Maple Gold Commences 30,000-Metre Drill Program at Douay/Joutel Gold Project

• Maple Gold has commenced a 30,000-metre drilling campaign across its Douay and Joutel gold projects in Quebec using four drill rigs
• The program allocates 20,000 metres to Douay focusing on Nika and 531 zones below current resource estimates, and 10,000 metres to Joutel's Eagle-Telbel mine trend
• Phase I drilling completed in the first half of 2025 intersected gold in all 21 holes, including 3.05 g/t gold over 55.8 metres at Nika and 4.87 g/t gold over 15 metres at 531
• The company reported a cash position of approximately $20.5 million following capital raises totalling $18 million in 2025
• Updated mineral resource estimates for Douay and a maiden resource for Joutel, along with preliminary engineering studies, are expected in the first half of 2026

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV:MGM) is a Canadian exploration company with a 100% interest in the Douay/Joutel Gold Project in Quebec's Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The project covers approximately 481 square kilometres along the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone. Douay hosts a 2022 mineral resource estimate of 511,000 ounces indicated and 2.53 million ounces inferred gold. The Joutel property includes the former Joutel Mine Complex, which produced 1.1 million ounces at 6.5 g/t gold between 1974 and 1993.

Phase II Drilling Program Commencement and Allocation

Maple Gold's Phase II program uses four drill rigs across the Douay and Joutel properties. The 20,000-metre allocation at Douay focuses on the Nika and 531 zones, where Phase I drilling identified gold mineralisation below the 2022 mineral resource estimate and conceptual pit shells. The 10,000-metre Joutel program targets the Main Iron Carbonate Horizon, the geological structure that hosted the former producing mines.

At Douay, the Nika Zone receives 12,000 metres of drilling to test primary southeast-trending plunge directions and secondary west-trending plunges. The 531 Zone receives 6,000 metres, with drilling planned as 50 to 100-metre step-outs from previous intercepts. The remaining 2,000 metres will test the Douay West and Porphyry West zones. The company completed geological remodelling that integrated lithological, alteration, geochemical, and geophysical data.

The Joutel allocation of 10,000 metres includes 4,500 metres at the Telbel Zone, 2,500 metres between Eagle and Telbel shafts, 2,000 metres at the Eagle Zone, and 1,000 metres at regional targets.

President and CEO Kiran Patankar stated:

"We have always wanted to push harder at Douay/Joutel and we are now in a position to complete the largest drill program in Maple Gold's history."

Exploration Results and Technical Advancements from 2025 Programs

The Phase I winter drilling campaign comprised 21 holes totalling 12,240 metres. All holes intersected gold mineralisation. At the Nika Zone, hole DO-25-338 returned 3.05 g/t gold over 55.8 metres, including 4.93 g/t gold over 17 metres, within a broader interval of 2.05 g/t gold over 108.6 metres. This hole was a 300-metre down-plunge step-out from previous drilling. Hole DO-25-54Ext, located 30 metres away, returned 2.93 g/t gold over 20 metres.

At the 531 Zone, hole DO-25-351 intersected 4.87 g/t gold over 15 metres, including 11.25 g/t gold over 5 metres. Hole DO-25-352 returned 1.96 g/t gold over 20.8 metres and 3.66 g/t gold over 11.4 metres within a broader zone of 1.41 g/t gold over 49.5 metres. Hole DO-25-349 returned 3.00 g/t gold over 10.8 metres. The intercepts occurred below the current resource model and conceptual pit shells.

Spring 2025 sonic drilling completed 27 holes totalling 730 metres two kilometres northeast of the Douay resource area. The program intersected altered syenite and feldspathised sediments, with bedrock returning up to 0.92 g/t gold. Summer fieldwork returned gold-in-soil results up to 34 parts per billion. The company completed geological remodelling and used oriented core data for structural interpretation.

Mineral Resource Update and Engineering Studies Timeline

Maple Gold has engaged SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. to prepare an updated mineral resource estimate for Douay and a maiden resource estimate for Joutel, with completion expected in the first half of 2026. The updated estimate will incorporate results from the Phase I drilling program completed in the first half of 2025. The current Douay resource, based on a 2022 estimate, contains indicated mineral resources of 10 million tonnes at 1.59 g/t gold (511,000 ounces) and inferred mineral resources of 76.7 million tonnes at 1.02 g/t gold (2.53 million ounces).

The company has commissioned Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC to conduct preliminary engineering and trade-off studies, with completion also expected in the first half of 2026. The work includes a gap analysis of existing technical data, mining trade-off studies comparing open pit versus underground scenarios, processing trade-off studies examining whole ore leach versus gravity-flotation-cyanidation flowsheets, and infrastructure trade-off studies considering onsite milling versus custom toll-milling options. Preliminary cash flow modelling is also underway.

Both the resource update and engineering studies are being conducted in parallel. The company reported completing a $5 million non-brokered private placement in September 2025 and a $13 million brokered LIFE offering in October 2025.

Mr. Kiran Patankar stated:

"Over the next 12 months, our fully funded, multi-phase growth plan is designed to achieve key resource expansion, discovery and development milestones that drive shareholder value."

Next Steps

The 30,000-metre drilling program is underway with four rigs operating across the Douay and Joutel properties. Assay results from the program are expected throughout 2026. The company plans to complete follow-up drilling at the target area identified through spring sonic drilling and will conduct infill soil sampling in summer 2026 following anomalous results from the 2025 field program. Updated mineral resource estimates for both Douay and Joutel, along with preliminary engineering studies, are scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026.

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