Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 2, 2026) - Lodestar Metals Corp. (TSXV: LSTR) (OTC Pink: SVTNF) (FSE: PR90) ("Lodestar" or the "Company"), a junior exploration company focused on unlocking world class gold potential in Nevada, is pleased to announce the commencement of its maiden 2680m drill program at the Company's flagship Gold Run project.

"The start of drilling at Gold Run marks a major inflection point for Lodestar," said Lowell Kamin, President & CEO of Lodestar Metals. "It's the culmination of months of data-driven work to define and prioritize the most compelling targets across the property. Our technical team has built a strong foundation with robust geochemical, geophysical, and historical data all pointing to discovery potential. This drilling program is the next step in learning more about Gold Run and moving Lodestar forward."

Figure 1. Drill rig commencing the first hole at the Robbers Knob Prospect, Gold Run Property, Nevada

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Drill Program Underway

Following receipt of final BLM drill permit approval (see the Company's March 10, 2026 news release) and completion of site preparation and drill mobilization, Lodestar has now commenced a reverse circulation drill campaign. The program is focused on targeting multiple high-priority gold-silver prospects across the property. The program will consist of a proposed 16 holes totalling 2680m.

The initial phase will test four permitted drill targets through the integration of historical drill results, multi-element soil geochemistry, UAV magnetic surveys, and the recently completed property-wide DDIP geophysical program (see the Company's January 20, 2026 and March 10, 2026 news releases):

• Robbers Knob - An advanced prospect characterised by widespread jasperoid silica alteration where several significant historical gold intersections including 18.3m at 4.3 g/t Au (incl. 1.5m at 37.8 g/t Au)² with targets remaining open at depth and along strike.

• Independence Trend - Targeting three undrilled DDIP chargeability anomalies down-dip from historical shallow intercepts including 10.7m at 55 g/t Ag, 0.4 g/t Au¹ from 47.2m as well as high grade silver rock chip sample up to 3,307 g/t Ag¹ occur along a 650m long structure.

• Gomes Prospect - Testing a large DDIP anomaly (200m wide) located 140m along strike from previous significant intersections including 13.7m at 1.3 g/t Au and 19.8m at 26.2 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au as well as high grade silver 3m at >100 g/t Ag¹.

• Crown North - Testing the down-dip extension of a historical high-grade intersection 27.4m at 9.7 g/t Au (incl. 1.5m at 130.5 g/t Au)², which has never been followed up at depth and may represent the strike extension of Nevada Gold Mines' Adelaide-Crown mines.

Disclaimers

¹ Summary of drill targets and intercepts and supporting technical data was provided in the Company's December 2, 2025 news release.

² The Company has identified historical drill intercepts interpreted from the Property's historical database, which was acquired. The intercept has not been previously verified by the Company, and there is limited available information regarding sampling methodologies, analytical procedures, and associated QAQC protocols. The historical intercepts are considered relevant for the purposes of exploration targeting which is intended to validate and assess the continuity and reliability of the reported mineralization. Readers are cautioned that the historical information should not be relied upon until it has been independently verified.

Qualified Person

Ty Magee, P. Geo., a Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, and a consultant to the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

ABOUT LODESTAR METALS

Lodestar Metals Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on advancing the drill-ready Gold Run Project in Nevada, strategically located on a major Carlin-style gold trend and adjacent to some of the largest gold deposits in North America. With decades of combined geological and capital markets expertise, Lodestar follows a disciplined, step-by-step approach to discovery. The Company's strategy is clear: focus capital on high-value targets, move quickly on known mineralization, and build a compliant gold resource that delivers lasting shareholder value. For more information, please visit www.lodestarmetals.ca.

Notes:

The drill results disclosed are of a historical nature. While this historical data provides valuable context, the Company has not conducted a detailed validation or verification process and, therefore, cannot ensure their accuracy or completeness. The Company intends to undertake further exploration, including additional drilling, to verify these results in accordance with NI 43-101 regulatory standards.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Lodestar cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by several material factors, many of which are beyond Lodestar's control. Such factors include, among other things, risks and uncertainties relating to Lodestar's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates.

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