Mr. Chris Paul reports

HERCULES METALS OUTLINES INITIAL 2026 DRILL PLAN AT THE HERCULES PROPERTY IN WESTERN IDAHO

Hercules Metals Corp. has provided details on its initial 12,500-metre drill program, currently under way at five new target areas along trend from the Leviathan copper discovery at its Hercules property in western Idaho.

• Phase I drill plan -- An initial 12,500-metre first phase of drilling has commenced at the Hercules property, testing five new target areas, all of which lie along trend from the Leviathan copper system. Upon completion of this phase and evaluation of results, the company anticipates expanding to a total of 20,000 to 30,000 m.
• Second drill rig mobilized ahead of schedule -- A second drill rig has been mobilized to resume drilling at hole HER-25-18, previously paused at 841 m depth. Observations of potassic alteration at depth suggest the potential for a broader Footwall zone than previously interpreted. The rig has undergone significant winter upgrades, expected to materially improve drilling efficiency.

A figure in the original version of this release outlines the approximate allocation of planned drilling across the following targets:

1. Leviathan Southwest extension (approximately 3,000 metres) -- The Leviathan copper system remains open to the southwest. Drilling will focus on extending known mineralization in this direction and testing for continued system growth.
2. Leviathan's footwall MT anomaly (2,500 m) -- Recent drilling at the northern extent of Leviathan has encountered increasing copper grades at depth (see previous news release dated Feb. 4, 2026), approaching a deeper northeast-plunging magnetotelluric (MT) anomaly that remains untested. At least two deep drill holes are planned to evaluate the source and significance of this anomaly.
3. Southern Flats target (approximately 3,000 m) -- Southern Flats represents the largest and most robust geophysical anomaly identified on the property to date. Defined through two phases of MT surveying, the target is characterized by a discrete, vertically extensive, cylindrical conductor situated directly along strike to the south of Leviathan. Approximately three deep drill holes are planned to test this target over a meaningful strike extent.
4. Pegasus target (approximately 3,000 m) -- Located several kilometres southeast of Southern Flats, the Pegasus target exhibits a similar MT geophysical signature. A recently completed induced polarization (IP) survey has also identified a coincident chargeability anomaly, significantly increasing confidence that Pegasus may represent an untested porphyry centre.
5. The Hook target (approximately 1,000 m) -- The Hook target is defined by a moderate conductivity anomaly that returned the strongest chargeability response from the 2026 IP survey. The magnitude of this response is comparable with that associated with the original Leviathan IP anomaly that led to the 2023 discovery hole HER-23-05. Final IP results remain pending, while planning for additional IP is under way.

Option grant

The company has granted an aggregate of 1,325,000 stock options to certain officers, employees and consultants of the company, pursuant to its omnibus incentive plan. The options are exercisable for a period of five years at an exercise price of 64 cents. The options will vest in four equal tranches over a period of 24 months.

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 Metals 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 aims to deliver value to shareholders through proven discovery success.

We seek Safe Harbor.