Mr. Chris Paul reports

HERCULES METALS COMMENCES 2026 DRILLING AT THE HERCULES PROPERTY IN WESTERN IDAHO

Drilling has commenced for the 2026 exploration season at Hercules Metals Corp.'s Hercules property in western Idaho. The company is planning a 20,000- to 30,000-metre drill program focused on expanding the Leviathan copper discovery along strike into the Southern Flats zone and beyond, representing roughly double the metres drilled to date and targeting larger, stronger magnetotelluric geophysical anomalies identified along trend. An initial 12,500-metre phase is currently under way, the results of which will continue to guide the allocation of remaining metres across additional targets.

Initial drilling has resumed on 2025 drill hole HER-25-25, which was paused during the winter holidays and is advancing, following the return of Dorado Drilling USA after a successful 2025 drilling season at the Hercules property.

A second Dorado drill rig is scheduled to arrive at the project next week following winter upgrades, designed to increase daily production capacity. Combined, the Dorado rigs are expected to achieve the highest drilling production rates to date.

The second drill rig will resume drilling on HER-25-18, which was paused at a 841-metre depth while still exhibiting signs of potassic alteration with copper mineralization. These observations suggest the Footwall zone may be wider in this area than previously recognized.

HER-25-21, which was precollared in 2025 using a reverse circulation drill rig, is expected to be completed with core drilling following completion of HER-25-18.

Additional drill rigs will be added as the 2026 exploration season ramps up, and additional details regarding the broader drill plan testing multiple new targets will be provided in a coming news release.

Chris Paul, chief executive officer and director of Hercules Metals, commented: "We're pleased to begin drilling in early March, supported by the relatively low elevation and minimal topographic relief at our target areas. We also welcome back Dorado Drilling, following their strong performance last season. By focusing on our best-performing contractor, who have since upgraded their rigs, we expect a potentially stronger season this year and look forward to delivering results to market quicker and testing new high-priority targets for the first time."

Qualified person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Dillon Hume, PGeo, and vice-president, exploration, for the company. Mr. Hume is a qualified person for Hercules Metals within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).

About Hercules Metals Corp.

Hercules is an exploration company focused on developing America's newest porphyry copper district in Idaho.

The 100-per-cent-owned Hercules project, located northwest of Cambridge, hosts the newly discovered Leviathan porphyry copper system, one of the most important new discoveries in the country to date. The company is well positioned for growth through continued drilling, supported by a strategic investment from Barrick Mining Corp.

With the potential for significant scale, the company's management and board of directors aim to deliver value to shareholders through proven discovery success.

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