Reconnaissance drill hole HER-26-03 at Hercules Metals Corp.’s Hercules Property in western Idaho has successfully intersected intense quartz-sericite-pyrite and skarn alteration at the newly identified Hook target.

The hole was collared approximately 400 metres west of the anomaly on an existing road to test a large 1.8-kilometre-long IP chargeability anomaly located about three kilometres east of the Leviathan porphyry copper system. Core logging confirmed that HER-26-03 was drilled entirely within Triassic-age geology, intersecting favorable carbonate-bearing sedimentary and volcanic lithologies alongside 5% to 10% pyrite disseminations and D-veins.

“This initial drill test has provided encouraging geological indications of potential porphyry-related alteration, supporting the strategy to continue testing the high-strength core of the anomaly along its strike extent.” — George Ogilvie, President and Chief Executive Officer

Assays for HER-26-03 are currently pending. Because the hole tested the distal pyrite halo rather than the core, results are expected to serve primarily as vectoring information for future drilling.

The 2026 exploration campaign was initially designed to focus entirely on expanding the Leviathan copper system through 20,000 to 30,000 metres of drilling. Based on the alteration encountered in HER-26-03, Hercules is now proceeding with permitting temporary access roads and drill pads to directly test the high-strength core of the Hook anomaly, where chargeability responses range from 20 to 40 mV/V and start within 100 metres of the surface. Two diamond drill rigs remain active on the property conducting southern step-outs at Leviathan.

“In addition, initial drilling in HER-26-03 has upgraded Hook to a particularly compelling near-surface target, supported by geological and geophysical similarities to Leviathan. These results warrant an updated plan of operations to facilitate the next phase of follow-up drilling, targeted to commence in 2027.” — George Ogilvie, President and Chief Executive Officer

The exploration work follows leadership changes that saw Hercules close a C$4.5 million private placement in August 2026 subscribed by incoming management from Arizona Sonoran Copper Company, led by Mr. Ogilvie as President and CEO. Separately, following a request from the TSX Venture Exchange and by company election, the board approved the cancellation of 20,500,000 previously granted stock options.

Read the full announcement: Hercules Metals Identifies Evidence for a New Porphyry Center at the Hook Target