New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV: NFG) (NYSE American: NFGC) (‘New Found Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to highlight a transformational 2025 in which the Company has evolved from an early-stage exploration company to an emerging Canadian gold producer with a multi-asset portfolio focused on a top-tier mining jurisdiction, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Over the past year, New Found Gold has delivered multiple significant milestones including:

• New board of directors and management team: Led by Chairman Paul Andre Huet and Chief Executive Officer, Keith Boyle, the Company has a new and highly experienced board of directors, along with a new management team of mine builders and operators to complement its existing exploration strength.
• Initial Mineral Resource Estimate (‘MRE‘): Publication of an MRE for its 100% owned Queensway Gold Project (‘Queensway‘), outlining 18.0 million tonnes (‘Mt‘) grading 2.40 grams per tonne of gold (‘g/t Au‘) of gold for 1.39 million ounces (‘Moz‘) (indicated), with another 10.7 Mt grading 1.77 g/t Au for 0.61 Moz (inferred), firmly establishing a solid mineral resource base¹.
• Hammerdown and Pine Cove Operations: With the successful acquisition of Maritime, the Company is focused on bringing the newly acquired Hammerdown and Pine Cove Operations (‘Hammerdown‘ and ‘Pine Cove‘, respectively) into steady state production.
• Queensway Advancement: Completed 2025 work program, including over 74,000 metres (‘m‘) of diamond drilling with a primary focus on resource definition and pre-development work, and a secondary focus on exploration, with high-grade discoveries such as the Dropkick zone (‘Dropkick‘) underscoring the camp-scale potential of the district.
• Queensway Project Finance: Engaged Cutfield Freeman & Co. Ltd. (‘CF&Co‘), an independent global mining finance advisory firm, to act as a project finance advisor with the objective of selecting the optimal financing package for the initial capital expenditure required to fund Queensway Phase 1 production.

‘2025 was a transformational year for New Found Gold, as we began the year as an early-stage exploration company and ended as an emerging Canadian gold producer with a growing, multi-asset and multi-stage portfolio in Newfoundland and Labrador,’ said Keith Boyle, Chief Executive Officer of New Found Gold. ‘We delivered both the initial MRE and a PEA at Queensway, strengthened our balance sheet, and completed two meaningful strategic acquisitions – adding near-term production and cash flow via Hammerdown and securing fully permitted processing infrastructure. These achievements were made possible by the strength of our new management team and board of directors, support from our shareholders and local stakeholders who continue to back us as we execute on our strategic growth plans, and the hard work and dedication of our employees and contractors.’

‘As we enter 2026, our focus is clear: ramp up Hammerdown safely and efficiently, advance Queensway through engineering, permitting, and project finance toward a targeted 2027 start-up, and continue disciplined, high-impact exploration across the district – building on our success at targets like Dropkick – to unlock the full camp-scale potential of this emerging Canadian gold camp.’

From Early-Stage Explorer to Emerging Gold Producer

The strategic acquisition of Maritime formally marks New Found Gold’s transformation from an exploration company into an emerging multi-asset gold producer. Following this transaction, New Found Gold now controls Queensway, a high-grade, 100%-owned project with a recently completed MRE and PEA that demonstrates a phased, low-capital path to production and Hammerdown, an emerging gold producer in central Newfoundland, targeted to ramp up to commercial production through 2026, with a fully permitted mill and tailings at Pine Cove, as well as a Hydrometallurgical Gold Plant at Nugget Pond, which provides existing processing infrastructure and significant regional synergies.

With Hammerdown moving toward steady-state production and Queensway Phase 1 production targeted for H2/27, Queensway and Hammerdown continue to offer significant exploration upside to bolster each project’s economics within a strong gold price environment.

New Board and Management Team

In parallel with its portfolio growth, New Found Gold has made significant strides at the corporate level, strengthening its governance and leadership team in 2025. During the year the board of directors was refreshed under the leadership of Paul Andre Huet as Chairman. It now includes seasoned mining executives and capital markets specialists with deep experience in building, operating and financing mines globally, including: William Hayden, Chad Williams, Tamara Brown and Allen Palmiere, as well as Dr. Andrew Furey, the former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Keith Boyle.

New Found Gold’s management team was also rebuilt with the objective of executing on the Company’s strategy to rapidly advance Queensway to development and production. Under the leadership of Keith Boyle (Chief Executive Officer) and Melissa Render (President), the following executives were appointed to the leadership team in 2025: Hashim Ahmed (Chief Financial Officer), Robert Assabgui, (Chief Operating Officer), Fiona Childe (VP, Communications and Corporate Development), Jared Sauders (VP, Sustainability) and Jelena Novikov Fried (General Counsel and Corporate Secretary).

Advancing Queensway to Development

Queensway remains the cornerstone of New Found Gold’s growth strategy and continued to deliver in 2025, achieving several major milestones. The initial MRE published in 2025 confirmed Queensway’s resource potential, outlining 18.0 Mt grading 2.40 g/t of gold for 1.39 Moz (indicated), with another 10.7 Mt grading 1.77 g/t gold for 0.61 Moz (inferred). This initial resource sits within less than 5% of the 110 kilometre (‘km‘) long strike extent of the two major structures controlling gold mineralization, where numerous additional gold targets have been identified, demonstrating potential for expansion (see the New Found Gold press release dated March 24, 2025).

This MRE served as the stepping stone, forming the basis for the positive Queensway PEA published in mid-2025, which outlined phased development with low initial capital of approximately C$155M for Phase 1 and a robust production profile, with anticipated average annual production of over 70,000 ounces of gold in Phase 1 and more than 170,000 ounces of gold per year in Phase 2 and 3 Years 5 to 9 (see the New Found Gold press release dated July 21, 2025).

With attractive baseline economics confirmed, New Found Gold has completed its 2025 work program, which included an approximately 74,000 m diamond drill program and a continuation of the excavation of high-grade, near-surface portions of Queensway. Approximately 75% of the drilling focused on the AFZ Core area and the remaining 25% focused on exploration targets outside the MRE area. To date, approximately 45% of the results from the 2025 program have been released and additional results will be released as they become available (see the New Found Gold press releases dated July 9, 2025, September 25, 2025, October 15, 2025, October 30, 2025, November 19, 2025, December 1, 2025 and December 11, 2025). Excavation, mapping and channel sampling were competed at the Iceberg and Lotto zones, with Iceberg channel sample results released and Lotto results pending (see the New Found Gold press release dated September 25, 2025).

Ongoing work aimed at the rapid advancement of phased development at Queensway includes environmental baseline work, trade-off studies and further engineering studies.

Collectively, the milestones achieved in 2025 advance Queensway from a standout exploration opportunity to a de-risked development project with a clear, financeable path to production.

Camp-Scale Exploration Upside

Exploration remains an important part of the growth strategy for Queensway as it advances toward development, with exploration success outside the AFZ Core demonstrating the scale and quality of the broader district. During 2025, the Company completed approximately 25% of its drilling on exploration outside the AFZ Core. This work included drill testing at the highly prospective Dropkick and Pistachio zones, as well as the newly discovered Blue Jay zone. High-grade gold was discovered at Dropkick in late 2024 within the AFZ Peripheral area and 2025 drilling has extended the mineralized footprint to approximately 815 m along strike and 285 m down dip, with multiple high-grade intercepts both west and east of the Appleton Fault Zone, further confirming the camp scale potential of New Found Gold’s substantial Queensway landholdings (see the New Found Gold press release dated October 30, 2025).

A regional exploration program was completed at Queensway South, up to 64 km south of AFZ Core. In this area, we continue to develop earlier-stage targets along the Appleton Fault Zone, the same structure that controls gold mineralization AFZ Core.

The Queensway land package now totals 230,225 hectares, an increase of 31% from 2024, as a result of the successful completion of the acquisition of a 100% interest in certain mineral claims in central Newfoundland previously held by Exploits Discovery Corp.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, New Found Gold remains focused on executing on the following key priorities in 2026:

• Ramping up Hammerdown to steady-state gold production and leveraging its on-island processing and tailings facilities.
• Advancing Queensway through engineering, permitting, and project finance toward a Phase 1 construction decision in late 2026, targeting first production in H2/27.
• Continuing focused exploration at Queensway, including adjacent to AFZ Core, Dropkick, and newly acquired ground, to grow resources and support future expansions.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Keith Boyle, P. Eng., CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Boyle consents to the publication of this press release by New Found Gold. Mr. Boyle certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found Gold is an emerging Canadian gold producer with assets in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company holds a 100% interest in Queensway, and owns Hammerdown, Pine Cove and the Nugget Pond Hydrometallurgical Gold Plant. The Company is currently focused on advancing Queensway to production and bringing Hammerdown into steady-state gold production.

In July 2025, the Company completed a PEA at Queensway (see New Found Gold press release dated July 21, 2025). Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential that covers a +110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones at Queensway.

New Found Gold has a new board of directors and management team and a solid shareholder base which includes cornerstone investor Eric Sprott. The Company is focused on growth and value creation.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement

The PEA is preliminary in nature. It includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including relating to bringing the newly acquired Hammerdown and Pine Cove Operations into steady state production; leveraging of Hammerdown’s on-island processing and tailing facilities; advancing Queensway through engineering, permitting and project finance toward a Phase 1 construction decision in late 2026, targeting first production in H2/2027; targeted ramp up of Hammerdown to commercial production through 2026; resource potential, phased development and anticipated production at Queensway; future exploration programs and the timing and focus thereof; continued development of earlier-stage targets along the Appleton Fault Zone; continuing focused exploration at Queensway, including adjacent to AFZ Core, Dropkick, and newly acquired ground, to grow resources and support future expansions. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘interpreted’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘aims’, ‘suggests’, ‘indicate’, ‘often’, ‘target’, ‘future’, ‘likely’, ‘pending’, ‘potential’, ‘encouraging’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘prospective’, ‘possibly’, ‘preliminary’, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘can’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company’s ability to complete exploration and drilling programs as expected, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results and the results of the metallurgical testing program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company’s Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. These financial measures are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS‘) and should not be considered in isolation. The Company believes that these financial measures, together with financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The inclusion of these financial measures is meant to provide additional information and should not be used as a substitute for performance measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures are not necessarily standard and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.

All-in Sustaining Cost

All in sustaining cost is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold Council (‘WGC‘). The WGC is a market development organization for the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member companies to develop these metrics. Adoption of the all-in sustaining cost metric is voluntary and not necessarily standard, and therefore, this measure presented by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the all-in sustaining cost measure complements existing measures and ratios reported by the Company.

All-in sustaining cost includes both operating and capital costs required to sustain gold production on an ongoing basis. Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures expected to be incurred at the Project that are considered necessary to maintain production. Sustaining capital represents expected capital expenditures comprising mine development costs, including capitalized waste, and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities, and does not include expected capital expenditures for major growth projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure improvements.

¹ For additional information see the New Found Gold press release dated March 24, 2025
² For additional information see the New Found Gold press release dated July 21, 2025

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279683

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 2025 Production of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces)

• Cash balance of US$41M as of December 31, 2025

Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR,OTC:HSTXF) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) (‘Heliostar’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it produced 8,459 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs) (8,180 gold ounces and 21,494 silver ounces) in the three months ended December 31, 2025.

This resulted in a total production in calendar year 2025 of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces). As a result, the Company achieved its production guidance for 2025 of 31,000-41,000 GEOs (see news release dated February 4, 2025). Financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2025, will be reported during March 2026. Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs (‘AISC‘) are expected to be within the guidance range.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had a preliminary cash balance of US$41M and no debt. This provides a strong balance sheet for Heliostar’s 2026 growth initiatives, further supported by ongoing cash generated by operations.

 
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, ‘This is a wonderful result for our first full year of gold production. Achieving our 2025 guidance was the result of the team successfully executing on the restart of operations at our two mines; La Colorada in January and San Agustin in December. The restart of San Agustin is expected to materially increase Heliostar’s year-on-year gold production in 2026, and we look forward to providing guidance for 2026 shortly. In addition to increasing production this year, we will be advancing Ana Paula through a feasibility study and recommencing the decline as we work toward our goal of becoming a 500,000 ounce per year producer by the end of the decade.’

Statement of Qualified Persons

Michael Gingles, Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the production and financial information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Gingles is employed as Vice President Corporate Development of the Company.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that the reported non-GAAP financial measures will enable certain investors to better evaluate the Company’s performance, liquidity, and ability to generate cash flow. These measures do not have any standardized definition under IFRS, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ‘forward-looking information’ under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘schedule’ and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company’s plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company’s guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company’s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company’s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company’s mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company’s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company’s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company’s interactions with surrounding communities; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279687

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 2025 Production of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces)

• Cash balance of US$41M as of December 31, 2025

Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR,OTC:HSTXF) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) (‘Heliostar’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it produced 8,459 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs) (8,180 gold ounces and 21,494 silver ounces) in the three months ended December 31, 2025.

This resulted in a total production in calendar year 2025 of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces). As a result, the Company achieved its production guidance for 2025 of 31,000-41,000 GEOs (see news release dated February 4, 2025). Financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2025, will be reported during March 2026. Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs (‘AISC‘) are expected to be within the guidance range.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had a preliminary cash balance of US$41M and no debt. This provides a strong balance sheet for Heliostar’s 2026 growth initiatives, further supported by ongoing cash generated by operations.

 
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, ‘This is a wonderful result for our first full year of gold production. Achieving our 2025 guidance was the result of the team successfully executing on the restart of operations at our two mines; La Colorada in January and San Agustin in December. The restart of San Agustin is expected to materially increase Heliostar’s year-on-year gold production in 2026, and we look forward to providing guidance for 2026 shortly. In addition to increasing production this year, we will be advancing Ana Paula through a feasibility study and recommencing the decline as we work toward our goal of becoming a 500,000 ounce per year producer by the end of the decade.’

Statement of Qualified Persons

Michael Gingles, Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the production and financial information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Gingles is employed as Vice President Corporate Development of the Company.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that the reported non-GAAP financial measures will enable certain investors to better evaluate the Company’s performance, liquidity, and ability to generate cash flow. These measures do not have any standardized definition under IFRS, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ‘forward-looking information’ under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘schedule’ and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company’s plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company’s guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company’s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company’s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company’s mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company’s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company’s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company’s interactions with surrounding communities; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279687

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 2025 Production of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces)

• Cash balance of US$41M as of December 31, 2025

Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR,OTC:HSTXF) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) (‘Heliostar’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it produced 8,459 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs) (8,180 gold ounces and 21,494 silver ounces) in the three months ended December 31, 2025.

This resulted in a total production in calendar year 2025 of 34,098 GEOs (32,990 gold ounces and 80,527 silver ounces). As a result, the Company achieved its production guidance for 2025 of 31,000-41,000 GEOs (see news release dated February 4, 2025). Financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2025, will be reported during March 2026. Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs (‘AISC‘) are expected to be within the guidance range.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had a preliminary cash balance of US$41M and no debt. This provides a strong balance sheet for Heliostar’s 2026 growth initiatives, further supported by ongoing cash generated by operations.

 
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, ‘This is a wonderful result for our first full year of gold production. Achieving our 2025 guidance was the result of the team successfully executing on the restart of operations at our two mines; La Colorada in January and San Agustin in December. The restart of San Agustin is expected to materially increase Heliostar’s year-on-year gold production in 2026, and we look forward to providing guidance for 2026 shortly. In addition to increasing production this year, we will be advancing Ana Paula through a feasibility study and recommencing the decline as we work toward our goal of becoming a 500,000 ounce per year producer by the end of the decade.’

Statement of Qualified Persons

Michael Gingles, Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the production and financial information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Gingles is employed as Vice President Corporate Development of the Company.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that the reported non-GAAP financial measures will enable certain investors to better evaluate the Company’s performance, liquidity, and ability to generate cash flow. These measures do not have any standardized definition under IFRS, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain ‘Forward-Looking Statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ‘forward-looking information’ under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘target’, ‘plan’, ‘forecast’, ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘schedule’ and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company’s plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company’s guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company’s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company’s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company’s mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company’s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company’s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company’s interactions with surrounding communities; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279687

(TheNewswire)

Anchors to:

Drill hole LBX25-095

• 3.50 m@ 1.40 g/t Au and 2.30% Zn (162.50 m to 166.00 m) 

including:

• 0.70 m @ 5.97 g/t Au,18.4 g/t Ag and 10.8% Zn. 

• 4.50 m@ 2.00 g/t Au, 5.75 g/t Ag and 1.22% Zn(188.00 m to 192.50 m), 

including:

• 0.50 m @ 3.30 g/t Au,17.8 g/t Ag and 6.84% Zn (188.00 m to 188.50 m),  

• 2.40 m @ 3.00 g/t Au and 0.78% Zn (190.10 m to 192.50 m), and 

• 0.55 m @ 12.15 g/t Au, 16.1 g/t Ag and 2.66% Zn (191.10 m to 192.50 m). 

Drill hole LBX25-096

•          3.85 m @ 1.92 g/t Au and 0.13% Zn (38.70 m to 42.55 m),
  including: 

• 0.60 m @ 2.78 g/t Au, 6.30 g/t Ag and 0.62% Zn (40.60 m to 41.20 m), and 

• 55 m @ 9.59 g/t Au, 5.50 g/t Ag and 0.11% Zn (42.00 m to 42.55 m). 

TORONTO, ONTARIO (January 7, 2026) – TheNewswire – LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTC: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) (‘LAURION’ or the ‘Corporation’) is very pleased to report assay results of the first two drill holes from recent diamond drilling at the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone at the Ishkōday Project, located in the Beardmore–Geraldton Greenstone Belt of north-western Ontario, approximately 220 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

The current drill program focuses on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone, a structurally controlled gold-base metal corridor where historic drilling, surface work, and more recent LAURION drilling demonstrate repeated gold, silver, zinc, and copper mineralization along strike and at depth.

‘These results reinforce what we have been methodically building at Ishkōday — a structurally controlled gold-zinc system with repeated mineralization along a coherent corridor,‘ stated Cynthia Le Sueur Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION. ‘The combination of higher-grade intervals within broader mineralized zones, supported by both historic and recent drilling, gives us confidence that our targeting approach is working as intended. As we continue drilling, our focus remains on understanding continuity, structure, and scale.’

Drill hole LBX25-095 was designed to test a segment of the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone structural corridor supported by proximal historic drill holes 90-41 and 90-49, as well as modern LAURION drill holes LBX20-021 and LBX20-017. Historic drill hole 90-41 intersected multiple gold-bearing intervals at various depths, including 0.55 m grading 3.69 g/t Au and 1.70% Zn, 0.55 m grading 11.88 g/t Au, 8.0 g/t Ag and 8.6% Zn, and deeper intersections including 0.91 m grading 1.63 g/t Au,16.0 g/t Ag, 0.16% Cu and 6.7% Zn, 0.66 m grading 2.12 g/t Au, 14.0 g/t Ag and 10.3% Zn, and 5.36 m grading 0.44 g/t Au, 6.16 g/t Ag and 4.28% Zn (Orient Resources Inc., Sturgeon River Property Diamond Drill Program Report, Claude Larouche, 1990). Nearby historic drill hole 90-49 returned 0.31 m grading 3.87 g/t Au and 1.73 m grading 3.46 g/t Au, 20.36 g/t Ag and 3.72% Zn (Orient Resources Inc., Claude Larouche, 1990). More recent drilling confirmed continuity of mineralization within the same corridor, including 14.08 m grading 0.89 g/t Au in drill hole LBX20-021 and additional gold-silver intervals in LBX20-017 (LAURION press release dated July 28, 2020).

Drill hole LBX25-095 intersected multiple gold-and-zinc-bearing intervals hosted within sheared and altered volcanic rocks consistent with the main A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone geological framework.

Reported assay results include 2.60 m grading 1.84 g/t Au from 27.40 to 30.00 m, including 0.60 m grading 7.25 g/t Au, 1.00 m grading 1.02 g/t Au from 45.30 to 46.30 m, and several broader intervals of lower-grade gold with elevated zinc.

A mid-depth mineralized zone returned 3.50 m grading 1.40 g/t Au and 2.30% Zn from 162.50 to 166.00 m, including a higher-grade interval of 0.70 m grading 5.97 g/t Au, 18.4 g/t Ag, 0.22% Cu and 10.8% Zn from 163.05 to 163.75 m.

Deeper in the hole, drilling intersected 4.50 m grading 2.00 g/t Au, 5.75 g/t Ag and 1.22% Zn from 188.00 to 192.50 m, including 0.50 m grading 3.30 g/t Au,17.8 g/t Ag and 6.84% Zn, 2.40 m grading 3.00 g/t Au, and 0.55 m grading 12.15 g/t Au,16.1 g/t Ag and 2.66% Zn.  

Drill hole LBX25-096, located approximately 52 metres east of LBX25-095, was designed to test the eastern continuation of the same structurally controlled mineralized corridor. Targeting for LBX25-096 was informed by proximal drill holes LBX12-006, LBX20-020, and LBX22-089, which intersected gold-bearing mineralization within the same stratigraphic and structural package. Notably, drill hole LBX20-020 returned broad gold-bearing intervals including 6.86 m grading 0.47 g/t Au and 10.84 m grading 0.48 g/t Au, demonstrating mineralized width and continuity and supporting step-out drilling to the east (LAURION press release dated July 28, 2020). Drill hole LBX25-096 subsequently intersected multiple gold-bearing intervals within this corridor, including 3.85 m from 38.70 m to 42.55 m grading 1.92 g/t Au, including a higher-grade interval of 0.55 m from 42.00 m to 42.55 m grading 9.59 g/t Au, and a shallow interval of 1.15 m from 8.35 m to 9.50 m grading 2.14 g/t Au, including 0.50 m from 9.00 m to 9.50 m grading 4.76 g/t Au.

Gold mineralization at Ishkōday occurs within an orogenic gold framework and is commonly accompanied by silver, consistent with orogenic systems globally. In addition, localized enrichment in silver and base metals reflects polymetallic mineralizing events that are overprinted and locally modified by the orogenic gold event. These observations align with structural and geochemical interpretations supporting a multi-phase mineralizing history, as outlined in the Keaton Strongman Report 2024 on the Ishkōday: Ancestral structural controls between Archean epithermal and orogenic gold mineralization.

TABLE Of ASSAYS FOR DRILL HOLES LBX25-095 AND LBX25-096

Mineralization on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone is interpreted to be controlled by the interaction of north–south-trending quartz-gold extensional veins and northeast–southwest-trending sulphide-rich shear veins. Reactivation of earlier sulphide zones during later deformation, locally associated with magnetite-rich assemblages, provides a structural framework that explains repeated gold enrichment, localized grade enhancement within wider base metal envelopes, and strong strike continuity beneath cover.

The current drilling on the A-Zone/McLeod/CRK Zone has focused on refining LAURION’s understanding of the geometry, continuity, and structural controls of the mineralized system. Ongoing work by the LAURION’s technical team and independent consultants is centred on consolidating historical and modern drilling, validating geological interpretations, and strengthening the 3D structural framework. This work is intended to ensure that any future technical milestones are based on a robust, well-constrained geological model, while preserving strategic flexibility as the Ishkōday Project continues to evolve.

Sampling and QA/QC Protocols

All drill core is transported and stored inside the core facility located at the Ishkōday Project in Greenstone, Ontario. LAURION employs an industry standard system of external standards, blanks and duplicates for all of its sampling, in addition to the QA/QC protocol employed by the laboratory. After logging, core samples were identified and then cut in half along core axis in the same building and then zip tied individually in plastic sample bags with a bar code. Approximately five or six of these individual bags were then stacked into a ‘rice’ white material bag and stored on a skid for final shipment to the laboratory.

All core samples were shipped to the ALS facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which were then prepared by ALS Global Geochemistry in Thunder Bay and analyzed by ALS Global Analytical Lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples are processed by 4-acid digestion and analyzed by fire assay on 50 g pulps and ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). Over limit analyses are reprocessed with gravimetric finish.

A total of 5% blanks and 5% standard are inserted randomly within all samples. 5% of the best assay result pulps were sent for re-assays. All QA/QC were verified, and no contamination or bias have been observed. The remaining half of the core, as well as the unsampled core, is stored in temporary core racks at the core logging facility in Beardmore and moved to the core storage facility at the Ishkōday Project.

Note: QA/QC review of standards and duplicates indicates analytical results are reliable. One zinc standard adjacent to a high-grade zinc interval returned elevated values consistent with expected analytical behaviour following high-grade samples.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Jean-Philippe Paiement, P.Geo, MSc, a consultant to LAURION and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.

The Corporation is a mid-stage junior mineral exploration and development company listed on the TSXV under the symbol LME and on the OTCPINK under the symbol LMEFF. LAURION now has 278,716,413 outstanding shares, of which approximately 73.6% are owned and controlled by insiders who are eligible investors under the ‘Friends and Family’ categories.

LAURION’s emphasis is on the exploration and development of its flagship project, the 100% owned mid-stage 57 km2 Ishkōday Project, and its gold-rich polymetallic mineralization.

LAURION’s chief priority remains maximizing shareholder value. A large portion of the Corporation’s focus in this regard falls within the scope of its mineral exploration activities and more specifically, advancing the Ishkōday Project. A consequence of LAURION’s success and advancement over the past several years is that the Corporation has become positioned as an acquisition target for appropriate potential acquirors. Accordingly, the Corporation’s Board of Directors is aware that possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities may arise and/or could be procured in the short or medium terms. The Corporation will promptly issue a press release if any material change occurs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc.

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin – President and CEO

Tel: 1-705-788-9186 Fax: 1-705-805-9256

Douglas Vass – Investor Relations Consultant

Email: info@laurion.ca

Website: http://www.LAURION.ca

Follow us on: X (@LAURION_LME), Instagram (laurionmineral) and LinkedIn ()

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation’s current expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION’s business, operations and condition, management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, the Corporation’s ability to advance the Ishkōday Project, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Corporation’s exploration, drilling and prospecting activities in 2026 and beyond, including the Corporation’s diamond drill program described in this press release and the Corporation’s other planned activities for the Ishkōday Project for the remainder of 2026, and the statements regarding the Corporation’s exploration or consideration of any possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities, as well as the potential outcome(s) of this process, the possible impact of any potential transactions referenced herein on the Corporation or any of its stakeholders, and the ability of the Corporation to identify and complete any potential acquisitions, mergers, financings or other transactions referenced herein, and the timing of any such transactions. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price of the common shares of LAURION, the TSX Venture Exchange or any other applicable regulator not providing its approval for any strategic alternatives or transactional opportunities, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible variations in grade or recovery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Corporation’s publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Corporation’s ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Corporation’s public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable law, the Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. All sample values are from grab samples and channel samples, which by their nature, are not necessarily representative of overall grades of mineralized areas. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on the assay values reported in this press release.

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