model supported by drilling results
This extension follows QIMC’s July 20, 2026 announcement of final results from diamond drilling DDH-26-04 at Bennett Hill, Nova Scotia, which included:
- A peak mud gas reading of 24.3% H₂ at a depth of 707 meters – the highest single hydrogen reading recorded across QIMC’s Advocate Area 2026 drilling programme;
- Six readings at or above 10% H₂ and 46 readings at or above 1% H₂ across the interval from 250 meters to 818 metres, with the percent hydrogen level maintained within 39 meters of the end of the hole;
- A consistently clean gas signature – methane of approximately 0% and carbon dioxide of 0.2% or less – across all four 2026 drill holes at two drill cores located 15 kilometers apart along the Kobekoid-Chidabukto fault zone, supporting QIMC’s region-wide natural hydrogen model.
Critically for HHE, the Bennett Hill drilling site has been targeted for surface soil gas hydrogen anomalies identified using the same soil sampling methodology that QIMC teams now apply to HHE licences. QIMC interpreted the high hydrogen readings in DDH-26-04 – from the near surface to the end of the hole – as consistent with an efficient and active migration path linking the deep hydrogen source to the soil gas anomalies mapped to the surface. From the company’s perspective, DDH-26-04 provides encouraging support for the interpretation that surface soil gas anomalies may reflect active subsurface hydrogen migration pathways, increasing confidence in soil gas geochemistry as a tool for targeting exploration.
The IOCG analogy: a structural roadmap for hydrogen
QIMC also reported that the core from DDH-26-04 displays diffuse structural and hydrothermal hardening, hematite-rich alteration, and localized magnetite destruction compositionally similar to alteration patterns observed in iron oxide-copper-gold (“IOCG”) mineral systems. IOCG systems require high structural permeability—breccia zones, reactivated faults, and penetrating fracture networks in granite—conditions that are considered favorable for the migration of fluids, including natural hydrogen. These long-lived, inherited permeable corridors are interpreted as favorable migration paths for the natural hydrogen observed along the Copecoid Fault Zone today. HHE’s licenses are located along this same regional structural corridor, and the company’s geomagnetic surveys are designed in part to map iron oxide changes and structural signatures across HHE’s land.
Land location at the district level
HHE owns one of the largest land-based natural hydrogen plays in the Cumberland County/Cumberland Basin region of Nova Scotia, along with its technical partner QIMC, positioned along the regional Cobequid-Chedabucto fault zone – the structural corridor that hosts all four of QIMC’s 2026 hydrogen-bearing drill holes.
Richard Penn, President and CEO of First Atlas, commented:
“Expanding our collaboration with QIMC allows First Atlas to immediately apply the exploration methodology that has produced significant hydrogen results elsewhere along the Cobequid-Chedabucto structural corridor. With active field crews already mobilized, we can quickly advance soil gas sampling and magnetic surveys across the Cumberland Basin licenses. Our goal is to build a technically robust data set capable of supporting future drilling target selection.”
Program details
The initial phase of the HHE program will include:
- Filling in soil gas geochemistry at the expense of high priority hydrogen anomalies in HHE licences, tightening sample spacing to optimize suitable anomalies for drilling targeting;
- Geomagnetic survey to map fault spots, breccia corridors, and iron oxide alteration signatures similar to those documented in DDH-26-04;
- Integrating all datasets into QIMC’s R2G2™ targeting framework, with the aim of identifying classified drilling targets for the first HHE drilling programme.
The company expects field activities to continue throughout the summer exploration season. Results will be released once they are received, compiled, and validated.
A note of caution regarding QIMC results
The drilling results, soil gas results and geological interpretations referenced in this press release for QIMC’s West Advocate, Eatonville Road and Bennett Hill projects, including DDH-26-04, are on QIMC’s property and not on the company’s licenses. First Atlas has not independently verified the technical information disclosed by QIMC and relies on such information as publicly reported. Hydrogen concentrations and geological conditions at adjacent or nearby properties are not necessarily indicative of conditions at the Company’s properties, and the geological continuity of HHE’s claims is not guaranteed. The slurry and slurry gas readings announced by QIMC are preliminary in nature. The IOCG model change analogy reported by QIMC is preliminary and based on synthetic observations, with laboratory investigations pending.
About First Atlas Resources Corp. (CSE: HHE)
First Atlas Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company developing a portfolio of natural hydrogen and significant mineral assets, with a strategic focus on natural hydrogen opportunities in eastern Canada. The company holds natural hydrogen exploration licenses within Nova Scotia’s Cumberland Basin – one of the region’s largest onshore plays – and is developing the Matane Natural Hydrogen Project in Quebec, applying state-of-the-art geological, geochemical and geophysical targeting methodologies, including QIMC’s R2G2™ framework, across the Cobequid-Chedabucto structural corridor.
About Quebec Innovative Materials Company (CSE: QIMC)
Québec Innovative Materials Corp. is a North American exploration and development company developing a portfolio of natural hydrogen and significant minerals projects. The company is developing its model for regional hydrogen exploration across Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Minnesota (USA), leveraging its R2G2™ framework developed in collaboration with INRS.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its market regulator accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the terms, duration and expected benefits of the expanded collaboration and advisory agreement with QIMC; the timing, scope and results of soil gas sampling, magnetic surveying and other exploration activities; Interpretation of geological, geochemical and geophysical data, including the interpreted relationship between surface soil gas anomalies and subsurface hydrogen occurrence and IOCG model change simulation; The potential definition of drilling targets and any future drilling programme; And the exploration capabilities of the company’s properties. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks related to exploration results, the preliminary nature of field measurements, the speculative nature of natural hydrogen exploration (an industry that does not have established commercial production standards), regulatory approvals, financing, and market conditions. The presence of hydrogen in commercial quantities on Company property cannot be guaranteed. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Prepared by Resource World Magazine Inc. This editorial is for general information purposes only and should not be considered a solicitation to buy or sell securities in the companies discussed here. The information provided is derived from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. This editorial does not take into account readers’ investment criteria, investment experience, financial situation, or financial goals of individual recipients and other concerns such as jurisdictional and/or legal restrictions that may exist for some persons. Recipients should rely on their own due diligence and seek their own professional advice before investing.
