Mr. Bruce Counts reports

STORM EXPLORATION PLANS DRILL PROGRAM TO TEST VMS TARGET AT GOLD STANDARD

Storm Exploration Inc. has outlined its 2026 exploration plans for the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) target on its 100-per-cent-owned Gold Standard project located 60 kilometres north of Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.

Highlights

• 2026 field program and drilling planned: Storm plans ground geophysics, mapping, prospecting and soil sampling, followed by 10 to 15 core holes totalling 2,000 metres to 3,000 metres;
• Large VMS target: Gold Standard hosts a five km long conductivity anomaly identified by Storm in airborne survey data and interpreted as a potential VMS system;
• Drill-confirmed massive sulphide mineralization: four holes drilled by Inco in 1969/1970 intersected significant sulphide mineralization, including Cu (copper) and Zn (zinc) sulphides, over considerable lengths. All holes were less than 50 m in length and no assays were completed;
• Gold-copper potential: surface rock samples collected by Storm in 2022 near the HW-271 showing returned high-grade results, including up to 166 grams per tonne Au (gold), 197 g/t Ag (silver) and 1.47 per cent Cu.

"Gold Standard combines all the elements explorers look for in an early stage VMS target: a geophysical anomaly that is up to 100 metres wide and runs continuously for more than five kilometres, historical drilling along the length of the anomaly that encountered significant sulphide mineralization, including copper and zinc sulphides, and finally, confirmed high-grade gold, silver and copper mineralization proximal to the anomaly," said Bruce Counts, president and chief executive officer of Storm. "With ground electromagnetic surveys, soil sampling and drilling planned over the coming months, Storm is entering an exciting phase in the exploration process."

VMS target

A VMS system is interpreted as the source of the five km long conductivity anomaly identified in the 2022 versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey data. This is supported by sulphide mineralization observed in drill core in four historical holes drilled by International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. (the Inco holes) in 1969 and 1970. The historical holes were completed using a small-diameter drill and all were terminated at a depth of less than 50 metres.

Two of the Inco holes encountered significant intervals of sulphide mineralization. Inco hole 428002 intersected a 21 m interval of alternating massive sulphides and sulphide stringers that include pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Inco hole 427273 intersected a 19 m interval of massive pyrite and lesser amounts chalcopyrite from a depth of 14.9 m followed by disseminated pyrite and minor pyrrhotite to the end of the hole at 44.8 m.

All the Inco holes intersected altered and sheared mafic and ultramafic volcanics with three of the holes exhibiting significant disseminated and semi-massive pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration and deformation, evidenced by chlorite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and magnetite in a schistose host rock, is consistent with a greenstone-belt style VMS setting. A description of the core encountered in the Inco holes, which were not assayed, is provided at the end of this release.

"Canada is host to some of the world's largest and most valuable VMS deposits, including the Horne and Kidd Creek mines," continued Mr. Counts. "The Horne mine, located in Rouyn-Noranda Quebec, operated between 1927 and 1989 and produced 260 t of gold and 1.13 Mt of copper from 53.7 Mt of ore that averaged 2.22 per cent Cu, 6.1 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag. The Kidd Creek mine, near Timmins, Ont., produced a total of 140.4 Mt of ore between 1966 and 2016 at grades of 2.29 per cent Cu, 6.15 per cent Zn and 86.2 g/t Ag."

Gold potential

The Gold Standard project hosts three historical, small-scale gold mines that operated near the turn of the 20th century: Sairy Gamp (1900 to 1902), HW-271 (1902 to 1903) and AD34 (no records prior to 1988).

The abandoned HW-271 mine is located approximately four km from the large EM anomaly and was mined by Gold Standard Mining Co. between 1902 to 1903. The site has been visited several times by government geologists, including Berger (1988), who obtained relatively high-grade values from samples of sulphide-rich vein material ranging up to 55.9 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag and 1.52 per cent Cu.

In 2022, Storm collected surface rock samples in the vicinity of the HW-271 mine and obtained the following assay highlights:

• 166 g/t Au, 197 g/t Ag and 1.47 per cent Cu;
• 88.6 g/t Au, 40 g/t Ag and 1.49 per cent Cu;
• 83.4 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag and 0.96 per cent Cu;
• 77.6 g/t Au, 45 g/t Ag and 2.59 per cent Cu.

Gold mineralization at the site occurs in shear-hosted quartz veins that include minor amounts of chlorite, ankerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite. Samples were processed at an accredited laboratory operated by Activation Laboratories in Thunder Bay.

2026 exploration program

The 2026 exploration program at Gold Standard will focus on evaluating the five-kilometre-long electromagnetic anomaly (EM) identified in a property-wide versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) airborne geophysical survey completed by Storm in 2022. The program will be conducted in two phases:

Phase 1 -- target evaluation

• Ground geophysical surveys to increase the resolution of the EM anomaly;
• Geological mapping, prospecting and soil sampling to identify the most prospective sections of the EM anomaly.

Phase 2 -- drilling

• Ten to 15 core holes to test for the presence of precious metals and critical minerals, as well as determine the dip and thickness of mineralization. It is anticipated that a total of 2,000 m to 3,000 m will be drilled.

Phase 1 is expected to commence in early June once the snow has melted and will take approximately three weeks to complete. Processing and interpretation of the geophysical data and geochemical samples will follow completion of the field work. The phase 2 drill program is anticipated to begin in early July once the supporting data has been received.

Land tenure, first nations and permitting

The Gold Standard project is located approximately 60 km north of the city of Fort Frances and is accessible by all-weather forestry road. The property comprises 289 single-cell mineral claims covering 6,121 hectares. The project lies within the traditional territory of the Naicatchewenin and Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nations, both with whom Storm has a memorandum of understanding. Permitting for drilling at Gold Standard is continuing.

Inco drill hole summary

DDH-428002: The hole is dominated by massive to pillowed basalt and gabbro with widespread propylitic textures minor quartz stringers, and occasional amphibole-phenocrysts. From 17.8 metres, silicious and sericitic massive volcanogenic basalt and schists dominate, with fine-grained, sheared or slaty fabrics, including minor argillite. Schistose slates with micaceous and chloritic bands are reported from 32.6 to 48 m (EOH).

Mineralization peaks in sheared schists and basalt between 17 m and 38 m, with intervals of massive sulphides and sulphide stringers that include pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and accessory sphalerite. Highest grades include 30 to 40 per cent pyrite and pyrrhotite mineralization between 30 to 34 m (semi-massive), 20 per cent pyrite and pyrrhotite at 19 m, and disseminated blebs (1 per cent) elsewhere. Mineralization appears to be associated with chloritic, sheared footwall hangingwall contacts in volcanic flows.

DDH-427273: The hole intersected a short upper zone of basic to altered volcanic rock with disseminated to semi-massive pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, followed by a thicker interval of metabasalt/mafic chloritic schist carrying mainly disseminated sulphides and minor magnetite.

The strongest noted mineralization is noted in a 19 m interval starting at 14.87 m depth and reports massive pyrite with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite. Disseminated pyrite and minor pyrrhotite is noted to the end of the hole at 44.8 m

DDH 427984: Hole 42798 intersected alternating altered basalt and gabbro from surface with gneissic, metasedimentary and volcanic rocks near the bottom of the hole at 46 m.

Mineralization appears to be mostly sulphide stringers and disseminations dominated by pyrite, pyrrhotite and locally chalcopyrite in gneiss and mafic units. Alteration is characterized by calcite and amphibolitic overprinting, as well as minor carbonate and quartz veining. In the lower part of the hole, the change into amphibolitic gneiss and foliated light-green gneiss indicates stronger metamorphic fabric and possible recrystallization.

DDH 427285: The hole is dominated by albite-carbonate sheared volcanic rocks with intervals siliceous and sericitic felsic tuff, dacite, and minor basalt. Mineralization is dominated by stringers and disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite. The strongest mineralization occurs at approximately 20 m with pyrite in stringers with minor stringers of sphalerite and pyrrhotite blebs hosted in dacite and mafic volcanics. Additional sulphides occur at 34 m with pyrite and pyrrhotite stringers plus minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite,

Silicification is implied locally by quartz-bearing material at 21 m, while graphitic beds and shearing suggest a more conductive, structurally focused altered horizon in the middle of the hole.

Engagement of Soar Financial Partners

Storm is pleased to announce that it has engaged Soar Financial Partners (Soar Financial) to provide digital marketing and investor outreach services to increase general awareness of the company. Soar Financial is owned by Kai Hoffmann who will be responsible for providing the services to the company under the oversight of company management.

The agreement to engage Soar Financial Partners is for one-year commencing April 23, 2026. The total remuneration payable to Soar Financial is $7,500 (U.S.) per month ($90,000 (U.S.) over the full one-year term of the agreement) from the company's existing working capital allocation for general and administrative expenses. In addition, Soar Financial will also be granted stock options pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange under Storm's incentive stock option plan to acquire 100,000 common shares of the company with the exercise price of 25 cents per share. These options have a term of five years and will vest in equal quarterly instalments over a 12-month period, with no more than 25 per cent vesting in any three-month period, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The agreement and grant of stock options is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The firm is arm's length to the company and has agreed not to trade in the company's securities during the term of the engagement.

Qualified person

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Jo Price, MSc, MBA, PGeo, a director of Storm Exploration and qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Storm Exploration Inc.

Storm Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of economic precious and base metal deposits on three district-scale projects in northwest Ontario: Keezhik, Attwood and Gold Standard.

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